Cardinals legend Larry Fitzgerald to serve as keynote speaker for Fiesta Sports Foundation Football Kickoff

Cardinals legendary wide receiver and College Football Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald, Jr. will be the keynote speaker at the Arizona Bank & Trust Fiesta Sports Foundation Football Kickoff presented by Fairmont Scottsdale Princess. The event will take place on August 15 at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, to kick off a new era of college football.

It is a new era of college sports, especially for college football. Both Arizona schools are joining the Big 12 Conference following the dissolution of the PAC-12 conference this year. The College Football Playoffs have now expanded from four to 12 teams, meaning more programs have the opportunity to compete for a National Championship.

The Football Kickoff experience begins with a VIP session at 11:30 A.M. with exclusive photo opportunities and a meet-and-greet with Fitzgerald. Pregame networking opens at 12:15 P.M. with the main program starting at 12:45 P.M. Following that, there will be an open-to-the-public happy hour hosted by the Fiesta Bowl Yellow Jacket Committee where Fitzgerald will take the stage with Fiesta Sports Foundation Executive Director & CEO Erik Moses to talk about his his playing career at the University of Pittsburgh and Arizona Cardinals.

“Collaborating with the exceptional team at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, we are transforming the annual business luncheon into an immersive experience and true celebration of football,” said Moses in the Fiesta Bowl’s official press release for the event.. “This year’s college football season will be filled with intriguing storylines as new teams compete in different conferences and fight to make it into an expanded postseason playoff. What better way to celebrate this new era of college football than to hear Arizona football and community icon Larry Fitzgerald, Jr. share his personal stories, perspectives and predictions.”

Larry Fitzgerald, Jr. spent two years at the University of Pittsburgh. In 26 games he caught 161 passes for 2,677 yards and a school record 34 touchdowns. The Arizona Cardinals selected him with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. With the Cardinals, the only team Fitzgerald played for in his pro career, he caught 1,432 passes for 17,492 yards and 121 touchdowns. His receptions and yards total both rank second in NFL history. He’ll likely join the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2026, his first year on the ballot.

He also was a key player in the Cardinals’ unlikely run to Super Bowl XLIII, one of the more underrated championship games in NFL history, exceeding 100 yards in all four games and scoring seven touchdowns. He was the cover athlete on Madden NFL ’10 along with Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu.

Fitzgerald is not only known for his skills on the football field but also for his charity work off the field. Those efforts were recognized in 2016, when was named the Walton Payton NFL Man of the Year. Through the Larry Fitzgerald Foundation, he supports both youth education and promoting breast cancer awareness in underrepresented communities.

“The Fiesta Sports Foundation and the Yellow Jacket Committee have done so much to make a huge impact within communities across the state,” said Fitzgerald. “It means the world to me to be associated with such a prestigious organization, and I’m honored to be a part of the Arizona Bank & Trust Fiesta Sports Foundation Football Kickoff. I still remember playing in the Insight Bowl and relishing all the experiences and relationships, many of which I still enjoy today. It’s going to be a fun day to participate and raise money and awareness for the causes that the Fiesta Sports Foundation supports.”

Fitzgerald joins a list of former keynote speakers who made a huge impact on college football. Previous keynote speakers include legendary Notre Dame Head Coach Lou Holtz, University of Arizona head coach Dick Tomey, and Arizona State quarterback Jake Plummer.