Larry Fitzgerald Sr., Minnesota Sportswriter and Father of Hall of Famer, Dies at 71

Larry Fitzgerald Sr. died Monday at age 71, according to a family statement posted on X by his son Marcus. The statement said Fitzgerald Sr. died peacefully, surrounded by relatives, and thanked staff at University of Minnesota Fairview Southdale Hospital for their care.

Sr. worked for decades as a sportswriter in Minnesota, covering local professional teams and major national events. In 2009 he reported on his son’s participation in Super Bowl XLIII. He received the 2019 Living Legend Legacy Award for his contributions to sports journalism.

2003 Fitzgerald Sr. established the Carol Fitzgerald Memorial Fund to raise awareness about breast cancer after the death of his wife. During a February public appearance he expressed pride that his son had been selected for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2026 class on the first ballot.

," Marcus wrote. " >"He left us peacefully this afternoon, surrounded by his family and the people who loved him most. " — Marcus R.