History of Larry Fitzgerald in Timeline
Larry Fitzgerald Jr., a celebrated NFL wide receiver, dedicated 17 seasons to the Arizona Cardinals. His football journey began at the University of Pittsburgh, where he achieved unanimous All-American status in 2003. The Cardinals recognized his talent, drafting him third overall in 2004. Throughout his career, Fitzgerald consistently impressed fans, coaches, and fellow players, solidifying his reputation as one of the greatest receivers in NFL history.
August 31, 1983: Birth of Larry Fitzgerald
Larry Darnell Fitzgerald Jr. was born on August 31, 1983.
1988: Jerry Rice's Postseason Records
Jerry Rice held the previous postseason records before they were broken by Larry Fitzgerald during the 2008 NFL playoffs.
1994: Creation of the Henry P. Iba Citizen Athlete Award
The Rotary Club of Tulsa established the Henry P. Iba Citizen Athlete Award in 1994.
1995: Herman Moore and Brett Perriman Set Receiving Record
In 1995, Herman Moore and Brett Perriman of the Detroit Lions set the record that Fitzgerald and Boldin would later match, becoming the first wide receiver duo in NFL history to each catch 100 or more passes and surpass the 1,400 yard mark in the same year.
2002: Freshman Season at Pitt
In his freshman year at the University of Pittsburgh in 2002, Larry Fitzgerald made significant contributions, leading the Big East conference with 69 receptions for 1,005 yards and 12 touchdowns. He helped lead his team to an 8-4 record and a victory in the 2002 Insight Bowl against Oregon State.
2002: College Football at University of Pittsburgh
Larry Fitzgerald played for the University of Pittsburgh's football team, the Panthers, from 2002 to 2003. He quickly became known as one of the top wide receivers in college football.
2003: Sophomore Season Continued Success
In 2003, Larry Fitzgerald continued his impressive performance, achieving a 12-game streak with at least one touchdown reception and an 18-game streak dating back to the previous season. He led the Big East with 92 receptions, 1,672 yards, and 22 touchdowns. His college career concluded with the 2003 Continental Tire Bowl.
2003: Establishment of the Carol Fitzgerald Memorial Fund
In 2003, Larry Fitzgerald founded the "Carol Fitzgerald Memorial Fund" in memory of his mother who passed away from breast cancer. The fund supports causes important to his mother, such as educating urban youth about HIV/AIDS and breast cancer, and aligns with Fitzgerald's role as an NFL spokesman for breast cancer awareness.
2003: National College Football Awards
In 2003, Larry Fitzgerald received several prestigious awards, including the Walter Camp Award, Chic Harley Award, Biletnikoff Award, and Paul Warfield Award. He was also a Heisman Trophy runner-up.
2003: Unanimous All-American Honors
Larry Fitzgerald earned unanimous All-American honors while playing college football for the Pittsburgh Panthers in 2003.
2003: Sophomore Season at Pitt
Larry Fitzgerald had a remarkable sophomore season at Pitt in 2003, with consistent outstanding performances in multiple games, including four consecutive games with at least 100 receiving yards.
2003: Led Big East in Receiving
Larry Fitzgerald led the Big East conference in receptions, yards, and touchdowns in 2003.
2003: College Football at University of Pittsburgh
Larry Fitzgerald played for the University of Pittsburgh's football team, the Panthers, from 2002 to 2003. He quickly became known as one of the top wide receivers in college football.
2003: Mother's Death
Larry Fitzgerald's mother, Carol, passed away in 2003 due to complications from breast cancer and a brain hemorrhage.
2004: Drafted by Arizona Cardinals
Larry Fitzgerald was drafted third overall by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2004 NFL Draft, reuniting him with former Vikings coach Dennis Green.
2004: Drafted into the NFL
Larry Fitzgerald was selected by the Arizona Cardinals as the third overall pick in the 2004 NFL draft.
2005: Pro Bowl Selection and Record-Setting Season
In 2005, Larry Fitzgerald had a breakout season, leading the NFL in receptions with 103 for 1,409 yards and 10 touchdowns. He earned his first Pro Bowl selection. Along with teammate Anquan Boldin, they became the second wide receiver duo in NFL history to each surpass 100 receptions and 1,400 receiving yards in a single season.
