Arizona Cardinals legend Larry Fitzgerald Jr. shared an emotional Instagram tribute to his father, Larry Fitzgerald Sr., after his death at age 71. Fitzgerald Jr. wrote that his father was a source of strength and guidance, days after the family announced he d
Larry Fitzgerald Jr. didn’t hold back when he wrote about the loss of his father.
The Arizona Cardinals legend shared an emotional Instagram note honoring Larry Fitzgerald Sr., who died at age 71 on Monday. In the post. Fitzgerald Jr. 42. described his father as “a man of strength. love and encouragement. ” and paired the message with a family statement as well as two photos of the duo on the golf course.
“My father was a man of strength, love and encouragement,” Fitzgerald Jr. wrote. “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 added that his father’s lessons will stay with him: “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 Sr.’s death came roughly two months before his son was set to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Fitzgerald Jr. had been voted into the Hall of Fame in February. As of Monday’s passing, no cause of death was released.
In the family statement that Fitzgerald Jr. shared on Instagram. the Fitzgerald family said it “is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Larry Fitzgerald. Sr. a devoted father. husband. grandfather and trailblazer in the Minnesota broadcasting community.” The statement continued: “He left us peacefully this afternoon. surrounded by his family and loved ones.”.
The family also expressed gratitude for support during the difficult time, “especially from the team at Fairview Southdale Hospital,” and asked for privacy as they mourn.
Long before his son’s NFL legacy became a household name, Fitzgerald Sr. was a fixture in Minnesota sports media. He spent more than four decades covering Minnesota sports for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. In 2009. he became the first person to cover his son in the Super Bowl when Fitzgerald Jr.’s Arizona Cardinals lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Fitzgerald Sr. said at the time that he would keep his role objective. “I won’t cheer,” he told ESPN. “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.”
For Fitzgerald Jr. the tribute reads like more than grief—it’s a reminder of what his father built alongside the career. Fitzgerald Jr. spent his entire NFL career with the Cardinals. retiring in 2020 as an 11-time Pro Bowler and a member of the NFL All-Decade Team for the 2010s. Growing up. he and his brother. Marcus. shared a tight bond with their father and often joined him in the Spokesman-Recorder newsroom.
The impact of Fitzgerald Sr.’s work wasn’t limited to game days, either. Spokesman-Recorder CEO and publisher Tracey Williams-Dillard remembered him as a “strong voice” in the Minnesota community. “I think he was kind of like our community sports authority,” she told The Athletic on Tuesday. ”He’ll be greatly missed in the sports world and just in the community in general.”.
Now, with a Hall of Fame induction approaching and the family asking for privacy, the focus has returned to the relationship Fitzgerald Jr. described most plainly: his father, the “rock of our family,” guiding his sons with love, encouragement, and conviction.
Larry Fitzgerald Jr. Larry Fitzgerald Sr. Instagram tribute Pro Football Hall of Fame Arizona Cardinals Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder Fairview Southdale Hospital
Damn, prayers up.
That Instagram post is hitting hard. I didn’t even know his dad was in broadcasting?? But it says Minnesota so I guess that tracks. Hope the family is doing okay.
Wait so his dad died and Larry’s still getting inducted like nothing? Feels weird timing honestly. Also I swear I saw something about the cause being like… natural? but then it says no cause released so who knows.
Golf course pics got me, like why does that always make it sadder. And people keep saying “trailblazer” but I’m confused, was he the one who opened doors for Larry’s football career? Or was it like broadcasting doors? Either way RIP, just sucks because he was 71 which feels way too young still.