Team

MANE FACTS

• Became a fan favorite with his rise from NAIA football to the NFL. FitzSimmons’ high school in Montana was so small that the football team played eight-man football. He played four positions—wide receiver, tight end, defensive end and linebacker.
• Prior to his junior year in high school, he was injured in a motorbike accident and missed the season. He was close to not playing his senior year, but was talked into it by some friends.
• Photographed for third-straight year in 2007 Lions Pet Calendar, which helps to raise money for the Dearborn Animal Shelter.
• Donated Lions home game tickets to Big Family of Michigan through the Lions CATS (Caring Athletes Ticket Service) for Kids program.
• Helped deliver thousands of pounds of food and supplies to more than 30 Metro Detroit relief agencies at the United Way Hometown Huddle/Lift Up America event, Dec. 5, at Ford Field.

2009: Though battling through several ailments, he has appeared in all 12 games with 18 catches for 126 yards and 12 special teams tackles on the year. With 18 receptions, FitzSimmons is on pace to surpass his previous single-season high of 23 receptions set as a rookie in 2003. Has registered at least 10 special teams tackles in six of his seven pro seasons.

• Recorded one reception for 11 yards at New Orleans (9/13). Also added an assisted tackle on special teams.
• Season high three special teams tackles in Lions 19-14 win vs. Washington (9/27).
• Caught two passes for 10 yards at Chicago (10/4).
• Tied season-best 3 special teams tackles vs. St. Louis (11/1). Also had 2 receptions for 17 yards.
• Made first start of the season in a two-tight end set and recorded a career-high six receptions for 41 yards at Seattle (11/8).
• Caught five passes for 38 yards vs. Green Bay (11/26).

2008: Fourth on the team with 16 special teams tackles on the season. Caught 12 passes for 85 yards and one TD.

• Posted one catch for one yard and a touchdown at Atlanta (9/7).
• Recorded three receptions for 32 yards vs. Green Bay (9/14).
• Left game early vs. Washington (10/26) due to rib injury. Inactive at Chicago (11/2) and vs. Jacksonville (11/9) due to rib injury.
• Recorded a tackle and fumble recovery on special teams vs. Tampa Bay (11/23).
• Had one catch for eight yards and converted a two-point try on a pass from QB Dan Orlovsky to tie the game 21-21 at Indianapolis (12/14) with 12:52 left in the fourth quarter. Also had a forced fumble on special teams and one had special teams solo stop.

2007: Was the only player in the NFL with a blocked punt and a kickoff return for a touchdown. Finished the year with a career-high 20 special teams tackles, which tied for the second-most on the team.

• Played mostly on special teams at Oakland (9/9), making one special teams tackle.
• Against Minnesota (9/16), Fitzsimmons had his first reception of the season for 10 yards and posted a special teams tackle.
• Saw action at Philadelphia (9/23), making three special teams tackles.
• Played on offense and special teams vs. Chicago (9/30), returning an onside kick 41 yards in the fourth quarter for a touchdown, the first return touchdown of his career. He also recorded two special teams tackles.
• FitzSimmons had one reception for four yards and two special teams tackles at Washington (10/7).
• Against Tampa Bay (10/21), FitzSimmons had one catch for 12 yards and recovered the onside kick that allowed the Lions to run off the final seconds of the game.
• FitzSimmons had one catch for 10 yards and a special teams tackle at Chicago (10/28).
• FitzSimmons had two special teams tackles against Denver (11/4).
• Recorded two receptions for 27 yards at Arizona (11/11).
• Had one catch for 21 yards against the New York Giants (11/18).
• Returned a kickoff 15 yards against Green Bay (11/22) and posted three special teams tackles.
• Recorded his first touchdown reception of the year at Minnesota (12/2) on a 1-yard catch.
• Left game vs. Dallas (12/9) due to a shin injury.
• Made a special teams tackle at San Diego (12/16).
• Blocked a punt that resulted in a safety and had a special teams tackle vs. Kansas City (12/23). It was his second career blocked kick.
• Had three special teams tackles at Green Bay (12/30).

