Larry Fitzgerald

Legendary wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals

Larry Darnell Fitzgerald Jr. (born August 31, 1983) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for 17 seasons with the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Pittsburgh Panthers, earning unanimous All-American honors in 2003. Fitzgerald was selected by the Cardinals with the third overall pick in the 2004 NFL draft. He is widely considered by fans, coaches and peers to be one of the greatest receivers in NFL history.

Quick Facts

Position: Wide receiver
Born: 31 August 1983
Birthplace: Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
High school: Academy of Holy Angels (Richfield, Minnesota)
College: Pittsburgh (2002–2003)
Draft year: 2004
Draft round: 1
Former teams: Arizona Cardinals (2004, 2020)

Lore & Background

Fitzgerald was selected to the Pro Bowl eleven times (2005, 2007 to 2013 and 2015 to 2017). He was a first-team All-Pro in 2008 and a second-team All-Pro in 2009 and 2011, led the NFL in receptions in 2005 and 2016, and ranks second in career receiving yards, second in career receptions and sixth in career receiving touchdowns. He was named to the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team and the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, and he played all 17 of his seasons with the Cardinals after being taken third overall in the 2004 draft.

Reader's Guide

Although Fitzgerald had played at Pitt for only two years without redshirting, he petitioned the NFL to allow him to enter the NFL draft, as he had left his high school, Academy of Holy Angels, during his senior year to attend Valley Forge Military Academy. The NFL granted an exception to allow Fitzgerald to enter the draft, as Fitzgerald had convinced the NFL that the time he spent at VFMA, combined with his time at Pitt, was the minimum three years removed from high school to make him eligible for the draft.

Did You Know?

Fitzgerald worked as a ball boy for the Minnesota Vikings as a teenager under coach Mike Tice.
He did not meet NCAA requirements to play football as a freshman, so he spent a year at Valley Forge Military Academy.
Fitzgerald's 18 straight games with at least one touchdown reception in college is an NCAA record.