2005: Featured on NCAA Football 2005 Cover
Larry Fitzgerald was featured on the cover of the EA Sports video game NCAA Football 2005.
2006: Fitzgerald's 2006 Season Overview
Despite a hamstring injury and a 5-11 record for the Cardinals, Larry Fitzgerald finished the 2006 season with 69 receptions for 946 yards and six touchdowns.
2006: Fitzgerald's 2006 Season Marked by Injury and Strong Finish
Larry Fitzgerald started the 2006 season strong but suffered a hamstring injury that caused him to miss three games. Upon his return, he delivered a career-high 172 receiving yards against the Minnesota Vikings. He ended the season with a surge, catching four touchdowns in the final five games.
2007: Contract Extension and Nickname Origins
Following a strong 2007 season, including 100 receptions for 1,409 yards and 10 touchdowns, Larry Fitzgerald signed a four-year, $40 million contract extension with the Arizona Cardinals. His performance earned him nicknames like "Sticky Fingers" and "The Best Hands in the NFL."
November 5, 2008: Fitzgerald's Thumb Injury
It is speculated that Fitzgerald injured his thumb on or around this date. He later played the postseason and the Pro Bowl with the injury.
2008: Fitzgerald's breakout year
In 2008, Fitzgerald had a stand-out individual season, recording seven 100+ yard games and three games with two touchdown receptions.
2008: Playoff Success and Super Bowl Appearance
In 2008, Larry Fitzgerald had a remarkable playoff run, culminating in Super Bowl XLIII. He set a single postseason record with 546 receiving yards and seven touchdown receptions. He also achieved a historical first with three touchdown receptions in the first half of the NFC Championship game. Although the Cardinals lost the Super Bowl to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Fitzgerald scored two touchdowns during the game, including a 64-yard reception in the fourth quarter.
2008: First-Team All-Pro Selection
Larry Fitzgerald was named first-team All-Pro in 2008.
2009: Strong Regular Season and Playoff Appearance
During the 2009 regular season, Larry Fitzgerald had 97 receptions for 1,092 yards and a league-leading 13 touchdowns. The Cardinals made the playoffs, and Fitzgerald added another two touchdown receptions in their Wild Card Round victory.
2009: Playoff Performance and Pro Bowl Selection
In the 2009 playoffs, Larry Fitzgerald helped the Cardinals win their Wild Card game against the Green Bay Packers with two touchdowns. Despite their subsequent loss to the New Orleans Saints, Fitzgerald earned his fourth career Pro Bowl selection.
2009: Pro Bowl MVP and Injury Reveal
Larry Fitzgerald was named MVP of the 2009 Pro Bowl, where he caught two touchdown passes. It was later revealed he had played through the postseason and Pro Bowl with a broken left thumb and torn cartilage.
2009: Second-Team All-Pro Selection
Larry Fitzgerald was named second-team All-Pro in 2009.
2010: Record Broken
Aaron Hernandez of the New England Patriots broke Larry Fitzgerald's record as the youngest player to record at least two touchdown receptions in a single game in 2010.
2010: Fifth Pro Bowl Selection
Despite a losing season for the team, Larry Fitzgerald's individual performance in 2010, which included 90 receptions for 1,137 yards and six touchdowns, earned him his fifth Pro Bowl selection.
2010: Game-Winning Touchdown and Season Overview
Larry Fitzgerald started the 2010 season with a game-winning touchdown against the St. Louis Rams. Although he had three games with over 100 receiving yards, the Cardinals missed the playoffs, finishing with a 5-11 record. Fitzgerald had several multi-touchdown games, such as in week 8 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where he had 2 touchdowns despite the loss.
August 20, 2011: Lucrative Contract Extension
On August 20, 2011, Larry Fitzgerald signed a substantial eight-year, $120 million contract extension with the Arizona Cardinals, making him one of the highest-paid players in the NFL.
2011: Strong Season, Player of the Week Honors
Larry Fitzgerald had a consistently strong 2011 season, exceeding 100 receiving yards in six games and earning NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors for his performance against the Philadelphia Eagles, where he caught two touchdowns.
2011: Second-Team All-Pro Selection
Larry Fitzgerald was named second-team All-Pro for the second time in his career in 2011.
2011: Ranked 14th on NFL Top 100
Larry Fitzgerald was ranked as the 14th best player in the NFL by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2011 list.
