Larry Fitzgerald Sr., the father of Hall of Fame wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald Jr. and a beloved figure in his own right in the Minnesota sports scene, died Monday at 71.
The elder Fitzgerald was a longtime fixture as a sportswriter and broadcaster in the Twin Cities. Larry Fitzgerald Jr. was exposed to football from a young age through his father’s work and his opportunity to be a ballboy for the Minnesota Vikings.
Larry Fitzgerald Jr.’s younger brother Marcus shared the news in a social media post Monday.
“A devoted father, husband, grandfather, and a true pioneer in the Minnesota broadcasting community, he spent his life pouring into the people and the city he loved so much,” Marcus Fitzgerald wrote. “He left us peacefully this afternoon, surrounded by his family and the people who loved him most.”
A cause of death was not provided.
“The Vikings organization is saddened by the passing of Larry Fitzgerald Sr., a distinguished journalist and trusted voice in Minnesota sports for nearly 50 years,” the Vikings said in a statement. “Larry built relationships with players, coaches and staff members for each of the local teams and was recognized across the NFL, covering dozens of Super Bowls and other major events. Beyond his reputation in the media, Larry was a dedicated father and a community leader who cared deeply about the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.
“Our hearts are with Larry Jr., Marcus and the entire Fitzgerald family, as well as Larry’s friends and colleagues as they mourn his loss.”
Fitzgerald Sr.’s wife, Carol Fitzgerald, died of breast cancer in 2003, leading him to found the Carol Fitzgerald Memorial Fund with a mission of raising money for breast cancer and HIV research.
The younger Fitzgerald was raised in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area and spent his decorated 17-year NFL career with the Arizona Cardinals, the team that selected him third overall in the 2004 NFL Draft. He will be enshrined in the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, later this year on Aug. 8.
