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A few weeks before his Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement, Larry Fitzgerald was finalizing a speech that would be the most memorable of his football career.

A meticulous planner, Fitzgerald had reached out to more than 20 Hall of Famers for advice on what to expect in Canton, Ohio. During a phone conversation, the former Arizona Cardinals star began listing all those who offered advice, a group that included Peyton Manning, Warren Moon, Emmitt Smith and Randy Moss.

Fitzgerald said of his Hall of Fame speech:

💬 “It’s changed significantly from what I had in April and May with everything that’s transpired over the last month. I was practicing it over and over, but then Pops took a turn.”

On June 1, Fitzgerald lost his father.

Before, as he rehearsed his speech, Fitzgerald wondered how he would react in front of the crowd, discussing 30 years of football and all those who had helped him. He compared it to practicing at the Cardinals facility in Tempe versus going out and playing in front of 70,000 people at State Farm Stadium. Two completely different levels of emotion.

Then this happened. Fitzgerald had planned for his dad to present him at the enshrinement. Son Devin, a Notre Dame freshman receiver, will now do the honor.

Suddenly, he had to think about his father being there only in spirit.