Mason Crosby

Mason Crosby
refer to caption
Crosby in 2010
No. 2 – Green Bay Packers
Position: Kicker
Personal information
Born: (1984-09-03) September 3, 1984
Lubbock, Texas
Height: 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight: 207 lb (94 kg)
Career information
High school: Georgetown, TX
College: Colorado
NFL Draft: 2007 / Round: 6 / Pick: 193
Career history
Roster status: Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 5, 2018
Field goals: 288
Field goal attempts: 361
Field goals %: 79.8
Longest field goal: 58
Player stats at NFL.com

Mason Walker Crosby (born September 3, 1984) is an American football placekicker for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Colorado, and earned unanimous All-American honors. The Packers chose him in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft, and he was a member of the Packers' Super Bowl XLV championship team against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

College career

Crosby kicking a field goal in the 2006 Colorado spring game

Crosby attended the University of Colorado Boulder, where he played on the Colorado Buffaloes football team from 2003 to 2006. While enrolled at Colorado, he displayed extraordinary leg strength, making a school-record 60-yard field goal against Iowa State in 2004. Crosby’s 58-yard field goal against Miami in 2005 was the longest ever kicked in NCAA Division I-A football at sea-level without a tee.[1] In all, Crosby holds 31 school records. Crosby connected on 66 of 88 field goals in total during his college career, and 30 of 34 inside 40 yards.[2]

He developed a reputation for kicking in the clutch, making 12 of 13 field goals in the fourth quarter, and a perfect 10/10 in the final 8½ minutes of games. This bent was most evident when Crosby played rival Colorado State University, against which Crosby made kicks of 55 (2004), 48, and 47 yards (2005) in consecutive years to win the Rocky Mountain Showdown.[3][4]

Crosby also served as the Buffaloes' kickoff specialist, where his knack for forcing touchbacks after touchdowns made him a fan favorite. Overall, 138 of Crosby's 203 career kickoffs were touchbacks, including an 87-yard kickoff touchback from the 20-yard line against Iowa State in 2004.[2] The Sporting News named Crosby to its All-Decade team for the first nine years of the 2000s (decade).[5]

Crosby was a first-team All-Big 12 selection in 2004, 2005, and 2006. Following his junior season in 2005, he was recognized as a unanimous first-team All-American, having received first-team honors from the Associated Press, the Football Writers Association of America, The Sporting News, and Walter Camp Football Foundation. As a senior, he was again selected as a first-team All-American by Pro Football Weekly and the Walter Camp Football Foundation. He was the runner-up for the Lou Groza Award, despite being heavily favored to win.[6] During his senior season, he became the first player in Big 12 Conference history to be named player of the week eight times,[7] and became Colorado's all-time leading scorer, with 308 career points.

College statistics

Colorado Buffaloes
YearGPField goalsPATKickoffs
FGAFGMPctLngXPAXPMPctKOOOBTBRet
2003 129777.844373183.83712610
2004 13231982.660302893.35904117
2005 13282175.0583131100.06104318
2006 12281967.9561919100.04612817
Total50886675.06011710993.2203213862
Source: CUBuffs.com

Professional career

Crosby kicking a field goal in his rookie season

Crosby was chosen by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round (193rd overall) of the 2007 NFL Draft, the last of three consecutive picks for the Packers, and the third kicker overall.[8] Crosby entered training camp in a battle with incumbent placekicker Dave Rayner. During Green Bay's first pre-season game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Crosby kicked a 52-yard field goal, the longest field goal in the history of Heinz Field. Crosby won the starting job during the final roster cut.

Crosby preparing to kickoff in 2009

In his first regular season game, Crosby converted all three field goals he attempted, including a 53-yarder and a 42-yard kick with two seconds left on the clock to help the Packers defeat the visiting Philadelphia Eagles. The kick was the first game-winner by a rookie on opening weekend since 1979 (when Matt Bahr achieved the same feat). Crosby was the first player in NFL history to kick a 50-yard field goal and a game-winning field goal with under a minute remaining in his NFL debut.[9] Crosby was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week (the first rookie kicker to receive this honor on opening weekend).[10]

Crosby was awarded the NFC Special Teams Player of the Month for November 2007.[11] He led all NFL kickers with 54 points and tied for the lead with 12 field goals as the Packers posted a 4-1 mark. Crosby converted 12 of 15 field goals during November and was a perfect 18-for-18 on PATs. He had at least one field goal in every game, including four in the Week 9 win at Kansas City. His longest field goal of the month was a 52-yarder in the Week 13 contest at Dallas.[12] For the 2007 season, Crosby led the NFL with 130 points scored and his 24 field goals ranked first in the NFC. Crosby finished second for most points scored in a season by a rookie (Kevin Butler had 144 points for Chicago in 1985). Crosby finished 2007 with the highest-scoring season by a kicker in franchise history and third-highest season point total by any Packers player.[13]

In the first game of the 2010 regular season against the Eagles, Crosby kicked a field goal from 56 yards in the last seconds of the first half, his career long and a franchise record.

