Former Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald is channeling the loss of his mother into a continued push for breast cancer awareness, teaming his foundation with DraftKings for the annual Pink ‘Em campaign, which has raised more than $700,000 for awareness, research and patient support since it began in 2019.
Fitzgerald’s mother, Carol, died of breast cancer in 2003. In an interview with OutKick, Fitzgerald said the cause remains deeply personal. “In 2003, I lost my mother to breast cancer. And so this has been something that’s near and dear to my heart. I have a couple other family members who’ve battled it,” he said, adding that he lives with the issue “every single day.”
Asked what his mother, who worked in the nonprofit sector, would think of the foundation’s work today, Fitzgerald said he hopes she would be proud. “My hope is that she would be proud of the work that we’re continuing to do,” he said, crediting her with teaching him to be “thoughtful and compassionate” toward people in need.
A friendship with John McCain
Fitzgerald also spoke about his friendship with the late Arizona Sen. John McCain, who died in 2018. He described McCain as a major influence, recalling trips to Vietnam and access to Senate hearings that shaped his worldview.
“Senator McCain was a wonderful man and influence in my life. He’s one of the people that I credit with helping me mature and seeing the world in a different light,” Fitzgerald said.
Fitzgerald, who spoke at McCain’s funeral, said he didn’t agree with the senator on every political issue but valued the relationship and McCain’s willingness to engage across differences. He pointed to a moment during McCain’s presidential campaign when McCain corrected a supporter who made a false claim about Barack Obama as an example of the civility he admires. “It would be nice to be able to see people have civil discourse without heartburn or hard feelings for somebody who doesn’t necessarily see eye to eye with them on something,” he said.
Seventeen seasons with the Cardinals
Fitzgerald, who played his entire 17-year career with the Cardinals, said loyalty to the organization that drafted him mattered more to him than chasing a move elsewhere. “They brought me there to do a job, and I wanted to make sure I did the job that I was brought there to do,” he said, adding he was never seriously tempted by offers from other teams.
Asked for his best memory in Arizona, Fitzgerald said a Super Bowl appearance stood out, but what he treasures most are the relationships built with coaches, staff, teammates and ownership — naming Mark Dalton, Lisa Manning, Steve Ryan, Michael Bidwill, Rod Graves, Dennis Green, Bruce Arians and Ken Whisenhunt among those who influenced him.
On Arians, Fitzgerald highlighted the coach’s work with his wife, Chris, supporting foster families in Arizona. “I had no idea how many thousands of kids are in the foster care system in Arizona,” Fitzgerald said, praising the foundation’s work pairing foster parents with children in need of stability.
On this week’s Cardinals-Giants matchup
Looking ahead to the Cardinals’ game against the Giants, Fitzgerald noted New York has been hit by injuries, including the loss of edge rusher Brian Burns and a season-ending injury to quarterback Jaxson Dart. “I think the Cardinals are a much healthier, fresher team,” he said, pointing to tough recent performances against playoff-caliber opponents in Seattle and San Francisco. “I like their chances to be able to get a win this week in the Meadowlands.”
Fitzgerald said he still has strong relationships with current Cardinals players, including Budda Baker, though he avoids giving unsolicited advice.
