Mason Crosby

Mason Crosby

Mason Crosby during the 2007 season
No. 2 Green Bay Packers
Position: Placekicker
Personal information
Date of birth: September 3, 1984
Place of birth: 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
  • NFC Special Teams Player of the Month (November 2007, October 2013)
  • NFL points leader with 141 (2007)
  • Packers single-season record for most points scored (no touchdowns) (141)
  • Packers record for longest field goal (58 yards)
  • Super Bowl Champion (XLV)
  • NFC Champion (2010)
  • First-team All-American (2005, 2006)
  • First-team All-Big 12 (2004, 2005, 2006)
Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2014
Field goals: 212
Field goal attempts: 268
Field goals %: 79.1
Longest field goal: 58
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.

College career

Crosby kicking a field goal in the 2006 spring game.

Crosby attended the University of Colorado, where he played for 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.

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).[3]

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. During his senior season, he became the first player in Big 12 Conference history to be named player of the week eight times,[4] and became Colorado's all-time leading scorer, with 308 career points.

Statistics

Kickoffs Scoring / Field Goals
Season Total Touch Backs Inside 20 Over End Zone Opponent Avg. Start PAT 10-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60+ FG-FGA Pct. Long Points
2003 37 26 2 17 23 31-37 0-0 4-4 0-0 3-4 0-1 0-0 7-9 77.8 44 52
2004 59 41 6 26 21 28-30 1-1 5-5 5-5 3-5 4-6 1-1 19-23 82.6 60 85
2005 61 43 4 33 22 31-31 0-0 3-4 5-6 8-11 5-7 0-0 21-28 75.0 58 94
2006 46 28 8 12 22 11-11 0-0 5-6 7-8 5-5 2-6 0-3 19-28 67.9 56 76
TOTALS 203 138 20 88 22 100-108 1-1 17-19 17-19 19-25 11-20 1-4 66-88 75.0 60 308

Note: Average Starting Yardline: Onsides, short squibs and free kicks are omitted in figuring the above - out-of-bounds are not.

Collegiate awards

Professional career

Green Bay Packers

Crosby was chosen by the Green Bay Packers with the 19th pick of the sixth round (193rd overall) of the 2007 NFL Draft, the last of three consecutive picks for the Packers, and the third kicker overall. 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.

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.[6] Crosby was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week (the first rookie kicker to receive this honor on opening weekend).[7]

Crosby was awarded the NFC Special Teams Player of the Month for November 2007. 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.[8] 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.[9]

In the first game of the 2010 regular season against the Philadelphia Eagles, Crosby kicked a field goal from 56 yards in the last seconds of the first half, his career long and a franchise record. He equaled this record distance on October 9, 2011 in the third quarter against the Atlanta Falcons.

On July 27, 2011, the Packers re-signed Crosby to a 5-year, $14 million deal.[10]

On October 23, 2011, Crosby set the franchise record when he drilled a 58-yard field goal in the third quarter as part of a four-field-goal game. The 58-yard field goal had about 7 yards to spare. He also was good from 39, 45 and 24 yards and has made all 15 of his field goals as of week 9.[11]

In 2012, he finished the 2012 NFL regular season 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.[12]

In 2013, Crosby rebounded from his disappointing 2012 season by setting career records in number of field goals and field goal percentage. He made 33 out of 37 field goals, a 89.2 field-goal percentage.

Career statistics

Source:[13]

Season Team Games Kicking
GP GS Att FGM Pct Lng XP Att XPM Pct
2007 Green Bay Packers 16 0 39 31 79.1 58 48 48 100
2008 Green Bay Packers 16 0 34 27 79.4 53 46 46 100
2009 Green Bay Packers 16 0 36 27 75 52 49 48 98
2010 Green Bay Packers 16 0 28 22 78.6 56 46 46 100
2011 Green Bay Packers 16 0 28 24 85.7 58 69 68 98.6
2012 Green Bay Packers 16 0 33 21 63.6 54 50 50 100
2013 Green Bay Packers 16 0 37 33 89.2 57 42 42 100
2014 Green Bay Packers 16 0 33 27 81.8 53 55 53 96.4
Total 128 0 268 212 79.1 58 405 401 99