At the end of the 2010 season, Crosby and the Packers appeared in Super Bowl XLV against the Steelers. In the 31–25 victory, he converted all four extra point attempts and his only field goal attempt.[14]

2011 season

On July 27, 2011, the Packers re-signed Crosby to a 5-year, $14 million deal.[15] Crosby kicked four field goals in a game on three separate occasions, which were October 9, 2011 (Atlanta Falcons), October 23, 2011 (Minnesota Vikings), and December 11, 2011 (Oakland Raiders).[16] On October 2, 2011, Crosby kicked a season-high 7 PATs against the Denver Broncos.[17] On October 23, 2011, Crosby set the franchise record when he made a 58-yard field goal in the third quarter as part of a four-field-goal game. He also was good from 39, 45, and 24 yards and made all 15 of his field goals through week 9.[18] He equaled his record distance on a 56-yard field goal on October 9, 2011, in the third quarter against the Atlanta Falcons.[19] He finished the 2011 season converting 68-of-69 extra point attempts and 24-of 28 field goal attempts.[20] The Packers' season ended in the Divisional Round against the New York Giants. In the 37–20 loss, he converted both extra point attempts and both field goal attempts.[21][22]

2012 season

Crosby kicked three field goals a game at the most all season, on 3 separate occasions, September 13, 2012 (Chicago Bears), October 21, 2012 (St. Louis Rams), and December 2, 2012 (Minnesota Vikings).[16] On December 23, 2012, Crosby kicked a season-high 7 PATs against the Tennessee Titans.[23] On September 14, 2012, Crosby kicked a season-long 54 yard field goal against the Chicago Bears.[24]

In 2012, he finished with a 63.6 field-goal percentage. This was the lowest field goal percentage for any active kicker in the league in the 2012 season.[25]

2013 season

Crosby preparing to kick a field goal in 2013

On September 15, 2013, Crosby kicked a season-high five PATs against the Washington Redskins.[26] On October 27, 2013, Crosby tied his season-high 5 PATs against the Minnesota Vikings as well.[27] On October 6, 2013, Crosby kicked a season-high 5 field goals against the Detroit Lions.[28] On November 17, 2013, Crosby kicked a season-long 57-yard field goal against the New York Giants.[29] On December 15, 2013, Crosby tied his season-long 57-yard field goal against the Dallas Cowboys.[30] Crosby kicked 33 field goals in the 2013 season, which is the most single-season field goals in franchise history, tied with Ryan Longwell and Chester Marcol.[31]

2014 season

On September 14, 2014, Crosby kicked a season-long 55-yard field goal against the New York Jets.[32] On November 9, 2014, Crosby kicked a season-high 7 PATs against the Chicago Bears.[33] Crosby kicked 27 field goals in the 2014 season, which is the 5th most in franchise history.[31] On January 18, 2015, in the NFC Championship game, Crosby kicked a season-high 5 field goals against the Seattle Seahawks, including a 48 yarder to force overtime. However, Seattle scored a touchdown which ended the Packers season.[34]

2015 season

On September 20, 2015, Crosby broke Ryan Longwell's team career scoring record of 1,054 with his fourth field goal of the game against the Seattle Seahawks. He is now the all-time leading scorer in Packers' history.[35] On September 28, 2015, Crosby kicked a season-high five PATs against the Kansas City Chiefs.[36] On November 1, 2015, Crosby kicked a season-long 56-yard field goal against the Denver Broncos.[37] On November 22, 2015, Crosby kicked a season-high 5 field goals against the Minnesota Vikings.[38] On January 3, 2016, Crosby recorded a forced fumble against the Minnesota Vikings.[39]

2016 season

On March 1, 2016, Crosby signed a four-year contract extension with the Packers.[40]

On January 15, 2017, Crosby kicked three field goals, of 56 and two of 51 yards (one of which did not count), in the final two minutes of the Packers' 34-31 second-round NFC divisional playoff win against the Dallas Cowboys. The first 51 yarder was invalidate due to a Cowboys timeout called in a process called icing the kicker. Crosby kicked the second 51 yard attempt for the win as time expired, marking the first time a kicker made two 50+ yard field goals in the final two minutes of a postseason game.[41][42] He also converted his 20th consecutive field goal in the post season, surpassing David Akers's previous record of 19.[43]

2017 season

Crosby completed the 2017 season with the Packers, maintaining a 78.9% Field Goal completion percentage, his lowest since 2010. Crosby also accomplished a 94.3% extra point completion percentage, the second lowest of his career. The Packers had been suffering difficulties with the longsnapper position and holder responsibilities changed hands several times throughout the year.[44] The search for a longsnapper and reliable holder led to several missed field goals and two missed extra points.

