Larry Darnell Fitzgerald, Jr. (born August 31, 1983 in Minneapolis, Minnesota) is an American football wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cardinals third overall in the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Pittsburgh.

Early years

Fitzgerald attended Minnehaha Academy in 1998 as a freshman. As a freshman he starred on the Redhawks varsity football team as a defensive back. Larry also played in one of the most lopsided games in Minnesota State high school football history. DeLasalle High School, led by the future Northwestern and University of Minnesota standout Ben Johnson, beat the Redhawks. Larry made a decision the following fall to enroll at The Academy of Holy Angels. At Holy Angels Larry dominated while playing with future University of Wisconsin quarterback John Stocco. In early 2001 in the middle of his senior year, Larry transferred to the Valley Forge Military Academy in Wayne, Pennsylvania to help him better prepare for college. He graduated a year and a half later in May 2002. He originally committed to Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN before enrolling at Pittsburgh.

College

Fitzgerald attended the University of Pittsburgh and became a star, widely considered one of the greatest players at his position in the history of the college game. After just his sophomore year, Fitzgerald garnered the 2003 Walter Camp Player of the Year Award (for the best player in college football), the 2003 Biletnikoff Award (for the best wide receiver in college football), and the 2003 Columbus Touchdown Club Player of the Year. He was also a unanimous 2003 All-America selection. Additionally, he was 2003 runner-up for the prestigious Heisman Trophy, given to the most outstanding player in college football; Oklahoma’s Jason White won that award by a relatively slim margin. It is argued that he won due to how good his team was and not because his individual performance for the year had been superior to Fitzgerald’s. Purportedly, many Heisman voters wanted to change their vote after White’s poor performance in the national championship Sugar Bowl against LSU. White’s performance created a controversy about whether giving the Heisman after the bowl games take place is better than awarding the Heisman prior to bowl games. Many people believed that Fitzgerald should have won instead of Jason White.

In just 26 games with the Panthers, Fitzgerald hauled in 161 passes for 2,677 yards (16.6 avg.) and 34 touchdowns. Only Antonio Bryant (173, 1999-2001) and Latef Grim (178, 1998-2000) had more receptions in a career at Pittsburgh. His 2,677 yards rank behind Grim (2,680), Dietrich Jells (3,003, 1991-95) and Bryant (3,061). His 34 scoring grabs broke the school record of 30 by Bryant. Fitzgerald also holds an NCAA record with at least one touchdown catch in eighteen straight games. He was the first player in school history with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons receiving, and his 14 games with at least 100 yards receiving broke the previous Panthers all-time record of 13, set by Bryant.

Fitzgerald left the University of Pittsburgh after a tremendous year in which he caught 92 passes for 1,672 yards and 22 TDs. He was drafted 3rd overall in the 2004 NFL Draft, by the Arizona Cardinals. Dennis Green, then coach of the Cardinals knew Fitzgerald from the Vikings from his time as a ball boy. So far, he has proven to be a franchise wide receiver, being a favorite target for Arizona’s current QB, Kurt Warner. In 2004 he had 58 receptions for 780 yards and 8 touchdowns. In 2005 he led the NFL with 103 receptions for 1,409 yards and 10 touchdowns and was named to his first Pro Bowl. Fitzgerald teams with Anquan Boldin to create one of the most dangerous wide receiver tandems in the NFL. In 2005, the Arizona Cardinals WRs became only the third duo from the same team to each catch over 100 passes (see Herman Moore and Brett Perriman, also Rod Smith and Ed McCaffrey). Boldin and Fitzgerald also topped the 1,400-yard mark, only the third duo to achieve that in NFL history. They joined Detroit’s Herman Moore and Brett Perriman, who accomplished the feat in 1995, and St. Louis’ Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce, who did it in 2000. In 2006, Fitzgerald was injured and missed part of the season, but still produced 69 receptions for 946 yards and 6 touchdowns. As part of his 2007 Pro Bowl season, he caught 100 receptions for 1,409 yards and 10 touchdowns. Following the 2007 season Fitzgerald signed a four-year, $40 million contract extension with Arizona. While still under contract at the time, performance based bonuses forced the team’s hand into a massive extension.