Larry Fitzgerald Jr. is a serial investor passionate about educating the youth in STEM.

NFL Days

Fitzgerald Jr. is a former NFL player drafted in 2004 by the Arizona Cardinals. ESPN mentions that his selection for the team was a no-brainer for general manager Rod Graves and head coach Dennis Green, who passed away in 2016. The Football Foundation notes that Fitzgerald Jr. was one of the best wide receivers in college football history. He was also the first sophomore to receive the Walter Camp Player of the Year award given to athletes who strive for excellence in their careers while benefiting others.

“[Green] knew the family, he knew all of that, but there was no question about [Fitzgerald’s] football ability,” Graves said, according to ESPN. “Based on all the information we had, we felt that he was the No. 1 player in the country.”

Larry Fitzgerald Foundation

One year after being drafted into the league, the Larry Fitzgerald Foundation was formed, inspired by his mother, Carol, who passed away from breast cancer in 2003, according to its website. She was committed to helping others who were battling breast cancer, and her work is being continued through the foundation, with resources, education, and support being provided to organizations upholding this mission.

Additionally, the Larry Fitzgerald Foundation’s second pillar focuses on youth empowerment by working to improve literacy rates and expand children’s access to technology in K-12 education. In October 2024, Fitzgerald hosted a field trip to the Phoenix Raceway for Luke Elementary students, where they designed their own cars, explored how friction affects speed, and experienced a high-tech NASCAR simulator, according to AZFamily.

Post Career Moves

Beyond his foundation, Fitzgerald Jr. was also laying the groundwork for his post-football career. This journey was sparked by an interaction with a senior executive from J.P. Morgan in New York. When offered the chance to intern at the firm, he seized the opportunity during his off-season.

“There were times during my internship, especially at the onset, when I felt overwhelmed or uncomfortable, but the experience gave me extreme confidence. I brought a unique set of experiences, insights, and perspectives to the firm, value to the program, and to my fellow interns and executive leadership,” Fitzgerald Jr. recalled to Morgan Stanley. “In retrospect, this became a great lens into how I would approach my role in business–and as I learned and familiarized myself with finance, I began to implement my learnings from this internship to formulate a track for myself in business, which has served me well ever since.”

 Fitzgerald Jr. spent his entire 17-season career with the Arizona Cardinals, leaving a lasting legacy in the NFL. His accolades include the 2016 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, a spot on the NFL 100 All-Time Team in 2019, the 2015 Art Rooney Award, and 11 Pro Bowl selections. He also ranks second all-time in league history for receptions (1,432) and among the top in receiving yards (17,492).

 He officially retired from the NFL in 2020, having earned a reported $180,757,239 over his career, according to Spotrac. That same year, he enrolled at Harvard Business School and became certified in entertainment, media, and sports.

Larry Fitzgerald Enterprises 

He has gone on to become a board member at DICK’S Sporting Goods, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and Qualtrics. He is also a serial investor with a portfolio that includes more than 160 startups under Larry Fitzgerald Enterprises, which consists of the following sectors:

  • Real Estate 
  • Hospitality
  • Travel
  • Sports 
  • Technology 

Specific companies include Greyson Clothiers, WHOOP, Arizona Drive, Infinite Athlete, Steak 44, and Chess.com.

“As a youth, I struggled academically and had occasional behavioral issues. I was eventually diagnosed with ADHD, and one of my academic counselors had me try something unconventional to help me deal with my condition: chess. From there, I became obsessed,” he expressed, according to Morgan Stanly.

He added, “I still try to play three to five games of chess daily, and I am also an early investor in an online platform for the game. It is immensely fulfilling to play a small part in helping to grow and expand the game while helping to introduce it to young people who may struggle with the same or similar issues that I did growing up.”

Trenches Capital

Fitzgerald Jr.’s most recent career move is establishing Trenches Capital, a firm dedicated to critical technology, financial technology, and enterprise software, notes the University of Pittsburg.