During a Week 10 matchup against the Chicago Bears, Crosby missed a 35 yard field goal off of an off-line snap that was then mishandled by rookie holder and punter Justin Vogel.[45] After that game, Crosby only missed one more kick for the rest of the season, a would-be record at Heinz Field of 57 yards.[46][47]

Due to the Packers' loss of Aaron Rodgers for most of the season, defensive difficulties, and special teams miscues, 2017 would be only the second year Crosby had not played in playoff game in his 10 year NFL career.

2018 season

In a Week 2 tie against the Minnesota Vikings, Crosby made what appeared to be the game-winning field goal at the end of regulation. However, the Vikings called a timeout just before the attempt to "ice the kicker", and Crosby missed the second attempt sending the game into overtime and an eventual tie.[48] In Week 5, Crosby was 1-5 on field goals and also missed his only extra point attempt, becoming the first player since Kris Brown in 2001 to miss 4 field goals in a single game and just the fourth player in NFL history to miss 4+ field goals and an extra point in a game.[49][50]

NFL career statistics

Regular season

SeasonTeamKicking
GPAttFGMPctLngXP AttXPMPctPts
2007Green Bay Packers 16393179.5534848100141
2008Green Bay Packers 16342779.4534646100127
2009Green Bay Packers 16362775.052494898.0129
2010Green Bay Packers 16282278.6564646100112
2011Green Bay Packers 16282485.758696898.6140
2012Green Bay Packers 16332163.6545050100113
2013Green Bay Packers 16373389.2574242100141
2014Green Bay Packers 16332781.855555396.4134
2015Green Bay Packers 16282485.7563636100108
2016Green Bay Packers 16302686.753474493.6122
2017Green Bay Packers 16191578.950353394.378
Total 17634527780.35852351498.31,345
Source: NFL.com

Postseason

SeasonTeamKicking
GPAttFGMPctXP AttXPMPctPts
2007Green Bay Packers 2221008810014
2009Green Bay Packers 12150.0661009
2010Green Bay Packers 44375.0161610025
2011Green Bay Packers 122100221008
2012Green Bay Packers 2221007710013
2013Green Bay Packers 122100221008
2014Green Bay Packers 2771003310024
2015Green Bay Packers 2441005510017
2016Green Bay Packers 34375.0101010019
Total 18292689.65959100137
Source: pro-football-reference.com

Professional awards

  • 2007
    • NFC Special Teams Player of the Week (Week 1)[51]
    • NFC Special Teams Player of the Month (November)[52]
  • 2010
    • NFC Special Teams Player of the Week (Week 1)[53]
  • 2011
    • NFC Special Teams Player of the Week (Weeks 5 and 7)[53]

Personal life

Crosby talking to the press.

Crosby graduated in December 2006 from the University of Colorado, majoring in communication. He attended Georgetown High School in Texas, where he played football and soccer. He is a Houston Astros fan and an avid golfer. Mason's father, Jim, was a running back in college for the UTEP Miners and graduated from Texas Tech. Crosby married Molly (née Ackerman) on June 28, 2008.[54] They have two children: son Nolan James (born August 2010) and daughter Charlotte (born May 2013).

Crosby is a Christian. Crosby has spoken about his faith by saying, "I think He helps me knowing that kicking is what I do, not who I am. It's not everything that I am. I can escape knowing that my relationship with Christ is what carries me. I'm always reading in the Proverbs and Psalms to relax my mind before we play. I know that God cares for me all the time regardless of any outcome here."[55]

