A renowned sports writer for the Minnesota Vikings, the father of the Hall of Fame, and a lifelong philanthropist, Larry Fitzgerald Sr. took his last breath on June 01, 2026, leaving behind a long-lasting legacy that goes beyond the gridiron. 

The news of the sudden demise of the 71-year-old sports writer has left the Minnesota Vikings community mourning the loss of one of its most respected voices.

“The Vikings organization is saddened by the passing of Larry Fitzgerald Sr., a distinguished journalist and trusted voice in Minnesota sports for nearly 50 years,” per the Vikings' official statement. “Larry built relationships with players, coaches…”

The Chicago native started his sports writing career 40 years ago, making his debut on the Black community radio station KMOJ-FM in 1978. 

While progressing through his career, he also maintained a constant presence in Twin Cities newspapers and on local sports radio.

The Living Legend Legacy Award winner started writing for the Vikings in the 80s and continued writing for them until 2021. Larry used to write for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, where he covered the NFL, sports, and community issues. 

Throughout his career, he covered 40 Super Bowls, but one made him nationally prominent, the Super Bowl XLIII.

“I won’t cheer,” Fitzgerald told ESPN before the game. “I’m going to stay objective. I’ve come too far to suddenly show up in the press box with pompoms…”

Larry became the first American journalist to cover his own son in the Super Bowl XLIII during the Arizona Cardinals' match against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2009. 

He acted as the critic of his own son, showing him that his work and passion come first. 

Other than football, Larry also founded the Carol Fitzgerald Memorial Fund to honor his wife, who died of breast cancer, to raise money for breast cancer, HIV research, and urban education.

For the Fitzgerald family, however, the loss goes far beyond his public legacy.

Marcus Fitzgerald Opens Up on Losing His Father

Following his death, Marcus Fitzgerald shared a heartfelt post on X reflecting on the sudden loss of his father, Larry Fitzgerald Sr.

“A devoted father, husband, grandfather, and a true pioneer in the Minnesota broadcasting community, he spent his life pouring into the people and the city he loved so much,” the Fitzgerald family said in a statement on X. “He left us peacefully this afternoon, surrounded by his family and the people who loved him most.”

Marcus’s post painted a picture of a man whose legacy extended far beyond broadcasting. 

While many in the NFL universe knew him as a respected voice in Minnesota sports media, Marcus remembered him first as a father, husband, and grandfather who dedicated himself to the people closest to him.

For Marcus Fitzgerald and his loved ones, the loss is deeply personal. Yet his message also served as a celebration of a life spent uplifting others and building lasting connections throughout the community.

Larry Fitzgerald Sr.'s impact on Minnesota will be remembered, but for his family, his greatest legacy remains the love he gave them every day.

We offer our sincere condolences to the Fitzgerald family. May his soul rest in peace!

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Written by

Kunwar Yashaswee Chhaunker