Biografia
Height: 6'3 / Weight: 218 / College: Pittsburgh / Hometown: Minneapolis, MN / DOB: August 31, 1983 / Pro Bowl Selection: 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Two-time All-State and prep All-America receiver at Academy of the Holy Angels (Minneapolis, MN), High School Larry Fitzgerald recorded 73 receptions for 1,254 yards (17.2 yard avg.) and 17 TDs as a senior, and had 54 catches for 1,347 yards (24.9 yard avg.) with 12 TDs and 10 consecutive 100-yard receiving games as a junior. Also a three-year defensive starter, playing free safety as a senior and OLB as a junior and sophomore while also lettering twice in basketball and once in track. Fitzgerald studied in the College of Arts and Sciences at Pittsburgh and his father, Larry Sr., played football at Indiana State from 1975-77 and is the sports editor for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. Larry's mother, Carol, passed away in April of 2003 after a seven-year bout with cancer; Larry keeps her driver's license in his wallet next to his own. His younger brother, Marcus, played WR at Marshall from 2004-07 and following the 2013 season, was named to the USA Football All-Fundamentals Teams, one of 26 players (11 offense, 11 defense, 4 special teams) honored for exemplary football techniques for youth players to emulate.
Selected in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft; Larry was the first receiver taken and the third player overall behind QB Eli Manning (San Diego) and Robert Gallery (Oakland). Agreed to new contracts with Arizona on 3/11/08, 8/20/11 and a two-year contract on 2/18/15 that will keep him in a Cardinals uniform through the 2016 season. In his 11 seasons with the Cardinals, has established franchise records for receptions (909), receiving yards (12,151), receiving TDs (89), total TDs (89), 100-yard receiving games (38) and 1,000-yard receiving seasons (six). Has also been voted to the Pro Bowl eight times, including appearances in seven seasons (2007-13).
Originally selected by the Cardinals in the first round (third overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft and has started 168 of the 170 games in which he has appeared. His eight career Pro Bowl selections are tied with Hall of Fame safety Larry Wilson for the most in franchise history. Larry earned MVP honors in the 2008 Pro Bowl, and his eight career TDs represent a Pro Bowl record. Following the 2014 season, he was named the inaugural winner of the Art Rooney NFL sportsmanship Award, presented to an NFL player who demonstrates on the field qualities of great sportsmanship, including fair play, respect for opponents and integrity in competition. Fitzgerald was also selected as the Cardinals nominee for the Salute To Service award in '14. In 2012, was named one of three finalists for the "Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year" Award and was also named the recipient of the 14th Annual Arthur S. Arkush Humanitarian Award by Pro Football Weekly, which is given to the NFL player whose contributions to the community and charitable organizations are especially outstanding.
