Pat Fitzgerald Parents: Meet Flo And Pat Fitzgerald Sr.

Pat Fitzgerald Parents: Meet Flo And Pat Fitzgerald Sr.: Pat Fitzgerald, officially known as Patrick William Fitzgerald Jr. is an American football coach and former player.

He developed a passion for playing American football at a younger age, was consistent throughout his career, and rose to become one of the most sought-after football players.

During his playing career in the 1990s, Fitzgerald was twice named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and was a two-time Consensus All-American.

In 1995 and again in 1996, he won both the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Chuck Bednarik Award, becoming the first two-time winner of both honors

Fitzgerald won the Jack Lambert Trophy as best linebacker in 1996 and was also awarded the Big Ten Medal of Honor in 1997 for his athletic and academic excellence.

However, he was not drafted after his senior year, but he was signed as a free agent by the Dallas Cowboys, who released him just after two pre-season games.

After graduating from college, Fitzgerald joined the coaching staff at the University of Maryland in 1998 under head coach Ron Vanderlinden.

He moved to the University of Colorado under coach, Gary Barnett and later took a job at the University of Idaho before returning to Northwestern in 2001

At Northwestern, he served as linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator until his promotion to head coach after the demise of Randy Walker in June 2006.

Fitzgerald was the appointed head coach after the unexpected death of Randy Walker and this was announced at a press conference on July 7, 2006.

He was 31 years old at the time, making him the youngest head football coach in the Big Ten Conference and NCAA Division I FBS

Fitzgerald has since then been with the team and has played several matches until he hit major headlines in July 2023 after he was relieved of his duties as coach.

On Monday, July 10, 2023, Fitzgerald was fired amid the allegations of hazing and mental-sexual assault towards players who had poor performance

He’s the longest-tenured head coach in Northwestern football history and also the fifth longest-tenured head coach in Division I FBS.

Fitzgerald served as the head coach of the Northwestern University Wildcats football team from Friday, July 7, 2006, to Tuesday, July 10, 2023.

Fitzgerald happens to be the 15th Northwestern player or coach to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

He was honored at a ceremony on December 9, 2008, in New York City and enshrined in the Hall of Fame in South Bend, Indiana in July 2009.