Pitt Great Larry Fitzgerald Named NFL Man of the Year
2/6/2017 12:00:00 AM | Football
PITTSBURGH—Larry Fitzgerald added to his legendary football career résumé over the weekend as the former Pitt wide receiver and current member of the Arizona Cardinals received the prestigious honor of being named Walter Payton Man of the Year for the 2016 National Football League season.
Fitzgerald, who recently announced he would be returning to the Cardinals in 2017 for his 14th NFL season, shared the award with New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning. The pair were announced as co-winners for one of the sport's most coveted awards at the NFL Honors event on the eve of Super Bowl LI.
"It's truly humbling," Fitzgerald told AZCardinals.com. "It kind of hit me when I was walking up on that stage, with (former winners) Anthony Munoz and Derrick Brooksand Kurt Warner and Warrick Dunn, all these guys who have been pillars in their communities. To be thought of in the same light as those men, football aside, that's what it's about."
Fitzgerald was chosen as the Cardinals' Man of the Year because of his charitable and community work, most notably with his own First Down Foundation and the Carol Fitzgerald Memorial Fund. The latter is named after Fitzgerald's late mother, who died from breast cancer.
The First Down Fund mainly helps kids in both Phoenix and Fitzgerald's hometown of Minneapolis by donating money to fund books, field trips, supplies and technology to underprivileged youth.
Fitzgerald became the second former Pitt football player to be named NFL Man of the Year. Quarterback Dan Marino of the Miami Dolphins previously won the award after the 1998 season.
During his Pitt career, Fitzgerald most notably won the 2003 Walter Camp Player of the Year and the Biletnikoff Award and was a runner-up for the Heisman Trophy that same year after his unstoppable sophomore season that resulted in 92 receptions, 1,672 yards (18.2 avg.) and 22 touchdowns. In just 26 collegiate games, Fitzgerald totaled 161 catches for 2,677 yards (16.6 avg.) and a Pitt-record 34 TDs. His streak of 18 consecutive games with a touchdown catch is still an NCAA record.
Since being drafted by the Arizona Cardinals with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft, Fitzgerald has proved himself as one of the most productive and consistent performers in professional football. Coming off his eighth 1,000-yard season as a receiver, Fitzgerald now ranks ninth in NFL history with 14,389 receiving yards in his career. He also ranks third in league history with 1,125 receptions and stands eighth all-time with 104 receiving touchdowns.
#H2P | Twitter | Instagram
Fitzgerald, who recently announced he would be returning to the Cardinals in 2017 for his 14th NFL season, shared the award with New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning. The pair were announced as co-winners for one of the sport's most coveted awards at the NFL Honors event on the eve of Super Bowl LI.
"It's truly humbling," Fitzgerald told AZCardinals.com. "It kind of hit me when I was walking up on that stage, with (former winners) Anthony Munoz and Derrick Brooksand Kurt Warner and Warrick Dunn, all these guys who have been pillars in their communities. To be thought of in the same light as those men, football aside, that's what it's about."
Fitzgerald was chosen as the Cardinals' Man of the Year because of his charitable and community work, most notably with his own First Down Foundation and the Carol Fitzgerald Memorial Fund. The latter is named after Fitzgerald's late mother, who died from breast cancer.
The First Down Fund mainly helps kids in both Phoenix and Fitzgerald's hometown of Minneapolis by donating money to fund books, field trips, supplies and technology to underprivileged youth.
Fitzgerald became the second former Pitt football player to be named NFL Man of the Year. Quarterback Dan Marino of the Miami Dolphins previously won the award after the 1998 season.
During his Pitt career, Fitzgerald most notably won the 2003 Walter Camp Player of the Year and the Biletnikoff Award and was a runner-up for the Heisman Trophy that same year after his unstoppable sophomore season that resulted in 92 receptions, 1,672 yards (18.2 avg.) and 22 touchdowns. In just 26 collegiate games, Fitzgerald totaled 161 catches for 2,677 yards (16.6 avg.) and a Pitt-record 34 TDs. His streak of 18 consecutive games with a touchdown catch is still an NCAA record.
Since being drafted by the Arizona Cardinals with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft, Fitzgerald has proved himself as one of the most productive and consistent performers in professional football. Coming off his eighth 1,000-yard season as a receiver, Fitzgerald now ranks ninth in NFL history with 14,389 receiving yards in his career. He also ranks third in league history with 1,125 receptions and stands eighth all-time with 104 receiving touchdowns.
#H2P | Twitter | Instagram
Pitt AD Allen Greene Surprises Aaron Donald with Jersey Retirement
Monday, September 22
Pitt Football | Postgame vs. West Virginia | 9.13.25
Sunday, September 14
Postgame vs. West Virginia | 9.13.25
Saturday, September 13
Pitt Football | WVU Hype | "Pressure" Narrated by Kyle Louis
Friday, September 12