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Arizona Cardinals legend Larry Fitzgerald Jr. penned an emotional note to his father, beloved sportswriter, Larry Fitzgerald Sr., after his death at age 71.
“My father was a man of strength, love and encouragement,” Fitzgerald Jr., 42, wrote via Instagram, alongside a family statement and pair of photos of the duo on the golf course. “He opened countless doors for me and my brother. He believed in us and pushed us to pursue every opportunity with conviction, he was the rock of our family.”
He continued, “He taught us that perseverance, hard work, and unwavering commitment are the foundations of a meaningful life and personal success. I will carry his love, words, and wisdom with me always.”
Fitzgerald Sr. died on Monday, though no cause of death has been released. His death comes roughly two months before his son is set to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It was revealed Fitzgerald Jr. had been voted into the Hall of Fame in February.
Fitzgerald Sr. spent more than four decades covering Minnesota sports for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder and, in 2009, became the first person to cover his son in the Super Bowl when Fitzgerald Jr.’s Arizona Cardinals fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“I won’t cheer,” Fitzgerald Sr. told ESPN at the time. “I’m going to stay objective. I’ve come too far to suddenly show up in the press box with pompoms. But if you could put a monitor on my insides, you’d find a whole fan club in there.”
Fitzgerald Jr. spent his entire career with the Cardinals, retiring in 2020 as an 11-time Pro Bowler and member of the NFL All-Decade Team for the 2010s. Growing up, he and his brother, Marcus, shared a tight bond with their father, often joining him in the Spokesman-Recorder newsroom.
“It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Larry Fitzgerald, Sr., a devoted father, husband, grandfather and trailblazer in the Minnesota broadcasting community,” the Fitzgerald family wrote in a statement that Fitzgerald Jr. also shared in his Instagram tribute. “He left us peacefully this afternoon, surrounded by his family and loved ones.”
The statement continued, “We are so grateful for all the love and support we have received during this difficult time, especially from the team at Fairview Southdale Hospital. We ask for privacy as we mourn his loss.”
Spokesman-Recorder CEO and publisher Tracey Williams-Dillard remembered Fitzgerald Sr. as a “strong voice” in the Minnesota community.
“I think he was kind of like our community sports authority,” she told The Athletic on Tuesday. ”He’ll be greatly missed in the sports world and just in the community in general.”
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