Crosby spent 16 seasons with the Packers, where he was a member of the team's Super Bowl XLV championship team, and became the franchise's all-time leading scorer. After leaving the Packers after the 2022 season, Crosby had a brief stint with the Los Angeles Rams' practice squad in 2023 before signing with the New York Giants later in the season.
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.[3] While enrolled at Colorado, he displayed extraordinary leg strength, making a school-record 60-yard field goal against Iowa State in 2004.[4] Crosby's 58-yard field goal against Miami in 2005 was the longest ever kicked in NCAADivision I-A football at sea-level without a tee.[5] 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.[6]
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 8+1⁄2 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.[7][8]
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.[6]The Sporting News named Crosby to its All-Decade team for the first nine years of the 2000s (decade).[9]
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.[10] 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.[11] During his senior season, he became the first player in Big 12 Conference history to be named player of the week eight times,[12] and became Colorado's all-time leading scorer, with 308 career points.[13]
Crosby was selected 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.[17][18] 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.[19]
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 16–13.[20] 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.[21] Crosby was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week (the first rookie kicker to receive this honor on opening weekend).[22]
Crosby was awarded the NFC Special Teams Player of the Month for November 2007.[23] 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 the Kansas City Chiefs. His longest field goal of the month was a 52-yarder in the Week 13 contest at the Dallas Cowboys.[24][25] For the 2007 season, Crosby led the NFL with 130 points scored and his 24 field goals ranked first in the NFC.[26] Crosby finished second for most points scored in a season by a rookie (Kevin Butler had 144 points for Chicago in 1985).[27] Crosby finished 2007 with the highest-scoring season by a kicker in franchise history and third-highest season point total by any Packers player.[28]
2008 season
In the 2008 season, Crosby converted all 46 extra point attempts and 27 of 34 field goal attempts as the Packers went 6–10.[29][30] He led the league in extra points attempted and converted.[31]
2009 season
Crosby converted 48 of 49 extra point attempts and 27 of 36 field goal attempts in the 2009 season as the Packers went 11–5.[32][33]
2010 season
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 then career long and a franchise record.[34] On the day, he converted all three extra point tries and both field goal attempts in the 27–20 victory.[35] He earned NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his game against Philadelphia.[36] On the 2010 season, Crosby converted all 46 extra point attempts and 22 of 28 field goal attempts.[37]
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.[38] In the 2010 postseason, Crosby converted all 16 extra point attempts.[39]
2011 season
On July 27, 2011, the Packers re-signed Crosby to a 5-year, $14million deal.[40] In Week 4, Crosby kicked a season-high seven PATs against the Denver Broncos.[41] In Week 5, he equaled his then record distance on a 56-yard field goal on October 9, 2011, in the third quarter against the Atlanta Falcons.[42] In Week 7, 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.[43] Crosby earned NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors for Weeks 5 and 7.[44][45] For the month of October, Crosby won NFC Special Teams Player of the Month.[46] Crosby kicked four field goals in a game on three occasions, which were Week 5 (Falcons), Week 7 (Minnesota Vikings), and Week 14 (Oakland Raiders).[47][48][49] He finished the 2011 season converting 68-of-69 extra point attempts and 24-of 28 field goal attempts.[50] He led the league in extra points attempted and converted.[51] 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.[52][53]
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.[56] Overall, he converted all 50 extra point attempts and 21 of 33 field goal attempts in the 2012 season.[57]
2013 season
Crosby preparing to kick a field goal in 2013
In Week 2, Crosby kicked a season-high five PATs against the Washington Redskins.[58] In Week 5, Crosby kicked a season-high five field goals against the Detroit Lions.[59] Crosby earned NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his Week 6 game against the Baltimore Ravens. He converted four of five field goal attempts and one extra point in the 17–9 victory.[60][61] In Week 8, Crosby tied his season-high five PATs against the Vikings as well.[62] In Week 11, Crosby kicked a season-long 57-yard field goal against the Giants.[63] In Week 15, Crosby tied his season-long 57-yard field goal against the Cowboys.[64] Crosby converted all 42 extra point attempts and added 33 field goals in the 2013 season, tying the franchise single-season record with Ryan Longwell and Chester Marcol.[65][66]
2014 season
In Week 2, Crosby kicked a season-long 55-yard field goal against the New York Jets in the 31–24 victory.[67] In Week 10, Crosby kicked a season-high seven PATs against the Bears in the 55–14 victory.[68] Crosby scored his 1,000th point in his 124th career game, the Packers' Week 13 game against the New England Patriots, making him the third-fastest player to 1,000 points (after the Patriots' Stephen Gostkowski and Gino Cappelletti).[69] In the 2014 season, Crosby converted 53 of 55 extra point attempts of 27 of 33 field goal attempts.[70]
