Larry Fitzgerald Sr. Tragically Passes Away
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
The NFL world is in mourning this week after the tragic news that Larry Fitzgerald Sr. passed away on Monday, according to his family. He was 71.
According to the post, Fitzgerald Sr. died Monday “peacefully” and “surrounded by his family and the people who loved him most.”
His family would release a statement following his death.
“It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our father, Larry Fitzgerald Sr.,” Larry’s son Marcus wrote on X on Monday. “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. He left us peacefully this afternoon, surrounded by his family and the people who loved him most.”
“We are so grateful for the incredible care and kindness shown by the team at the University of Minnesota Fairview Southdale Hospital during this time,” continued Marcus. “We ask that you keep our family in your thoughts and prayers as we navigate these first difficult days.”
Larry Fitzgerald Sr. Spent More Than 40 Years in Sports Media
Fitzgerald’s media career spanned over 40 years. He spent 35 years as a sports editor and columnist with the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. That is the oldest Black-owned newspaper in Minnesota.
On the radio, he first hit Minnesota airwaves in 1978 on KMOJ-FM 89.9.
Throughout his career, Fitzgerald worked for Voyager Broadcasting and spent time at KFAN in the early 1990s. Following his departure from KFAN in 1994, he began hosting a live post-game show for the Minnesota Timberwolves inside Target Center.
Larry Fitzgerald Jr. was recently selected to this year’s Pro Football Hall of Fame class and was set to be inducted on Aug. 8 in Canton, Ohio.
Fitzgerald was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, and was a two-time All-American defensive tackle for Fenger High School. He went on to play defensive tackle collegiately at Indiana State University from 1975-77, per Yahoo.