August 2012: Arthur S. Arkush Humanitarian Award
Larry Fitzgerald received the Arthur S. Arkush Humanitarian Award in August 2012, recognizing his community service and charitable work, including his five USO tours to support U.S. military members overseas.
2012: NFC Offensive Player of the Week
During the 2012 season, Larry Fitzgerald earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors for his Week 3 performance against the Philadelphia Eagles, which including 9 receptions, 114 yards, and 1 touchdown. He had two games with over 100 receiving yards during the season.
2012: Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Nominee
Following the 2012 season, Fitzgerald was named the Cardinals' Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year and was a finalist for the overall award.
2012: All-Pro and Pro Bowl Recognition
In 2012, Larry Fitzgerald's strong season, with 80 receptions for 1,411 yards and eight touchdowns, was acknowledged with a Second-team All-Pro selection and his sixth Pro Bowl appearance. He also set a personal best for yards per catch.
July 1, 2013: Jersey Retirement
On July 1, 2013, the University of Pittsburgh retired Larry Fitzgerald's #1 jersey.
2013: 2013 Season Overview
During the 2013 season, Fitzgerald achieved 82 receptions, 954 yards, and ten touchdowns. The Cardinals improved their record to 10-6 but missed the playoffs.
2013: 2013 Season Performance Details
Fitzgerald started the 2013 season with a strong performance, including eight receptions for 80 yards and two touchdowns against the Rams. He had several notable games, including topping 100 yards against the 49ers and scoring two touchdowns against the Colts. In the final game of the season, he caught six passes for 113 yards against the 49ers.
2013: NFL Players Association Georgetown Lombardi Award
In 2013, Larry Fitzgerald was honored with the NFL Players Association Georgetown Lombardi Award for his leadership in the sports industry and his commitment to cancer research, prevention, treatment, awareness, and philanthropy.
May 2014: Larry Fitzgerald's Philanthropic Initiatives with the First Down Fund
In May 2014, Larry Fitzgerald, through his "First Down Fund," engaged in several philanthropic activities. He partnered with Lenovo to provide tablets and equipment to schools in Minneapolis and Phoenix, donated to the Minneapolis Park and Recreation for basketball court refurbishment at Rev Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Park, and collaborated with Riddell to provide helmets for children in the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation football program.
2014: 2014 Season Summary
Fitzgerald finished the 2014 season with 63 receptions for 784 yards and two touchdowns. The Cardinals finished with an 11-5 record and returned to the playoffs.
2014: 2014 Pro Bowl and Ranking
Fitzgerald was named to his seventh consecutive and eighth overall Pro Bowl and ranked 38th on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2014 list.
2014: Henry P. Iba Citizen Athlete Male Recipient
Larry Fitzgerald was named the Henry P. Iba Citizen Athlete Male Recipient in 2014, recognizing his athletic achievements and contributions to his community.
2014: Record Broken Again
Mike Evans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers also broke Larry Fitzgerald's record as the youngest player to have at least two touchdown receptions in a single game in 2014.
February 18, 2015: Contract Extension
On February 18, 2015, Fitzgerald signed a multi-year contract extension with the Cardinals, guaranteeing him at least $11 million over the next two seasons.
2015: 2015 Season Overview
Fitzgerald finished the 2015 season with 109 catches for 1,215 yards and nine touchdowns.
2015: Reflects on Time as Ball Boy
In a 2015 interview, Larry Fitzgerald reflected on his experience as a ball boy for the Minnesota Vikings, highlighting the impact of observing professional athletes' work ethic.
2015: 2015 Wild Card Round and Ranking
In the 2015 Wild Card Round against the Panthers, Fitzgerald had three receptions for 31 yards in a loss. He was ranked 68th on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2015 list.
January 16, 2016: NFC Divisional Round Performance
On January 16, 2016, Fitzgerald helped the Cardinals win their divisional round playoff game against the Packers. He set a franchise record with 176 receiving yards, including a 75-yard reception and the game-winning touchdown in overtime. However, the Cardinals lost the NFC Championship game against the Panthers, with Fitzgerald only catching four passes for 30 yards.
August 5, 2016: Contract Extension
On August 5, 2016, Fitzgerald signed a one-year, $11 million contract extension with the Cardinals.