Professional awards

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.[17] They are parents to two children: son Nolan James (born August 15, 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."[18]

Records

[19] [20]

References

  1. ↑ "CU Player Bios".
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "2005 Colorado Football - Game 13 - Clemson" (PDF). University of Colorado. Retrieved 2006-10-21.
  3. ↑ "2009 Colorado Football - Game 4 - West Virginia Mountaineers" (PDF). University of Colorado. Retrieved 2009-09-30.
  4. ↑ "Big 12 Conference Records" (PDF). CSTV. Retrieved 2006-10-21.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 David Plati (2006-12-07). "Crosby Named Walter Camp All-American". CUBuffs.com. Retrieved 2006-12-08.
  6. ↑ "Packers: Consistent Crosby keeps on course". Madison.com. Retrieved 2007-12-29.
  7. ↑ "AFC/NFC Players of the Week". Archived from the original on 2007-10-29. Retrieved 2007-09-13.
  8. ↑ "Mason Crosby Named NFC Special Teams Player Of The Month". Archived from the original on 2007-12-13. Retrieved 2007-12-09.
  9. ↑ Jenkins, Chris. "Green Bay Packers prepare for playoffs with 34-13 victory over Lions". THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. Retrieved 2008-01-01.
  10. ↑ "Crosby returning to Green Bay with five-year deal". Sacramento Bee.
  11. ↑ "Crosby, Masthay put on kicking clinic". Packersnews.com. Retrieved 2012-11-19.
  12. ↑ "NFL Player Kicking Statistics - 2012". ESPN. Retrieved 2013-03-10.
  13. ↑ Statistics
  14. ↑ "Kicker Crosby earns NFC weekly honor and had the most points in the NFL his rookie season.". Retrieved 2007-09-13.
  15. ↑ "Mason Crosby Named NFC Special Teams Player Of The Month". Archived from the original on 2007-12-13. Retrieved 2007-12-09.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Crosby wins second weekly award of 2011". Retrieved 2011-10-26.
  17. ↑ Green Bay Packers bio
  18. ↑ "SUPER BOWL: Aaron Rodgers, other Packers, looking to 'follow Jesus' example'".
  19. ↑ http://www.nfl.com/player/masoncrosby/2507232/careerstats
  20. ↑ http://lombardiave.com/2015/03/26/mason-crosby-green-bay-packers-franchise-scoring-record-might-get-a-bit-tougher/

External links

Current starting placekickers in the National Football League (as of Week 17 of the 2014 NFL season)
American Football Conference
AFC East

Dan Carpenter (Buffalo Bills)
Caleb Sturgis (Miami Dolphins)
Stephen Gostkowski (New England Patriots)
Nick Folk (New York Jets)

 AFC North

Justin Tucker (Baltimore Ravens)
Mike Nugent (Cincinnati Bengals)
Garrett Hartley (Cleveland Browns)
Shaun Suisham (Pittsburgh Steelers)

 AFC South

Randy Bullock (Houston Texans)
Adam Vinatieri (Indianapolis Colts)
Josh Scobee (Jacksonville Jaguars)
Ryan Succop (Tennessee Titans)

 AFC West

Connor Barth (Denver Broncos)
Cairo Santos (Kansas City Chiefs)
Sebastian Janikowski (Oakland Raiders)
Nick Novak (San Diego Chargers)

National Football Conference
NFC East

Dan Bailey (Dallas Cowboys)
Josh Brown (New York Giants)
Cody Parkey (Philadelphia Eagles)
Kai Forbath (Washington Redskins)

 NFC North

Jay Feely (Chicago Bears)
Matt Prater (Detroit Lions)
Mason Crosby (Green Bay Packers)
Blair Walsh (Minnesota Vikings)

 NFC South

Matt Bryant (Atlanta Falcons)
Graham Gano (Carolina Panthers)
Shayne Graham (New Orleans Saints)
Patrick Murray (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

 NFC West

Chandler Catanzaro (Arizona Cardinals)
Greg Zuerlein (St. Louis Rams)
Phil Dawson (San Francisco 49ers)
Steven Hauschka (Seattle Seahawks)