By DANIEL MATTHEWS
Published: 23:36 EST, 10 December 2024 | Updated: 23:36 EST, 10 December 2024
The father of ex-NFL star Larry Fitzgerald Jr has come under fire after claiming that Hall of Famer Randy Moss has liver cancer.
Last week ESPN announced that Moss, a regular on the network's Sunday NFL Countdown program, was stepping back to focus on a 'personal health challenge'.
Precise details of the legendary wide receiver's conditions have remained hidden.
He wore sunglasses on his final Sunday NFL Countdown appearance and admitted only that he was 'battling something internally'.
On Tuesday night, however, Larry Fitzgerald Sr claimed on social media that Moss is battling liver cancer.
'Just heard that Vikings HOF Randy Moss has liver cancer. Let’s show the power of prayer and pull Moss through this. I love you Randy,' he wrote on X.
Fitzgerald Sr claims to be 'a giant of Twin Cities sports media' who works as a 'writer, producer, talk show host and commentator'.
ESPN recently announced that Randy Moss was stepping back to focus on a 'health challenge'
But, with no official confirmation, Fitzgerald Sr's post caused a storm on Tuesday night, with many NFL fans pointing out that Moss had kept details of his health battle private.
'This wasn’t your story to tell man,' one wrote. 'You should be ashamed of yourself for posting this. Too put another man's private business out there on social media like this,' another said.
'It's obvious he's done everything to not let the actual illness be released but you decided you needed to release that info?' asked a third.
'Jesus dude. He specifically avoided saying what he was going through last Sunday when he was wearing shades. But you think it’s ok for you to share?' another fan said.
DailyMail.com has reached out to Fitzgerald Sr for comment.
Moss was a boyhood mentor to Fitzgerald Jr, a receiver who spent 17 seasons with the Arizona Cardinals.
'He taught me this game. I grew up immortalizing him, watching him, trying to emulate what he was doing every single day,' Fitzgerald said of Moss in 2017.
'And I remember him supporting me in high school, coming to my practices, and giving me cleats and gloves, letting me use his car for prom, taking care of me after I washed his cars, letting me come to the house and play basketball.'