2006: Played in 11 games with two starts to tally seven catches for 71 yards (10.1 avg) on offense and 10 special teams tackles and one blocked punt on special teams. He fought through injuries to contribute to team’s tight end position.

• Inactive the first two games (vs. Seattle 9/10 and at Chicago 9/17) of the regular season due to a broken left wrist suffered in the first preseason game against Denver.
• Returned from a wrist injury vs. Green Bay (9/24), seeing his first action of the 2006 season.
• Inactive at Minnesota (10/8) and vs. Buffalo (10/15).
• Posted two special teams tackles at the New York Jets (10/22).
• Made his first catches of the season with two catches for 35 yards vs. Atlanta (11/5) and also had one special teams tackle.
• Blocked a punt by Cardinals’ punter Scott Player at Arizona and made two special teams tackles (11/19).
• Registered three special teams tackles vs. Miami (11/23).
• Started his first game of the season to record a season-best four catches for 29 yards at Green Bay (12/17).
• Started in his second consecutive game of the season vs. Chicago (12/24), but left the game and did not return after suffering a shoulder injury after making a 7-yard catch.
• Inactive at Dallas (12/31) due to a shoulder injury.

2005: Finished the season fourth on the team in special teams tackles with 19.

• Recorded his first touchdown of the season vs. Baltimore (10/9), a 2-yard pass from Joey Harrington. Also recorded four special teams tackles.
• Started for the first time at Cleveland (10/23), as the Lions started with two tight ends. Finished the game with two receptions for 10 yards.
• Special teams tackle vs. Chicago (10/30) helped to pin the Bears at the one-yard line in the second quarter and forced a fumble while on special teams.
• Started at Dallas (11/20), as the Lions started in a two tight end set.
• Season-high five special teams tackles against Minnesota (12/4).
• Was inactive for two games (at Green Bay 12/11 and against Cincinnati 12/18) due to a concussion suffered against Minnesota (12/4).

2004: Grabbed a career-long 27-yard reception vs. Chicago (12/26).

• Reeled in a five-yard reception on a Lions’ touchdown drive at Tennessee (1/2).

2003: His two touchdowns tied for the NFL lead among rookie tight ends while his 23 receptions ranked fourth.

• Registered the first two catches of his career at Green Bay (9/14), with a long of 13 yards.
• Had then-career highs in catches (five) and yards (33), including a then-career-long 17-yard reception while starting vs. Chicago (11/9). Two of his catches versus the Bears came on the Lions game-winning drive.
• Made the first touchdown catch of his career vs. San Diego (12/7) when he hauled in a four-yard pass from Joey Harrington in the fourth quarter.
• Had a career day vs. St. Louis (12/28) with a season-best 36 yards on four catches, including a two-yard touchdown reception and a career-long 22-yard catch.

COLLEGE: Finished college career with 244 receptions for 2,698 yards and scored 21 touchdowns.

• Led the Fighting Saints to the 2002 NAIA National Championship with a 28-7 win over two-time defending NAIA Champion Georgetown (Ky.).
• During senior championship run, earned first-team All-American honors and was named the Frontier Conference MVP and finalist for NAIA Player of the Year Award while catching 79 passes for 971 yards and six touchdowns.
• In 2000 and 2001, earned second-team NAIA All-American honors and was a first-team All-Conference selection all four seasons at Carroll College (Mont.). His 2001 totals included 78 receptions for 812 yards and five touchdowns and his 2000 totals included 70 catches for 686 yards and eight touchdowns.

PERSONAL: Born October 10, 1980 in Wolf Point, Mont.

• All-state and all-conference at Chester (Mont.) High.

FITZSIMMONS’ SINGLE-GAME BESTS

• Receptions: 5 vs. Chi 11/9/03
• Receiving Yards: 36 vs. StL 12/28/03
• Touchdowns: 1 (five times) Last at Atl 9/7/08
• Long Reception: 27 vs. Chi 12/26/04