On January 18, 2015, in the NFC Championship, Crosby kicked a season-high five field goals against the Seattle Seahawks, including a 48-yarder to force overtime. However, Seattle scored a touchdown which ended the Packers season.[71][72]
2015 season
In Week 2, Crosby broke Ryan Longwell's team career scoring record of 1,054 with his fourth field goal of the game against the Seahawks. He became the all-time leading scorer in Packers' history.[73] In Week 3, Crosby kicked a season-high five PATs against the Chiefs.[74] In Week 8, Crosby kicked a season-long 56-yard field goal against the Broncos.[75] In Week 11, Crosby kicked a season-high five field goals against the Vikings.[76] For his game against the Vikings, he earned NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for Week 11.[77] On January 3, 2016, Crosby recorded a forced fumble against the Vikings.[78] He finished the 2015 season converting all 36 extra point attempts and 24 of 28 field goal attempts.[79]
2016 season
On March 1, 2016, Crosby signed a four-year contract extension with the Packers.[80] In the 2016 season, Crosby converted 44 of 47 extra point attempts and 26 of 30 field goal attempts.[81]
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 Round against the Cowboys. The first 51-yarder was invalidated 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.[82][83] He also converted his 20th consecutive field goal in the post season, surpassing David Akers's previous record of 19.[84]
2017 season
Crosby completed the 2017 season with the Packers, maintaining a 78.9% field goal completion percentage, his lowest since 2012. 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.[85] 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.[86] 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.[87]
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 a playoff game in his 10-year NFL career.[88] He finished the 2017 season converting 33 of 35 extra point attempts and 15 of 19 field goal attempts.[89]
2018 season
In a Week 2 tie against the 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.[90] 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 four field goals in a single game and just the fourth player in NFL history to miss at least four field goals and an extra point in a game.[91][92] Crosby bounced back the following week, converting all three extra point attempts and all four field goal attempts, including a 27-yard game winner as time expired in a 33–30 win over the San Francisco 49ers, earning him NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.[93][94] He finished the 2018 season converting 34 of 36 extra point attempts and 30 of 37 field goal attempts.[95]
2019 season
In Week 6, Crosby kicked three field goals, including the game-winner, in a Week 6 victory over the Lions; he performed a Lambeau Leap to celebrate the victory.[96] He kicked another game-winning field goal during a Week 17 rematch against the Lions on December 29.[97] He finished the 2019 season converting 40 of 41 extra point attempts and 22 of 24 field goal attempts.[98]
2020 season
On February 24, 2020, Crosby signed a three-year, $12.9million contract extension with the Packers.[99][100] On July 30, the Packers placed Crosby on the reserve/COVID-19 list.[101] He was activated on August 15, 2020.[102] Crosby had a perfect regular season on field goal attempts for the first time in his career, making 16 of 16 field goals. Crosby and Jason Myers both recorded a perfect season in 2020. They became the 8th and 9th players in NFL history to qualify as players to earn a perfect season kicking field goals.[103][104][105] The 16 field goals he attempted were a career low, as the Packers offense had a record-setting year—Crosby had fewer field goals than wide receiver Davante Adams had touchdowns (18).[106] Crosby led the league with 59 extra points converted on 63 attempts.[105]
2021 season
Crosby playing for the Packers in 2021.
On March 23, 2021, Packers restructured Crosby's contract by converting part of his base salary into a salary bonus, as well as his $1.25M roster bonus to a signing bonus. Part of this restructure was also included extending his contract with three void years.[107] In a Week 3 win against the 49ers, Crosby made all three of his field goal attempts, including the 51-yard game-winner as time expired, earning NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.[108][109] Against the Cincinnati Bengals, Crosby missed three straight field goals that could've won the game for the Packers, but ended up making a game winning field goal in overtime to help the Packers win 25–22.[110][111][112] In what had been an up and down year, the special teams unit was ranked dead last in efficiency by DVOA.[113] This in part was due to the myriad of miscues and miss-kicks. Crosby finished the 2021 season converting 49 of 51 extra point attempts and 25 of 34 field goal attempts.[114]
In the Divisional Round against the 49ers, Crosby had a kick blocked by Jimmie Ward at the end of the first half.[115] This blocked kick would come back to haunt the Packers as they went on to lose by a score of 13–10.[116]
2022 season: Final year in Green Bay
Crosby converted game-winning field goals in overtime games against the Patriots in Week 4 and the Cowboys in Week 10.[117][118] In the 2022 season, Crosby converted 37 of 39 extra point attempts and 25 of 29 field goal attempts as the Packers finished 8–9 and missed the playoffs.[119][120]
On December 22, 2023, Crosby was signed to the Giants practice squad following an injury to kicker Cade York.[123] He appeared in three games for the Giants.[124] His contract expired when the team's season ended on January 7, 2024.