September 11, 2016: Season Opener and 100th Touchdown
On September 11, 2016, in the season opener against the Patriots, Fitzgerald caught eight passes for 81 yards and two touchdowns, becoming the 10th player in NFL history to reach 100 career touchdowns. He also had a two-touchdown game against the 49ers, despite the Cardinals' loss, and an impressive performance with 12 receptions for 132 yards in a victory over the 49ers later in the season. The Cardinals missed the playoffs with a 7-8-1 record.
2016: 2016 Pro Bowl and Ranking
He was selected to his ninth Pro Bowl and ranked 27th on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2016.
2016: 2016 Season Performance and Rankings
In 2016, Fitzgerald led the NFL in receptions with 107, marking the second time he achieved this feat. He recorded 1,023 receiving yards and six touchdowns, climbed to third on the all-time career reception list, and reached ninth all-time in receiving yards.
2016: College Graduation and University of Phoenix Spokesperson
Larry Fitzgerald graduated from the University of Phoenix in 2016, fulfilling a promise to his mother. He subsequently became a paid spokesperson for the university.
November 17, 2017: Contract Extension
On November 17, 2017, Larry Fitzgerald signed a one-year contract extension with the Arizona Cardinals for $11 million, keeping him with the team through the 2018 season.
December 19, 2017: Pro Bowl Selection (Later Replaced)
Larry Fitzgerald was initially selected to his 11th Pro Bowl on December 19, 2017. However, he was later replaced by Doug Baldwin of the Seattle Seahawks.
2017: 2017 Pro Bowl and Ranking
He earned his tenth Pro Bowl selection and was ranked 45th on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2017.
2017: Heritage Award from the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Larry Fitzgerald received the Heritage Award in 2017 from the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry for his continuous work in bettering the lives of people in Arizona.
August 30, 2018: Speaks at John McCain's Memorial Service
On August 30, 2018, Larry Fitzgerald spoke at the memorial service for Senator John McCain in Phoenix, Arizona.
January 23, 2019: Contract Extension and Return for 2019 Season
On January 23, 2019, Larry Fitzgerald announced his return for the 2019 season and signed a one-year contract extension with the Cardinals.
2019: Career-Low Receiving Yards and First Touchdown Pass
During the 2019 season, Larry Fitzgerald recorded a career-low 734 receiving yards. However, he also threw his first career touchdown pass, a 32-yarder to David Johnson.
January 15, 2020: Re-signs with Cardinals
Larry Fitzgerald re-signed with the Arizona Cardinals on a one-year, $11 million contract on January 15, 2020.
January 22, 2020: Becomes Minority Owner of Phoenix Suns
Larry Fitzgerald purchased a minority stake in the NBA's Phoenix Suns on January 22, 2020.
November 26, 2020: Placed on COVID-19 List
On November 26, 2020, Larry Fitzgerald was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list after testing positive for the virus.
2020: Minority Owner of Phoenix Suns
Larry Fitzgerald became a minority owner of the Phoenix Suns in 2020.
September 2021: Co-hosts "Let's Go!" Podcast
In September 2021, Larry Fitzgerald partnered with Jim Gray and Tom Brady to launch and co-host the "Let's Go!" podcast, focusing on NFL news and discussions.
2021: Ranked Among Greatest Wide Receivers
In 2021, ESPN ranked Larry Fitzgerald second on their list of the 50 greatest wide receivers of the past 50 years.
February 16, 2022: Hints at Retirement
On February 16, 2022, Larry Fitzgerald acknowledged that he was not planning on returning to the NFL, though he did not officially announce his retirement.
September 7, 2022: Joins ESPN's Monday Night Countdown
On September 7, 2022, it was announced that Larry Fitzgerald had joined ESPN's Monday Night Countdown as an analyst.
September 2022: Begins as ESPN Analyst
Larry Fitzgerald started working as an analyst for ESPN in September 2022, providing commentary and analysis on NFL games and events.
February 7, 2023: Retains Suns Ownership Stake
Larry Fitzgerald retained his minority ownership stake in the Phoenix Suns following the sale of the team to Mat and Justin Ishbia on February 7, 2023.
2023: Henry Crown Fellow Nomination
Larry Fitzgerald was nominated as a Henry Crown Fellow in 2023.
