Sportswriter Larry Fitzgerald Sr. Dies at 71 as His NFL Hall of Famer Son Shares Touching Tribute

Larry Firzgerald Sr. in 2018 (left); Larry Fitzgerald Jr. (right) Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty; Carmen Mandato/GettyNEED TO KNOWLarry Fitzgerald Sr., a respected sports journalist who covered Minnesota sports for nearly five decades, has died • >His son, NFL Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald Jr., remembered him as a "man of strength, love and encouragement" • >The Minnesota Vikings and others praised his legacy as a journalist, father and community leaderLarry Fitzgerald Sr., the longtime sports journalist and father of NFL Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald Jr., died on Monday, June 1, his family said on social media. Fitzgerald Sr. was 71.

>“He left us peacefully this afternoon, surrounded by his family and loved ones,” the Fitzgerald family said in a statement shared on social media by Fitzgerald Jr. “We are so grateful for all the love and support we have received during this difficult time, especially from the team at Fairview Southdale Hospital. We ask for privacy as we mourn his loss.”

>Fitzgerald Jr. also shared recent photos with his father and younger brother, Marcus Fitzgerald, on a golf course.

>“My father was a man of strength, love and encouragement,” Fitzgerald Jr. added on X. “He opened countless doors for me and my brother. He believed in us and pushed us to pursue every opportunity with conviction, he was the rock of our family.”

>“He taught us that perseverance, hard work, and unwavering commitment are the foundations of a meaningful life and personal success. I will carry his love, words, and wisdom with me always,” Fitzgerald Jr. continued.

>Fitzgerald Sr., a Chicago native, began a nearly five-decade career covering Minnesota sports in 1978. After starting in radio, he was hired as a columnist for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, where he worked for over 45 years, according to ESPN.

>The journalist was also often spotted in press boxes when his son was playing on the field. In 2009, he was possibly the first journalist to cover his son in a Super Bowl when Fitzgerald Jr. and the Arizona Cardinals reached Super Bowl XLIII, ESPN reported at the time.

>"I won't cheer," Fitzgerald Sr. told ESPN when asked how he'd cover the game. "I'm going to stay objective. I've come too far to suddenly show up in the press box with pompoms. But if you could put a monitor on my insides, you'd find a whole fan club in there."

>"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 Minnesota Vikings wrote in a statement on Monday. "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,” the Vikings' statement continued. “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."

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>Fitzgerald Jr. spent his entire 17-year career with the Cardinals and retired in 2020. The wide receiver was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in February.

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