Crosby is a Christian, who 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."[129]
Robert Paul Gould III is an American former professional football player who was a placekicker for 18 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Chicago Bears, New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers. He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions. Gould was originally signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played with the Bears from 2005 to 2015, earning first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors in 2006, and became the franchise's all-time leading scorer.
Steven Matt Bryant, nicknamed "Money Matt", is an American former professional football player who was a placekicker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Baylor Bears, and was signed as an unrestricted free agent by the AFL's Iowa Barnstormers in 2000. A Pro Bowler with the Falcons in 2016, he has also been a member of the New York Giants, Frankfurt Galaxy, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Florida Tuskers, and is among the most-accurate kickers in NFL history.
The 2007 Green Bay Packers season was the franchise's 89th overall and 87th season in the National Football League (NFL). The Packers finished the regular season with a 13–3 record and clinched their first winning season, playoff appearance and division title since 2004. They received for the first time since 1997 a bye for the first round of the playoffs, won their divisional round playoff game, and lost in the NFC Championship game to the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants. It was the first time the Packers had lost a home NFC Championship game, and only their third home playoff loss ever. This was the last season for quarterback Brett Favre as a Green Bay Packer, as he initially retired following the season but came out of retirement and was subsequently traded to the New York Jets during the offseason.
Matthew Phillip Prater is an American professional football placekicker for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). Regarded as one of the best long distance kickers in NFL history, he held the NFL record for longest field goal from 2013 until 2021 and holds the NFL record for most 50+ yard field goals in a career, 81 as of 2024.
The Bears–Packers rivalry is a National Football League (NFL) rivalry between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers.
The 2009 Green Bay Packers season was the team's 91st season overall and their 89th in the National Football League (NFL). The Packers finished with an 11–5 record but lost in the wild card round of the playoffs to the Arizona Cardinals 51–45. They scored a then franchise record 461 points besting the 1996 Super Bowl team's 456. Charles Woodson was named Defensive Player of the Year for the season, leading the league with 9 interceptions. The defense ranked 1st in the league against the run.
Graham Clark Gano is a Scottish and American professional football placekicker for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida State Seminoles and was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2009. Gano has also played for the Las Vegas Locomotives in the United Football League (UFL), the Washington Redskins and the Carolina Panthers. During his time with the Panthers, he achieved the franchise's record for longest field goal at 63 yards in 2018.
The 2010 Green Bay Packers season was the 92nd season overall and their 90th season in the National Football League (NFL). Although they finished with only a respectable 10–6 record, good for a second-place finish in the NFC North, the Packers never lost a game by more than four points, and never trailed by more than seven the entire season, becoming the only team since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970 to accomplish this. All six of their regular season losses were by a combined 20 points. They entered the playoffs as the NFC's sixth seed. After defeating the Philadelphia Eagles 21–16 in the wild card round, the Atlanta Falcons 48–21 in the Divisional round, and long time rivals Chicago Bears 21–14 in the NFC Championship, the team advanced to Super Bowl XLV in which they faced the AFC's 2nd seed Pittsburgh Steelers. The Packers defeated the Steelers 31–25 to win their fourth Super Bowl and 13th NFL championship. The Packers became the second overall team after the 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers, and the first NFC team, to win the Super Bowl as a sixth seed, as well as becoming the second NFC team to win three straight road playoff games.
Dan Bailey is an American former professional football player who was a placekicker in the National Football League (NFL). Bailey grew up in the Oklahoma City area and played college football for the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Following the 2011 NFL draft, Bailey signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent. He spent seven years in Dallas, where he became the franchise's all-time leader in field goals made. He played for the Minnesota Vikings from 2018 to 2020.
