Career Timeline of Larry Fitzgerald: Major Achievements and Milestones

How Larry Fitzgerald built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Larry Fitzgerald is a retired American professional football player, renowned as one of the greatest wide receivers in NFL history. He spent his entire 17-season career with the Arizona Cardinals after being drafted third overall in 2004. Prior to his NFL career, Fitzgerald played college football for the Pittsburgh Panthers, achieving unanimous All-American status in 2003. His exceptional skills and sportsmanship have earned him widespread recognition from fans, coaches, and fellow players.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1994: Creation of Henry P. Iba Citizen Athlete Award

In 1994, the Rotary Club of Tulsa created the Henry P. Iba Citizen Athlete Award.

2003: Established Carol Fitzgerald Memorial Fund

In 2003, Larry Fitzgerald established the “Carol Fitzgerald Memorial Fund” in honor of his mother, who died of breast cancer. The organization offers support to causes that Fitzgerald's mother held dear, including educating urban youth about HIV/AIDS and breast cancer issues.

2010: 2010 Season Performance

In 2010, Larry Fitzgerald started the season with a go-ahead touchdown against the St. Louis Rams. He recorded three games with over 100 receiving yards. The Cardinals, however, did not make the playoffs, with a 5-11 record.

August 20, 2011: Contract Extension

On August 20, 2011, Larry Fitzgerald signed an 8-year, $120 million contract with the Cardinals, tying him with Richard Seymour as the fifth highest paid player in the NFL.

2011: 2011 Season Performance and NFC Offensive Player of the Week

In 2011, Larry Fitzgerald had a strong season, exceeding 100 yards in six games. Following his performance against the Philadelphia Eagles, he was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week. The Cardinals finished with an 8-8 record and missed the playoffs in 2011.

August 2012: Honored with Arthur S. Arkush Humanitarian Award

In August 2012, Larry Fitzgerald was honored with the 14th annual Pro Football Weekly Arthur S. Arkush Humanitarian Award for his community and charitable contributions.

2012: Cardinals' Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year

Following the 2012 football season, Larry Fitzgerald was named as the Cardinals' Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year.

2013: Honored with NFL Players Association Georgetown Lombardi Award

During the 2013 season, Larry Fitzgerald was honored with the NFL Players Association Georgetown Lombardi Award, which recognizes a leader in sports whose life has been touched by cancer and who encourages cancer research.

2013: 2013 Season Performance

In 2013, Larry Fitzgerald started the season with eight receptions for 80 yards and two touchdowns against the St. Louis Rams. He recorded his first performance topping 100 yards against the San Francisco 49ers, and had multiple games with notable performances.

May 2014: Lenovo Tablet Donation

In May 2014, Larry Fitzgerald and Lenovo provided five schools in Minneapolis and four schools in Phoenix Lenovo tablets and equipment to enable the children to gain access to technology, through the First Down Fund.

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2014: Selected as Henry P. Iba Citizen Athlete Male Recipient

In 2014, Larry Fitzgerald was selected as the 2014 Henry P. Iba Citizen Athlete Male Recipient, recognizing his success in sports and his role as a positive role model.

2014: Cardinals Make Playoffs

In the 2014 season, Fitzgerald had 63 receptions for 784 yards and two touchdowns as the Cardinals went 11–5 and returned to the playoffs.

February 18, 2015: Contract Extension

On February 18, 2015, Larry Fitzgerald was signed to a new multi-year contract worth at least $11 million guaranteed over the next two seasons.

2015: NFC Offensive Player of the Week

In 2015, Larry Fitzgerald had 112 receiving yards and caught three touchdown passes in a game against the Chicago Bears, earning him NFC Offensive Player of the Week for the fourth time in his career. In Week 13, he became the youngest player to reach 1,000 career receptions.

2015: Back-to-Back Games with Over 100 Receiving Yards

In Week 2 of the 2019 season, which was a 23–17 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, he had five receptions for 104 receiving yards for his first back-to-back games with over 100 receiving yards since Weeks 2–3 of the 2015 season.

January 16, 2016: NFC Divisional Round Game Victory

On January 16, 2016, Larry Fitzgerald helped his quarterback Carson Palmer record his first playoff win with eight catches for a franchise-record 176 yards. Fitzgerald was the Cardinals' entire offense in overtime, with a 75-yard reception to open overtime, and a five-yard touchdown reception from Palmer two plays later, which resulted in a 26–20 win.

August 5, 2016: Contract Extension

On August 5, 2016, Larry Fitzgerald signed a one-year, $11 million contract extension with the Cardinals.

September 11, 2016: 100 Career Touchdowns

On September 11, 2016, Larry Fitzgerald had eight receptions for 81 yards and two touchdowns, becoming the 10th player to reach 100 career touchdowns, in the season-opening loss to the New England Patriots.

2016: Career Leader in Receptions and Receiving Yards

With the retirements of Steve Smith and Anquan Boldin at the end of 2016, the 34-year-old Fitzgerald entered the 2017 season as the career leader in receptions and receiving yards among active players.

November 17, 2017: Contract Extension

On November 17, 2017, Larry Fitzgerald signed a one-year contract extension with the Cardinals worth $11 million through the 2018 season.

2017: Received Heritage Award from Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry

In 2017, Larry Fitzgerald received the Heritage Award from the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry due to his ongoing commitment to improving the lives of Arizonans.

January 23, 2019: Contract Extension Announcement

On January 23, 2019, Larry Fitzgerald announced he would return for the 2019 season, and signed a one-year contract extension with the Cardinals.

2019: NFL Record for Most Receptions with One Team

During week 14 of 2019, against the Detroit Lions, Fitzgerald set an NFL record for most receptions with one team with 1,282.

January 15, 2020: Re-signed with the Cardinals

On January 15, 2020, Larry Fitzgerald re-signed with the Arizona Cardinals on a one-year deal worth $11 million.

September 2021: Hosted 'Let's Go!' Podcast

In September 2021, Larry Fitzgerald partnered with Jim Gray and Tom Brady to host the weekly ‘Let’s Go!’ podcast, which covers news and moments from around the NFL.