Larry Fitzgerald Sr., the father of longtime Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, has died at 71. His family and the Minnesota Vikings both remembered him as a longtime Minnesota broadcasting and sports journalism figure who built relationships ac
Larry Fitzgerald Sr. has died at 71, according to a statement shared by his family this week.
“It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our father, Larry Fitzgerald Sr. A devoted father. husband. grandfather. and a true pioneer in the Minnesota broadcasting community. he spent his life pouring into the people and the city he loved so much. ” Marcus Fitzgerald. the brother of the Cardinals star. wrote on social media.
Before his career in sports media, Fitzgerald Sr. was born and raised in Chicago. He played college football at Indian Hills Community College and Indiana State University. He graduated in 1978, then went on to build a lengthy career in sports broadcasting and sportswriting in the Minneapolis area.
The Minnesota Vikings also issued a statement after his death. “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 team wrote. “Larry built relationships with players. coaches and staff members of each of the local teams and was recognized across the NFL. covering dozens of Super Bowls and other major events.”.
Earlier this year, Fitzgerald Sr. watched as his son was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, a moment that marked a major milestone for the Fitzgerald family. Now, tributes are arriving in the wake of his passing, including from the teams and communities that relied on his work for decades.
In Minnesota sports, his name carried weight beyond any single game. He was described as a pioneer in the Minnesota broadcasting community and as a journalist known for trust and relationships built over nearly 50 years. For players. coaches. and staff members across local teams. that kind of steady presence is often felt long after a broadcast ends—an absence that will now be shared across the sports world he helped narrate.
Larry Fitzgerald Sr. Larry Fitzgerald Minnesota Vikings sports journalist broadcasting Minneapolis Pro Football Hall of Fame Super Bowls
RIP. Didn’t even know he was that old, 71 is rough.
I thought Larry Fitzgerald Sr was like… a coach or something? Like why am I only finding out he was broadcasting. Vikings really had him on speed dial I guess. Sad though.
Wait so Larry Fitzgerald Sr was the guy who worked Super Bowls but wasn’t he on the field? My brain keeps mixing up “Larry Fitzgerald” the player vs his dad. Still, the Vikings statement makes it sound like he was everywhere in Minneapolis sports.
That’s really heartbreaking. I swear I’ve heard his voice on stuff growing up in Minnesota like during random games. Also the Pro Football Hall of Fame thing this year—his son probably couldn’t stop smiling and now this. Idk why but this feels like one of those “big personalities” gone from local sports, not just some article headline.