The sports community lost a prominent voice this week. Larry Fitzgerald Sr., a longtime sports journalist who spent nearly 50 years covering the Minnesota sports scene, passed away on Monday at 71 years old.

His family shared the news on social media, letting everyone know he passed away peacefully surrounded by his loved ones. They also thanked the medical team at Fairview Southdale Hospital and asked for privacy while they grieve.

If you followed Minnesota sports or professional football over the last few decades, you knew his work. Originally from Chicago, Fitzgerald Sr. moved to the Twin Cities back in 1978. He started out in radio before landing a role as a columnist for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. He ended up writing for the historic Black-owned newspaper for over 45 years, becoming a trusted, regular fixture in local press boxes.

Over his decades on the beat, he covered just about every big event imaginable, from multiple Olympic Games to dozens of Super Bowls. But his career also came with a pretty unique full-circle moment. In 2009, he became what is believed to be the first journalist to cover his own son in a Super Bowl when Larry Fitzgerald Jr. and the Arizona Cardinals reached Super Bowl XLIII.

Fitzgerald Jr., who was just inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this past February, shared a deeply moving tribute to his dad on X. Alongside some recent photos of them on a golf course with his brother, Marcus Fitzgerald, he called his father the rock of their family. He wrote about how his dad opened countless doors for them, pushed them to pursue every opportunity, and taught them that hard work and perseverance are the true foundations of a meaningful life.

The Minnesota Vikings also released a statement honoring his memory, calling him a distinguished journalist and a dedicated community leader who cared deeply about the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. They noted how well he built relationships with players, coaches, and staff members across all the local sports teams for half a century.

Fitzgerald Sr. leaves behind a lasting professional blueprint and a beautiful family legacy. Memorial services have not yet been announced.