As far as the history of the National Football League (NFL) for the Arizona Cardinals is concerned, one name should not be forgotten: Larry Fitzgerald. As a pro-American footballer who helped the team reach the NFL Pro Bowl in 2008, he is a wide receiver who has steadily grown in his career since the NFL Draft in 2004. Beyond the cardinals, he was also an important player during his student days. Here’s everything you need to know about him.
Larry Fitzgerald Biography
On August 31, 1983, the NFL wide receiver was born as Larry Darnell Fitzgerald Jr. in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Just as you would expect from many others who have moved up in various sports, Larry came from a family that loved the sport. This became an inspiration for him.
For his education, he attended the Richfield (MN) Academy of Holy Angels, from where he transferred to the University of Pittsburgh. As might be expected, he played the sport he loved during his school days and made it into the NFL in 2004 after finishing the third pick in round one with the draft of the year.
When he played for the Pittsburgh Panthers, he became famous as one of the very best wide receivers. His first season in 2002 was an overwhelming success and helped the team to a professional bowl, and his second season also showed that he was the best player of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at that time.
Much later he would return to the University of Phoenix from where he completed his undergraduate studies in 2016. This was mainly because he had promised his mother that he would finish college.
It is very interesting to note that he began his career with the Cardinals of Arizona. In the course of his career, he has won 11 Pro-Bowls and was among many other successes once a member of the first-team All-Pro, twice of the second-team All-Pro. These include the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year 2016.
ALSO READ: Who is Ricky Dillon? Is He Gay, How Old is He, Here Are More Facts on His Sexuality
Family, Mom
As mentioned earlier, the NFL star grew up in a family that loved the sport. His father Larry Fitzgerald Sr. has been a sports reporter for a very long time. He has worked with various media such as television, radio, the internet, and above all the newspapers. He has played more than 30 Super Bowls. When he was much younger in his high school days, the older Fitzgerald also played football, although he did not go pro.
Larry Fitzgerald Jr. has a younger brother, Marcus Fitzgerald, who also plays soccer. According to him, the two brothers had to learn the mental part of the game from their father. This was so far back when Larry was only 10 years old.
He was very close to his mother Carol Fitzgerald until her death in 2003. He lost it due to a cerebral hemorrhage caused after the treatment of breast cancer. At the time of her death, Fitzgerald was in college and when he and his brother came to see her, she was already in a coma. In her memory, the NFL star now leaves his hair like he did because she too brought dead-ends with her. More than that, he’s still carrying her driver’s license.
Wife, Kids, and Girlfriend
In case you’re wondering, Larry Fitzgerald has no wife and has never been married. However, it was known that he had a few girlfriends in the past, the first of whom was Angela Nazario. The two dates from 2006, when he was just 22 years old, while the cheerleader was 35 years old. Although the relationship did not last long, it produced a son, Devine Fitzgerald.
Angela Nazario and Larry were later involved in a lawsuit in which the former cheerleader accused him of domestic violence. She managed to secure protection against him.
ALSO READ: Grace Gealey Parents, Married, Husband, Body Measurements, Height
Larry also has a fairly long relationship with Melissa Blakesley, the mother of his second child, Apollo Fitzgerald. The two have been sticking together for some time now, and many already consider her to be his wife. The footballer is very close to his two children.
Larry Fitzgerald Body Measurements
The Dreadlock Cardinals Wide Receiver has a good physique that has helped him play successfully in the NFL for more than 14 years. He is 1.91 m (6 feet 3 inches) tall and has a bodyweight of 99 kg (218 lb). As already mentioned, his general body measurements are not given.
