Northwestern University Athletics

2025 Football Roster

August 30, 2025, New Orleans, LA: A game between Northwestern Football and Tulane at Yulman Field in New Orleans, LA on Saturday, August 30, 2025. (Photo by Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics)
Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics
Photo by: Northwestern Athletics
October 25, 2025, Lincoln, NE: A game between Northwestern Football and Nebraska at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, NE on Saturday, October 25, 2025. (Photo by Griffin Quinn/Northwestern Athletics)
Photo by: GRIFFIN QUINN/Northwestern Athletics
October 11, 2025, University Park, PA: A game between Northwestern Football and Penn State at Beaver Stadium in University Park, PA on Saturday, October 11, 2025. (Photo by Griffin Quinn/Northwestern Athletics)
Photo by: GRIFFIN QUINN/Northwestern Athletics
September 27, 2025, Evanston, IL: A game between Northwestern Football and UCLA at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium in Evanston, IL on Saturday, September 27, 2025. (Photo by Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics)
Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics
October 5, 2024, Evanston, IL: A game between Northwestern Football and Indiana at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium in Evanston, IL on Saturday, October 5, 2024. (Photo by Griffin Quinn/Northwestern Athletics)
Photo by: GRIFFIN QUINN/Northwestern Athletics
September 13, 2025, Evanston, IL: A game between Northwestern Football and Oregon at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium in Evanston, IL on Saturday, September 13, 2025. (Photo by Mary Grace Grabill/Northwestern Athletics)
Photo by: Mary Grace Grabill/Northwestern
November 15, 2025, Chicago, IL: A game between Northwestern Football and Michigan at Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL on Saturday, November 15, 2025. (Photo by Griffin Quinn/Northwestern Athletics)
Photo by: GRIFFIN QUINN/Northwestern Athletics
October 18, 2025, Evanston, IL: A game between Northwestern Football and Purdue at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium in Evanston, IL on Saturday, October 18, 2025. (Photo by Griffin Quinn/Northwestern Athletics)
Photo by: GRIFFIN QUINN/Northwestern Athletics
robert fitzgerald
Photo by: Mary Grace Grabill/Northwestern Athletics
September 14, 2024, Evanston, IL: A game between Northwestern Football and Eastern Illinois at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium in Evanston, IL on Saturday, September 14, 2024. (Photo by Griffin Quinn/Northwestern Athletics)
Photo by: GRIFFIN QUINN/Northwestern Athletics
November 23, 2024, Evanston, IL: A game between Northwestern Football and Michigan at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, MI on Saturday, November 23, 2024. (Photo by Griffin Quinn/Northwestern Athletics)
Photo by: GRIFFIN QUINN/Northwestern Athletics
November 30, 2024, Chicago, IL: A game between Northwestern Football and Illinois at Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL on Saturday, November 30, 2024. (Photo by Bailey Black/Northwestern Athletics)
Photo by: Bailey Black/Northwestern Athlet
July 18, 2025, Evanston, IL: Members of the Northwestern Football team pose for photos as part of Internal Media Days at Walter Athletics Center in Evanston, IL on Friday, July 18, 2025. (Photo by Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics)
Jersey Number 6

Robert Fitzgerald

  • Height:
    6-0
  • Weight:
    210
  • Position:
    DB
  • Class:
    Redshirt Junior
  • Hometown:
    Dallas, Texas
  • High School:
    Jesuit College Prep

