greenwichtime
TEMPE, Ariz. — When Larry Fitzgerald arrived in Arizona as a 20-year-old rookie, his primary goal was to become an NFL superstar. But before that, he needed to master a more mundane skill: doing his own laundry.
As Fitzgerald prepares for his enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday in Canton, Ohio, the memories he treasures most from his 17-year tenure with the Cardinals aren't solely about the 2008 Super Bowl run or his highlight-reel catches. Instead, he fondly recalls folding clothes alongside equipment managers Mark Ahlemeier and Steve Christensen, learning the ropes of adulthood.
“It was on those big industrial washers and dryers in the back,” Fitzgerald said. “My mom washed my clothes when I got to college, then my girlfriend did it for me. I had to figure it out when I got to Arizona, and those guys helped me in a big way. Those are the things that make you look back and be appreciative and thankful that they would do that for you. Because they didn't have to do that.”
The bond between Fitzgerald and the Cardinals never wavered, even as the team experienced both highs and lows. The pinnacle came during the 2008 postseason, when he dominated with 30 receptions for 546 yards and seven touchdowns across four games. That yardage total remains an NFL record for a single postseason, culminating in a Super Bowl performance where he caught seven passes for 127 yards and two scores, including a go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter, though the Pittsburgh Steelers rallied for a 27-23 victory on Feb. 1, 2009.
“It's truly a blessing to come in at 20 years old and stay with the same organization for their entire career,” Fitzgerald said. “It's a two-way street. Ownership has to want you to be there, and you have to want to be there as well.”
Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 218 pounds, Fitzgerald used his combination of size and speed to amass 17,492 receiving yards, ranking second all-time behind Jerry Rice. His 1,432 career receptions also place him second in NFL history, while his 121 touchdown catches rank sixth. He earned 11 Pro Bowl selections and was named All-Pro in 2008. Remarkably, he achieved this production despite playing with 22 different quarterbacks over his career, including journeymen like John Navarre, Brian St. Pierre, Max Hall, Richard Bartel, Ryan Lindley, and Brett Hundley, alongside elite passers like Kurt Warner and Carson Palmer.
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Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill often cites a staggering statistic about Fitzgerald: he recorded more career tackles (41) than dropped passes (29). “That's an incredible statistic and it's unimaginable,” Bidwill said. “The professionalism, the attention to detail of his craft, and how he never stopped working. He was always the first player at practice and the last guy off the field. I'd say to every rookie, everyone who didn't feel like they needed to practice harder — Look at our best player. There's a reason he's our best player.”
The Bidwill family's relationship with Fitzgerald transcends typical owner-player dynamics. Michael Bidwill recalls a poignant Thanksgiving in 2016, when Fitzgerald visited his father, Bill, who had recently lost his wife to cancer. “He knew that was the first major holiday that my dad didn't have my mom there,” Michael said. “It meant so much to him.” After leaving the Bidwills' home, Fitzgerald served meals at a soup kitchen and visited a children's hospital to say goodnight to young patients, all following a demanding two-hour practice before a significant game.
Fitzgerald downplayed the gesture, saying, “So many people are struggling and going through difficult times. I think it's good to be aware of all that. I wanted to make sure that the people who turn the TVs on every single week, supporting us, for them to feel that same level of support from me and my family.”
Fitzgerald's final season in 2020 was played amid the COVID-19 pandemic, often in empty or sparsely filled stadiums. He never formally announced his retirement, quietly concluding a career that ranks among the best for a receiver in NFL history. Six years later, he will join the league's all-time greats in Canton. This summer has been bittersweet, as his father, Larry Fitzgerald Sr., a longtime sports writer in Minnesota, passed away on June 1 at age 71. His father's profession helped Fitzgerald feel at ease with the media in Arizona.
As he reflects on his career, Fitzgerald emphasizes the everyday moments over the accolades. “It's not always the great moments — the Super Bowls and playoff games,” he said. “It's the conversations you have at lunch with guys. Seeing teammates get married and have kids and their families grow. Guys getting new contracts. Guys going from practice squad, to being free agents, to being starters, seeing the maturation and the process. Those are the parts of the game you really miss.”
Originally reported by greenwichtime.