Larry Fitzgerald (born August 31, 1983 in Minneapolis, Minnesota) is an American football wide receiver currently playing for the Arizona Cardinals. As a youth, he worked as a ball boy for the Minnesota Vikings, and during that time, was mentored by Randy Moss and Cris Carter.
Larry attended the Valley Forge Military Academy in Wayne, Pennsylvania as a postgrad student, graduating in June of 2002. He then 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 2003 Columbus Touchdown Club Player of the Year was a unanimous 2003 All-America selection. Additionally, he was 2003 runner-up for the prestigious Heisman Trophy, for the most outstanding player in college football; Oklahoma's Jason White won that award by a relatively slim margin. 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 old school all-time 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.
He left college early and was drafted 3rd overall in the 2004 NFL Draft, by the Arizona Cardinals. In 2004 he had 58 receptions for 780 yards and 8 touchdowns. In 2005 he had 103 receptions for 1,409 yards and 10 touchdowns and was named to his first Pro Bowl.