2025 Redshirt Junior:
Earned All-Big Ten Second-Team honors … Started all 13 games for the Wildcats at safety … Posted a Big Ten-high 69 solo tackles in 13 starts this season … Racked up a team-high 114 total tackles, 6.0 TFLs, four pass breakups, one fumble recovery and an interception … Became the first NU defensive back since at least 1995 with over 110+ tackles … Led Big Ten defensive backs in tackles for loss … First Big Ten defensive back to record at least 100 tackles and 6.0 TFLs since Godwin Igwebuike in 2016 … Became the first NU defensive back with 5+ games in a season with 10+ total tackles since Brian Peters (5) in 2011 and the first NU player with 100+ total tackles and 6.0+ tackles for loss since Xander Mueller in 2023 … Logged five games of 10+ total tackles … Recorded four games with at least nine tackles and one tackle for loss … Led the team in tackling in the season opener at Tulane (8/30) with 13 total tackles and nine solo tackles … His four tackles against Western Illinois (9/5) were tied for the team high … Posted a game-high 10 total tackles against Oregon (9/13) … Finished the UCLA game (9/27) with a team-high nine total tackles (seven solo) and a tackle for loss … Registered six total tackles, all of which were solo, and a tackle for loss against ULM (10/5) … Tallied five total tackles (three solo) at Penn State (10/11) … Led the NU defense that achieved its first shutout win since Nov. 18, 2017 when he tallied 13 total tackles and a pass breakup in a 19-0 win over Purdue (10/18) … Led the team in tackles for the sixth time in 2025 with a game-high nine total tackles (seven solo) and one tackle for loss at Nebraska (10/25) … Logged eight total tackles (six solo) at USC (11/7) … Against Michigan (11/15), he picked off his first pass of the year and became the first NU player to record at least 15 total tackles and an interception in the same game since Brian Peters on Nov. 20, 2010 against Illinois … Registered six total tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss and a pass breakup and became the first Wildcat defensive back with 5.0+ tackles for loss in a season since Kyle Queiro in 2017 against Minnesota (11/22) … Led the NU defense with 11 total tackles, six solo tackles and 1.0 tackles for loss at Illinois (11/29) … Posted five total tackles (one solo) and a pass breakup against Central Michigan in the GameAbove Sports Bowl (12/26).

2024 Redshirt Sophomore:
Appeared in 12 games and started in four, notching 46 tackles, one interception, one tackle for loss, and one fumble recovery ... Named Academic All-Big Ten and CSC Academic All-District Team ... Recorded his first career interception to seal the win for Northwestern, along with three tackles, against Miami (Ohio) (8/31) ... Totaled three tackles and recovered a fumble on a blocked punt against Duke (9/6) ... Logged four tackles against Eastern Illinois (9/14) ... Notched five tackles vs. Indiana (10/5) ... Registered six tackles in a win over Maryland (10/11) ... Posted a career-high seven tackles against Wisconsin (10/19) ... Had five tackles in an overtime win against Purdue (11/2) ... Notched the first sack of his career while adding seven tackles vs. Ohio State (11/16).

2023 Redshirt First-Year:
Played in 12 games, recording 13 tackles and one forced fumble ... Named Academic All-Big Ten ... Recorded a career-high four tackles against UTEP (9/9) ... Made three tackles in win at Wisconsin (11/11) ... Forced first career fumble and notched two tackles in home win versus Purdue (11/18).

2022 First-Year:
Appeared in two games and made his collegiate debut against Ohio State (11/5).

High School:
Verbally committed to Northwestern on June 23, 2021 ... UIL District 7-6A MVP ... Named 'Built Ford Tough' POTW ... Dallas Morning News Bobble Head MVP ... Dallas Morning News Hero of the Week ... Team MVP and All-State in 2021 ... Snagged three interceptions and recorded six pass breakups ... Also played running back for West Jesuit, rushing for 897 yards and 19 touchdowns as a senior ... National Honor Society member.

Football - GameAbove Sports Bowl Cinematic Recap
Tuesday, December 30
Football - David Braun Speaks on the Addition of Chip Kelly as Offensive Coordinator
Tuesday, December 30
Football - GameAbove Sports Bowl Postgame Press Conference (12/26/25)
Friday, December 26
Football - Northwestern Powers Past Central Michigan in GameAbove Sports Bowl (12/26/2025)
Friday, December 26