Son of legendary NFL wide receiver forging own legacy as $180m dad reacts to career decision
There’s another Fitzgerald en route to the NFL.
Devin Fitzgerald, son of NFL legend Larry Fitzgerald, announced his commitment to Notre Dame last July.
Despite the announcement coming over a year ago, Devin recently posted a picture on X of himself stood outside the University campus expressing his excitement to join the football program.
“South Bend, New chapter. Let’s go. Wide receiver at @NDFootball. Here to compete, grow, and make an impact on and off the field,” he captioned the post.
Father Larry took to social media to share the moment, marking the next chapter of his son’s football journey with Notre Dame which boasts 11 national championships.
“There is no greater joy for a parent than watching their child rise to the occasion,” Larry wrote.
“You do that every day at @NotreDame and I could not be more proud. Love you, son.”
Devin was a four-star recruit by 247Sports Composite, while ranking second in the state and 28th-ranked wide receiver overall.
Interest from Power 4 programs increased after his breakout junior year at Brophy, in which he recorded 52 receptions for 720 yards and nine touchdowns.
Fitzgerald had offers from Michigan, Clemson and Florida State, and his senior season proved why. He posted 82 catches, 1,230 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Devin also tied the Brophy school record for catches, and is second for career yards and touchdowns.
With his freshman college season beginning in August this year, the onus will now be on him to replicate his fathers stellar college tenure at the University of Pittsburgh.
After choosing to be a wide receiver, for the rest of his career he will always be linked to his father, but Devin wants to carve his own legacy on the gridiron.
“I’m just trying to create my own legacy. I love being a Fitzgerald, but I also just want to be known as Devin,” he told TMZ Sports.
“It’s cool and all that people are giving me stuff because of my dad, but on the football side, I feel like they’re not getting anything out of my dad for me being able to go to their school.”
Fitzgerald has already been handed evidence of a path that works. During the same interview with TMZ last July, he pointed to Marvin Harrison Jr. as proof it’s possible to have your own legacy, even with a legendary last name.
Filling his fathers footsteps even at college was going to be a serious effort.
Larry recorded 1,000 receiving yards in both of his two college seasons, and finished second in Heisman Trophy voting, and won the Biletnikoff Award as a sophomore in 2003.
He was drafted third overall by the Arizona Cardinals in 2004, and spent all 17 years of his career there, posting 17,492 yards and 121 touchdowns.
He was selected to 11 Pro Bowls and is second in NFL career receiving yards, second in career receptions, and sixth in career receiving touchdowns.
Unsurprising, he’s widely considered one of the greatest wideouts in NFL history.
Notre Dame will be hoping Devin can live up to the name and number that will be on his back.
Stay up to date with the latest from the NFL across all platforms – follow our dedicated talkSPORT USA Facebook page and subscribe to our talkSPORT USA YouTube channel for all the news, exclusives, interviews and more.
What's Your Reaction?
Like
0
Dislike
0
Love
0
Funny
0
Angry
0
Sad
0
Wow
0
