# Mickey Fitzgerald

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**Mickey Fitzgerald** (born April 10, 1957) is an American former professional [football](/source/American_football) player who was a [fullback](/source/Fullback_(gridiron_football)) in the [National Football League](/source/National_Football_League) (NFL) and [United States Football League](/source/United_States_Football_League) (USFL). He played [college football](/source/College_football) for the [Virginia Tech Hokies](/source/Virginia_Tech_Hokies_football). Fitzgerald played in the NFL for the [Atlanta Falcons](/source/Atlanta_Falcons) and [Philadelphia Eagles](/source/Philadelphia_Eagles) in 1981,[1] and played for the [Memphis Showboats](/source/Memphis_Showboats) of the USFL in 1984. He was inducted into the [Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame](/source/List_of_Virginia_Tech_Sports_Hall_of_Fame_inductees) in 2002.[2] In 2007, he was also inducted into the Central Virginia Hall of Fame.[3]

## Biography

Fitzgerald is the oldest of his three brothers.[3] He was raised in a [Catholic](/source/Catholic_Church) [orphanage](/source/Orphanage) after his mother witnessed her lover getting shot, which made her feel that she wasn't fit to parent. Father Paul, a priest, took him and other orphanage residents to ball games.[citation needed] After two years in the orphanage, his grandmother took him and his siblings home. He attended [E. C. Glass High School](/source/E._C._Glass_High_School), where he played [football](/source/American_football). His athletic performance helped him secure college scholarships and he attended [Virginia Tech](/source/Virginia_Tech).[4]

After playing [fullback](/source/Fullback_(gridiron_football)) in college at [Virginia Tech](/source/Virginia_Tech_Hokies_football), Fitzgerald was signed by the [Atlanta Falcons](/source/Atlanta_Falcons) as a free agent in 1981 and made the regular season roster after leading the team in rushing during the preseason.[5][6][7] After playing in the season opener he was cut to make room for the Falcons to sign running back [Bo Robinson](/source/Bo_Robinson).[8][6] He was signed by the [Philadelphia Eagles](/source/Philadelphia_Eagles) but was waived by the Eagles to make room to sign running back [Booker Russell](/source/Booker_Russell).[8] He ended up playing one game each for the Falcons and Eagles.[9] He later played for the [Memphis Showboats](/source/Memphis_Showboats) in 1984.[10] He began working in [real estate](/source/Real_estate) and was a [sumo wrestler](/source/Sumo) in [Japan](/source/Japan).[7] He has one son.[citation needed]

## References

1. ["Profile at NFL.com"](http://www.nfl.com/player/mickeyfitzgerald/2514089/profile)

1. ["Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame"](https://history.unirel.vt.edu/athletics/hall_of_fame.html)

1. ["Iraq and Back.pdf"](https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B_UZvsy-NObZUTlLX05IbmFZTjQ/edit?usp=sharing&usp=embed_facebook). *Google Docs*. Retrieved 2018-09-29.

1. ["Fortune Mag Gang Tackle.pdf"](https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B_UZvsy-NObZUWVONkpUMFZSZjA/edit). *Google Docs*. Retrieved 2018-09-29.

1. ["Falcons get surprised with Mickey Fitzgerald"](https://www.newspapers.com/image/756060380/?match=1&terms=%22MIckey%20Fitzgerald%22). *The Herald*. August 12, 1981. p. 7. Retrieved 2024-05-03. – via newspapers.com.

1. Reese, Earnest (September 10, 1981). ["Brief Falcon career ends for fullback Fitzgerald"](https://www.newspapers.com/image/399456847/?terms=%22MIckey%20Fitzgerald%22). *Atlanta Constitution*. pp. 1-C, 8-C. Retrieved 2024-05-03. – via newspapers.com.

1. Tech, Virginia. ["Virginia Tech Magazine | Alumni Shorts"](https://www.vtmag.vt.edu/spring08/shorts.html). *www.vtmag.vt.edu*. Retrieved 2018-09-29.

1. Aubrey, Coult (October 1, 1981). ["13-day Eagle, Mickey Fitzgerald, a real card"](https://www.newspapers.com/image/284483445/?match=1&terms=%22MIckey%20Fitzgerald%22). *The Morning Call*. p. 48. Retrieved 2024-05-03. – via newspapers.com.

1. ["Mickey Fitzgerald"](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FitzMi20/gamelog/1981/). Pro Football Reference. Retrieved 2024-05-03.

1. ["Mickey Fitzgerald"](https://www.usflsite.com/players/Mickey_Fitzgerald/p-fitzgmic001). USFL. Retrieved 2024-05-03.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mickey Fitzgerald](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mickey_Fitzgerald) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mickey_Fitzgerald?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.