Larry Fitzgerald had a 17-season career in becoming one of the NFL’s all-time best wide receivers, but his time in the NFL began long before that.
Vikings coach Dennis Green, who was friends with Fitzgerald’s father, Larry Fitzgerald Sr., hired Fitzgerald as a boy ball at 14 years old.
“I grew up watching legends being built right in front of me,” Fitzgerald said in a 14-minute speech. “Hall of Fame players like John Randle, Chris Doleman, Randall McDaniel and Warren Moon, who taught me what it means to demand more of yourself than anyone else ever would. Plus, they saw me. At 8 in the morning, before training camp practice, it was: ‘What’s up, Fitzy! Hey Little Fitz, can you grab me two wrist bands real quick.’
“I was being acknowledged by the greats, and if I wanted to ask a question — at the right time — about a play, they would always answer. Without that experience, I’m not here.”
Here is the Pro Football Hall of Fame, where Fitzgerald became a first-ballot gold jacket player on Saturday. He got a bust in Canton after 17,492 career receiving yards, the second-most in NFL history behind Jerry Rice. His 1,432 career catches are also second all time while his 121 receiving touchdowns rank sixth. He was an 11-time Pro Bowl selection and made All-Pro in 2008.
He did it with a team that didn’t always have star quarterbacks, as 22 of them threw at least one pass to Fitzgerald.
Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill’s favorite stat to sum up Fitzgerald’s career is that Fitzgerald had more career tackles (41) than dropped passes (29).
Fitzgerald, like the more than 300 Hall of Famers before him, had a long list of those to thank. Cris Carter, Kurt Warner, Emmitt Smith and Randy Moss were among the former players he called by name.
“If you were paying attention, you heard some fundamental themes in this speech,” Fitzgerald said. “One, it’s not hard to find people who will tell you what you want to hear. Make a conscious effort to surround yourself with people who will
tell you what you need to hear. The hard things. The uncomfortable things. Believe me, the people in that second group care about you far more than those in the first.
“Two, life is short. Time is precious. And not one of us knows how much we have. So many of the people I mentioned today are no longer with us. Some gone much too soon. Make your time count. Fill every 24 hours with the passions and pursuits that mean the most to you.
“And lastly, there’s not much traffic on the extra mile in life, so be sure to bring others along with you. I’ve talked about the people who supported, taught and inspired me. Copy their examples and remember: Don’t just pursue excellence for yourself. Help other people pursue it, too. That’s the part of this story that matters the most. Not the likes. Not the fame. But the people you travel with. The values you uphold. In the end, it’s not just about the excellence. It’s about the people who help get you there.”
Fitzgerald’s father was instrumental in his success, and Fitzgerald honored him late in his speech. Fitzgerald Sr., who was widely known in the Twin Cities after 50 years as a sports reporter, died June 1 at the age of 71.
“My dad, who I lost recently, is also here in spirit,” Fitzgerald said. He was the solid foundation of our family, and the standard I measure myself against. Dad, looking back, I know there were times you must have felt like you were carrying the weight of the world. But you always showed up, and your love, your willingness to sacrifice, and your consistency have been the blueprint I use to raise your grandsons.”
