Larry Darnell Fitzgerald (born on 31 August, 1983) also known as Larry Fitzgerald is an American professional basketball player. He is popular for being an American football wide receiver who plays for the professional American football franchise called ‘Arizona Cardinals,’ of the National Football League (NFL). He will play his 17th season with Arizona in 2020. In franchise history, only Jim Hart will have played more seasons with the Cardinals.
Larry Fitzgerald Biography
Table of Contents
| Name | Larry Darnell Fitzgerald |
| Nickname | Larry |
| Profession | Basketball Player |
| Debut | Pittsburgh Panthers football (2002) |
| Height | 6’3” or 1.91 m or 191 cm |
| Weight | 99 Kg or 218 lbs |
| Body Measurements | Chest: 44 inchesWaist: 35 inches Bicep: 15 inches |
| Date of Birth | August 31, 1983 (37 years old in 2020) |
| Zodiac | Virgo |
| Birthplace | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Hometown | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Residence | Arizona, United States |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Nationality | American |
| School | Academy of Holy Angels (Richfield, Minnesota) |
| College/University | University of Pittsburgh |
| Educational Qualifications | Graduate |
| Father | Larry Fitzgerald Sr. |
| Mother | Carol Fitzgerald |
| Brother | Marcus Fitzgerald |
| Sons | Devin Fitzgerald, Apollo Fitzgerald |
| Eye color | Black |
| Hair color | Black |
| Marital status | Unmarried |
| Hobbies | Listening to music, basketball, traveling |
Early life and Background
Larry Fitzgerald was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States on August 31, 1983. His father is Larry Fitzgerald Sr. who serves the ‘Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder’ as a sportswriter. His father became the first reporter to cover his own son in a ‘Super Bowl’. His mother’s name is Carol Fitzgerald. Larry lost his mother in the year 2003, while she was undergoing breast cancer treatment. Larry established the ‘Carol Fitzgerald Memorial Fund’ in her honour. He has studied at the Academy of Holy Angels in Richfield, Minnesota, and at the University of Pittsburgh. He played with the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh called the ‘Pittsburgh Panthers’ during his college years.
Quotes by the artist
- I’m honest with myself how I feel. If I feel good, I feel good. If I don’t – if I’m tight – I don’t just try to muscle through everything, because you’ve got to be a little bit smarter.
- I do what I’m coached to do. That’s part of being a team leader and captain. The job will change week in and week out, and it’s not for you to question what your job is – it’s to go out there and execute your assignments.
- When it’s time to focus in and play ball during the season, 100% of my focus is on that. When it’s the offseason and I’ve got time to be away and I can do other interests – they don’t conflict. I’m good at compartmentalizing. I can put everything in its appropriate box at the time and open it up when I need to at a later time.
- My main focus is ball. I know what butters my toast. I know what my job is and what is expected of me, and that’s what’s first and foremost.
- I really enjoy my philanthropic work, traveling around the world and helping people in need. That’s a lot of fun for me. It’s really rewarding. You’re helping people, but it’s helping you. It puts life in perspective.
- I think the locker room is a huge part of the football team and often is a part thats overlooked. The chemistry in your locker room has a lot to do with how you’re going to go out there and perform.
- I love to see new things, and I love to learn. I always learn so much when I travel – that’s the best thing.
- Every guy has different strengths in the NFL. Receivers are different, running backs are different, but they all have that one thing that they do thats special: that thing that keeps them on the roster every year.
- I have some sweets now and then, but I would’nt say I have a major sweet tooth.
- If you play football, theres going to be a 100 percent injury rate. Something is going to be bothering you. So, I just try to focus on the things that I can do to help my team.
- I can never let the guy across from me be in better shape. I have to be the best-conditioned guy.
Personal life
Larry dated a 35-year-old lady named Angela Nazario when he was just 22. The two were romantically involved in the year 2006 despite the age differences. He had his first child named Devine Fitzgerald with her. Their relationship went sour as Angela claimed publicly that the footballer battered her. After going through multiple court hearings, the footballer was restrained from seeing her. The footballer later started dating Mellissa Blakesley. The couple have chosen to keep most of their affairs off the public eye. They look happy with what they share and they are blessed with a son named Apollo Fitzgerald. Larry is not married; he has had multiple flings before too.
Personal favorites
| Basketball Player | Kobe Bryant |
| Club | Arizona Cardinals |
| Cuisine | Italian |
| Color | White, Red and black |
| Destination | Paris |
Career
Larry was drafted third overall by ‘Arizona Cardinals.’ during the 2004 NFL Draft. He made his NFL debut on September 12 in the same year against ‘St. Louis Rams.’ On 19th December 2004, he became the youngest player to set a record of scoring at least two touchdown receptions in a single game. The record was later broken in 2010. Larry was named in the NFL’s all-star game for the 2005 season, and the 2006 Pro Bowl, thereby marking his first ‘Pro Bowl.’ He joined hands with Anquan Boldin and came up with one of the most powerful wide receiver tandems in the league.
He was nicknamed by the local media as “The Best Hands in the NFL” and “Sticky Fingers.” ‘Arizona Cardinals’ signed 4 years contract extension, with him at the end of the season. He emerged as the first player in the history of the NFL to achieve great success during a conference championship game. Larry continued his great performance in the NFL’s all-star game for the 2008 season, the 2009 Pro Bowl held on February 8, 2009. His performance in 2009 season got him his third consecutive Pro Bowl, overall, fourth of his career. He tied with Richard Seymour as the NFL’s fifth highest paid player. He earned the ‘NFC Offensive Player of the Week’ honours four times. He was featured in the cover of the video game, ‘NCAA Football 2005,’ of EA Sports and on the cover of ‘Madden NFL 10’ with Troy Polamalu.
Career History
- 11× Pro Bowl in 2005, 2007–2013 and 2015–2017
- First-team All-Pro in 2008
- 2× Second-team All-Pro in 2009 and 2011
- 2× NFL receptions leader in 2005 and 2016
- 2× NFL receiving touchdowns leader in 2008 and 2009
- NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time
- NFL 2010s All-Decade Team
- Unanimous All-American in 2003
- First-team All-Big East in 2003
- Pittsburgh Panthers No. 1 retired
Awards
- Heisman Trophy runner-up in 2003
- Biletnikoff Award in 2003
- Walter Camp Award in 2003
- Big East Offensive Player of the Year in 2003
- Art Rooney Award in 2014
- Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year in 2016
Lesser known Facts
- Larry worked as a ball boy for the Minnesota Vikings.
- He was voted to the 2008 NFL All-Pro team.
- He went to a military school during his junior year of high school in order to improve academically.
- Larry’s father Father covered him in Super Bowl XLIII for a Minnesota newspaper.
- He has won 2003 Fred Biletnikoff Award as college football’s most outstanding receiver.
- Larry was elected to the Pro Bowl following the 2005, 2007 and 2008 NFL seasons.