Larry Fitzgerald is considered one of the “good guys” in the NFL, and he followed through on one heck of a demand after accidentally injuring Bruce Arians during a celebration.
Bob McManaman of azcentral recounted the story of Arians suffering a torn rotator cuff in December 2016 due to a celebratory bear hug. In March 2017, the head coach said a get-well card wouldn’t be enough; no, it would take a “get-well convertible.”
Sure enough, Fitzgerald paid the price.
“Christmas Day, I pulled up in the driveway and there’s a band new car there. A Mercedes 550 roadster.”
Arians said the car wasn’t worth the surgery, but he appreciated the surprise because it was a special gift from a special person.
Fitzgerald’s off-field impact — beyond the personal present to Arians — will not soon be forgotten. Fitzgerald shared Man of the Year honors with Eli Manning in 2017, and he’s established the Larry Fitzgerald First Down Fund along with the Carol Fitzgerald Memorial Fund in honor of his mother.
Especially in a time where negative headlines are so prevalent, it’s uplifting to read stories of givers like Fitzgerald.