Larry Fitzgerald

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Lore & Background

Fitzgerald's path to the NFL began with a unique opportunity as a teenager working as a ball boy for the Minnesota Vikings under coach Dennis Green. He recalled watching legends like Cris Carter, Warren Moon, and Randy Moss up close, calling it an "eye-opening experience" that taught him about dedication. To meet NCAA eligibility requirements after skipping his high school senior year to attend Valley Forge Military Academy, he petitioned the NFL for a special exception based on his time away from high school. This exception allowed him to enter the 2004 draft as the first wide receiver selected and the first of six Pitt Panthers chosen that year. His college career at Pittsburgh was historic; in just 26 games, he set a new Pitt record with 34 receiving touchdowns and became the first player in school history with back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons.

In Their Own Story

Fitzgerald's rookie season in 2004 saw him make an immediate impact. After recording four receptions for 70 yards in his debut against the St. Louis Rams, he scored his first career touchdown on a 24-yard pass from Josh McCown against the San Francisco 49ers. By December 19, he made history as the youngest player at 21 years and 110 days to record at least two touchdown receptions in a single game, though this record would later be broken by Aaron Hernandez and Mike Evans. His second season in 2005 was even more dominant; he led the NFL with 103 receptions for 1,409 yards and ten touchdowns, earning his first Pro Bowl selection. That year, he formed one of the most productive tandems in NFL history alongside Anquan Boldin, finishing with seven games of over 100 receiving yards despite the team missing the playoffs.

Reader's Guide

Fans looking to understand Fitzgerald's greatness should focus on his unprecedented consistency and record-breaking longevity. He finished his career second in NFL history for both career receptions and receiving yards, while ranking sixth in career receiving touchdowns. His accolades include eleven Pro Bowl selections, first-team All-Pro honors in 2008, and second-team All-Pro nods in 2009 and 2011. Beyond the gridiron, his influence extended to basketball when he became a minority owner of the Phoenix Suns in 2020. His college dominance at Pitt remains a benchmark, where he set an NCAA record with 18 straight games featuring at least one touchdown reception. In 2026, he will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, capping a career defined by elite performance and unwavering loyalty to the Arizona Cardinals.

Did You Know?

• Fitzgerald worked as a ball boy for the Minnesota Vikings under coach Dennis Green, where he observed legends like Randy Moss and Cris Carter.
• He set an NCAA record with 18 consecutive games recording at least one touchdown reception during his college career at Pittsburgh.
• At 21 years and 110 days old, Fitzgerald was the youngest player to catch two touchdowns in a single game until that record was broken in 2010.
• His jersey number 1 was retired by the University of Pittsburgh on July 1, 2013, making him only the ninth player in school history to receive the honor.
• Fitzgerald became a minority owner of the Phoenix Suns NBA team in 2020.