What is Larry Fitzgerald’s net worth and salary?
Larry Fitzgerald, the retired American football player, has a net worth of $75 million. He played for the Arizona Cardinals for 17 seasons after playing college football at the University of Pittsburgh. Fitzgerald is widely considered to be one of the greatest receivers in NFL history, ranking second in career receiving yards and receptions.
Larry Fitzgerald’s NFL Career Earnings
Larry Fitzgerald signed an 8-year $120 million contract with the Cardinals on August 20th, 2011. In total, he earned $180 million from NFL salary alone. On top of that, he also earned around $10 million from endorsements. Here is a breakdown of his salary by season (2004-2020):
Total NFL Career Earnings (2004-2020): $180,300,000
Larry Fitzgerald’s Early Years
Larry Fitzgerald Jr. was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on August 31, 1983 to Larry Sr. and Carol. He attended the Academy of Holy Angels in Richfield, where he played high school football and was a two-time first-team All-State wide receiver. Fitzgerald also gained additional experience by working as a ball boy for the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings. Due to failing to meet NCAA requirements, he spent a year at Valley Forge Military Academy in Wayne, Pennsylvania.
Larry Fitzgerald’s College Career
Larry Fitzgerald played for the Panthers football team at the University of Pittsburgh. In his freshman season in 2002, he recorded 69 receptions for 1,005 yards and 12 touchdowns. Fitzgerald had an even more impressive sophomore season, leading the Big East conference with 92 receptions for 1,672 yards and leading the whole NCAA with 22 touchdowns. Following the season, he won the Walter Camp Award as the best player in the NCAA, and came in second for the Heisman Trophy. Fitzgerald subsequently left Pitt to enter the NFL Draft. He finished his collegiate career with a school record of 34 receiving touchdowns.
Larry Fitzgerald’s NFL Career
Larry Fitzgerald was drafted third overall by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2004 NFL Draft. He had a solid rookie season, but significantly upped his game in 2005, leading the NFL in receptions and earning his first Pro Bowl selection. Fitzgerald continued to impress, with a superb 2008 season that saw him lead the NFL in touchdowns and set a new single-postseason record with 546 receiving yards. He had another impressive season in 2009, leading the NFL in touchdowns again. Fitzgerald signed an eight-year contract with the team in 2011 and continued to make Pro Bowl appearances. He was named the Cardinals’ Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year in 2012. Fitzgerald made his eighth Pro Bowl in 2013, cementing his status as one of the NFL’s top wide receivers.
Larry Fitzgerald’s NFL Career Highlights
Larry Fitzgerald had a strong 2015 season, finishing with 109 receptions for 1,215 yards and nine touchdowns to help lead the Cardinals to the NFC West title. He continued his success in 2016, leading the NFL in receptions with 107 and making his tenth career Pro Bowl. With the retirements of Anquan Boldin and Steve Smith the following year, Fitzgerald became the career leader in receptions and receiving yards among all active players. He had an exceptional 2017 season, tying his career best of 109 receptions.
In 2018, Fitzgerald reached 15,952 career receiving yards, the second-most of all time behind Jerry Rice in Week 10. Four weeks later, he set the record for most receptions with one team, with 1,282. In 2019, Fitzgerald surpassed Tony Gonzalez for the second-most career receptions of all time. However, he had a less successful 2020, testing positive for COVID-19 and finishing the season with a career-low 54 receptions for 409 receiving yards and one touchdown across 13 games.
Fitzgerald officially retired from NFL playing in 2022 and soon after joined ESPN’s “Monday Night Countdown.”
Larry Fitzgerald’s Business Ventures and Philanthropy
Larry Fitzgerald fulfilled his promise to his late mother in 2016, completing his undergraduate degree with the University of Phoenix. He has since become a paid spokesperson for the school. Fitzgerald also became a part-owner of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns in 2020 and is an active venture investor, running his own travel business.
Fitzgerald is a philanthropist, establishing the Larry Fitzgerald First Down Fund to support kids and their families through athletic activities, educational programs, and various donations. In honor of his mother, who passed away from breast cancer in 2003, Fitzgerald established the Carol Fitzgerald Memorial Fund.
Fitzgerald’s History of Domestic Violence
Larry Fitzgerald, who has two sons with Angela Nazario, was accused of domestic violence in 2008. Nazario filed an order of protection against him for abusing her at home.
