(Photo: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)
Arizona Cardinal wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald knows that he cannot play football forever. Though he recently signed a one-year contract extension, it remains that the 36-year-old needs to think about his future.
It appears he has done just that with reports that the 11-time Pro Bowler is now a minority stake owner of the Phoenix Suns. The move makes Fitzgerald the second NFL player to invest in an NBA franchise. The first one was Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers who purchased a stake in the Milwaukee Bucks back in 2018, ESPN reported. Fitzgerald has been a Sun's ticket-holder since 2005.
"It's an investment in something I have supported since I've been in Arizona," said Fitzgerald in a phone interview by NFL.com. "It gives me another connection in the community I love and always will live in. It's a long-term commitment I wanted to make for life after football."
Originally, Fitzgerald was offered to join the Suns by managing partner Robert Sarver two years ago. Both first met since 2005, and their relationship has since blossomed. It would be best to note that investing in the Suns two years ago came when the third pick of the 2004 NFL Draft considered retirement. Fitzgerald asked for more time to think about it, considering the money he would shell out was not that small.
"I asked him to give me a little bit of time to think about it and wrap my mind around it. I thought it was a unique opportunity because I hadn't heard of many other [athletes] doing it, but I wanted to really think about it because it's a substantial capital commitment. It's not something small."
For now, Fitzgerald plans to focus on his NFL career with the Cardinals. But once he does retire, Sarver relayed that the Cardinals all-time leader in catches will serve as an advisor and resource their business and basketball staff.
Next NFL season, Fitzgerald will be making roughly $11 million with incentives. He has spent his entire NFL career with the Cardinals and looms as a hands-down Hall of Famer once he retires.
With regards to the investment he made, Fitzgerald hopes the fortunes of the franchise picks up soon. This 2019-20 season, they tote an 18-26 win-loss card in the highly competitive NBA Western Conference. The Suns can still catch the last bus to the postseason wars but face a tough schedule ahead. Among the tough teams ahead include the Los Angeles Lakers and the Milwaukee Bucks, who they will face twice.