References

  1. ↑ "CU Player Bios".
  2. 1 2 "2005 Colorado Football - Game 13 - Clemson" (PDF). University of Colorado. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2006-10-21.
  3. ↑ "Colorado State at Colorado Box Score, September 4, 2004". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
  4. ↑ "Colorado State at Colorado Box Score, September 3, 2005". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
  5. ↑ "2009 Colorado Football - Game 4 - West Virginia Mountaineers" (PDF). University of Colorado. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2009-09-30.
  6. ↑ David Plati (2006-12-07). "Crosby Named Walter Camp All-American". CUBuffs.com. Retrieved 2006-12-08.
  7. ↑ "Big 12 Conference Records" (PDF). CSTV. Retrieved 2006-10-21.
  8. ↑ "2007 Green Bay Packers Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
  9. ↑ "Packers: Consistent Crosby keeps on course". Madison.com. Archived from the original on 2011-02-23. Retrieved 2007-12-29.
  10. ↑ "AFC/NFC Players of the Week". Archived from the original on 2007-10-29. Retrieved 2007-09-13.
  11. ↑ Cohen, Robert W. (2018-09-01). The 50 Greatest Players in Green Bay Packers History. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9781493031894.
  12. ↑ "Mason Crosby Named NFC Special Teams Player Of The Month". Archived from the original on 2007-12-13. Retrieved 2007-12-09.
  13. ↑ Jenkins, Chris. "Green Bay Packers prepare for playoffs with 34-13 victory over Lions". THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. Retrieved 2008-01-01.
  14. ↑ "Super Bowl XLV - Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Green Bay Packers - February 6th, 2011". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2017-12-15.
  15. ↑ "Crosby returning to Green Bay with five-year deal". Sacramento Bee.
  16. 1 2 "Mason Crosby: Game Logs at NFL.com". nfl.com. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
  17. ↑ "Broncos vs. Packers - Box Score - October 2, 2011 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
  18. ↑ "Crosby, Masthay put on kicking clinic". Packersnews.com. Archived from the original on 2013-09-02. Retrieved 2012-11-19.
  19. ↑ Odum, Charles. "Falcons start fast but fall to Packers, 25-14". San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
  20. ↑ "Mason Crosby 2011 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
  21. ↑ "Divisional Round - New York Giants at Green Bay Packers - January 15th, 2012". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
  22. ↑ "NFL playoffs 2012: New York Giants stun Green Bay Packers, 37-20". Washington Post. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
  23. ↑ "Titans vs. Packers - Box Score - December 23, 2012 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
  24. ↑ "Bears vs. Packers - Box Score - September 13, 2012 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
  25. ↑ "NFL Player Kicking Statistics - 2012". ESPN. Retrieved 2013-03-10.
  26. ↑ "Redskins vs. Packers - Box Score - September 15, 2013 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
  27. ↑ "Packers vs. Vikings - Box Score - October 27, 2013 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
  28. ↑ "Lions vs. Packers - Box Score - October 6, 2013 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
  29. ↑ "Packers vs. Giants - Box Score - November 17, 2013 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
  30. ↑ "Packers vs. Cowboys - Box Score - December 15, 2013 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
  31. 1 2 "Green Bay Packers Single-season Kicking & Punting Leaders | Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
  32. ↑ "Jets vs. Packers - Box Score - September 14, 2014 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016-02-06.
  33. ↑ "Bears vs. Packers - Box Score - November 9, 2014 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016-02-06.
  34. ↑ "Packers vs. Seahawks - Box Score - January 18, 2015 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016-02-06.
  35. ↑ "Crosby surpasses Longwell as franchise career scoring leader". Packers.com. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
  36. ↑ "Chiefs vs. Packers - Box Score - September 28, 2015 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016-02-06.
  37. ↑ "Packers vs. Broncos - Box Score - November 1, 2015 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016-02-06.
  38. ↑ "Packers vs. Vikings - Box Score - November 22, 2015 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016-02-06.
  39. ↑ "Packers K Crosby forces fumble during kick return". www.packers.com. Retrieved 2016-02-06.
  40. ↑ "Mason Crosby signs four-year contract with Packers". NFL.com. March 1, 2016.
  41. ↑ "Green Bay at Dallas / 2017-01-15 / National Football League / Yahoo! Sports</title>". yahoo.com. January 15, 2017.
  42. ↑ "Mason Crosby's Performance Was Most Clutch by Kicker in Postseason History". ESPN. Retrieved January 19, 2017.
  43. ↑ "Crosby sets mark for consecutive playoff FGs". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
  44. ↑ "Packers turn to third long snapper of the season: Derek Hart". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
  45. ↑ "Packers' long-snapper saga comes full circle with return of Brett Goode". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
  46. ↑ http://steelcurtainrising.com/2017/11/steelers-packers-win-heinz-field-goal-miss-chris-boswell-record-mason-crosby-max-mccarthey.html/
  47. ↑ "Mason Crosby". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
  48. ↑ "Packers, Vikings settle for OT tie, 29-29". www.packers.com. Retrieved 2018-09-23.
  49. ↑ "NFL reacts to Mason Crosby's meltdown vs. Lions". Green Bay Packers.
  50. ↑ "Players who missed 4+ field goals in a game". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  51. ↑ "Kicker Crosby earns NFC weekly honor and had the most points in the NFL his rookie season". Retrieved 2007-09-13.
  52. ↑ "Mason Crosby Named NFC Special Teams Player Of The Month". Archived from the original on 2007-12-13. Retrieved 2007-12-09.
  53. 1 2 "Crosby wins second weekly award of 2011". Retrieved 2011-10-26.
  54. ↑ Green Bay Packers bio Archived August 18, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
  55. ↑ "SUPER BOWL: Aaron Rodgers, other Packers, looking to 'follow Jesus' example'". Archived from the original on 2014-01-06.
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