The 2011 Green Bay Packers season was the franchise's 93rd season overall and their 91st in the National Football League (NFL), and the sixth under head coach Mike McCarthy. The team not only improved on their 10–6 record from a season earlier, they became just the sixth team in NFL history to win 15 games during the regular season. As of 2023, the 15–1 record stands as the best in team history, as well as the best record for a defending Super Bowl champion. The Packers won their first 13 games of the season to extend their winning streak from the previous season to 19, the second-longest in NFL history behind the 21-game winning streak of the New England Patriots in 2003 and 2004, and also tied the record for the best start to a season in NFC history that the New Orleans Saints had set in 2009. The only loss for the Packers during the regular season was a Week 15 defeat in Arrowhead Stadium against the Kansas City Chiefs. They also became the first NFC North team to go undefeated in the division since the 1987 Chicago Bears.
Gregory ZuerleinZUR-lyne, is an American professional football placekicker for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). A native of Lincoln, Nebraska, he played college football at Nebraska-Omaha and Missouri Western. He previously played for the St. Louis / Los Angeles Rams and the Dallas Cowboys.
Blair Richard Walsh is an American former professional football player who was a placekicker in the National Football League (NFL) for six seasons, primarily with the Minnesota Vikings. Walsh played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs and was selected by the Vikings in the sixth round of the 2012 NFL draft.
The Lions–Packers rivalry or Yooper Bowl is a National Football League (NFL) rivalry between the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers.
Cairo Fernandes Santos is a Brazilian professional American football placekicker for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Tulane Green Wave, and was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2014.
The 2014 Green Bay Packers season was the franchise's 96th season overall, the 94th in the National Football League (NFL), and the ninth under head coach Mike McCarthy. The team tied with four other teams for a league-best 12 wins and 4 losses, while also adding a fourth consecutive NFC North division title. The club went undefeated at home for the first time since 2011. They also led the league in scoring, with 486 points, then the second-most in franchise history. It marked the first time since the 2009 season that the team had a 4,000-yard passer, two 1,000-yard receivers, and a 1,000-yard rusher.
Brandon Tyler McManus is an American professional football placekicker for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He was a member of the Denver Broncos and their Super Bowl 50 championship team. He played college football for the Temple Owls and was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2013. McManus has also been a member of the New York Giants, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Washington Commanders.
The Miracle in Motown was a National Football League (NFL) game played on December 3, 2015, between the NFC North divisional rivals Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions. The game, which was broadcast on television nationally on Thursday Night Football, was contested at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, during the 2015 NFL season. On the final play of regulation, with no time remaining on the game clock and Detroit leading 23–21, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw a 61-yard (56 m) Hail Mary pass into the end zone that was caught by tight end Richard Rodgers II for the game-winning walk-off touchdown. The play resulted in a dramatic 27–23 come-from-behind victory for the Packers, who had trailed 20–0 in the second half. The victory was the Packers' fourth-largest comeback in franchise history. It was also the start of a 3-game winning streak that would help the Packers clinch their seventh consecutive postseason berth. The play won the NFL Play of the Year Award for the 2015 season and was named the year's best play in North American sports at the 2016 ESPY Awards.
Dez Caught It was a National Football League (NFL) Divisional Playoff game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers on January 11, 2015. The game, which was played at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, gained notoriety after a play in which Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant attempted to catch a pass from quarterback Tony Romo in the closing minutes of the 4th quarter. The pass was initially ruled a catch before controversially being overturned after officials determined Bryant did not complete the process of a catch while he was lunging towards the end zone. The Packers would get the ball on the turnover on downs and run out the clock. They won by a score of 26–21 and moved on to the NFC Championship Game, where they would lose to the Seattle Seahawks. In the following years, the NFL changed the rules regarding catching a pass while falling to the ground. The new rules would likely have given Bryant a completed catch, although what constitutes a catch has continued to be debated.
The 2014 National Football Conference (NFC) Championship Game was played between the Green Bay Packers and the Seattle Seahawks on January 18, 2015, at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Washington. Both the Packers and Seahawks finished the 2014 season with the same record, 12–4, enough for each team to win their respective divisions. The Dallas Cowboys also won their division with a 12–4 record, necessitating a tie-breaker for seeding in the playoffs. The Seahawks were awarded the first seed, the Packers the second and the Cowboys the third based on each teams' respective conference winning percentages. With the first and second seeds, the Packers and Seahawks both had bye weeks for the first round of the playoffs. The Packers faced the Cowboys in the Divisional Round, controversially winning 26–21 in what became known as the Dez Caught It game. The Seahawks beat the Carolina Panthers 31–17 in the Divisional Round and with their higher seeding had home field advantage for the NFC Championship Game against the Packers.
↑ Kirkendall, Josh (September 12, 2007). "AFC/NFC Players of the Week". Cincy Jungle. Archived from the original on October 29, 2007. Retrieved September 13, 2007.
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