Mason Walker Crosby is an American football placekicker currently without a team. He played college football for the University of Colorado, where he was recognized as a unanimous All-American. Crosby was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft.
1979: Historic Game-Winning Kick in NFL Debut
In his first regular-season game in 1979, Crosby secured a victory for the Packers against the Philadelphia Eagles with a game-winning field goal in the final seconds. This achievement made him the first rookie since Matt Bahr in 1979 to kick a game-winner on opening weekend. He also became the first player in NFL history to achieve this feat with a 50-yard field goal and under a minute remaining in their debut game.
September 3, 1984: Birth of Mason Crosby
Mason Walker Crosby was born on September 3, 1984.
1985: Record-Breaking Rookie Season
Crosby's impressive rookie season in 2007 concluded with him having the highest-scoring season by a kicker in Packers' history and the third-highest point total overall. He also finished second for most points scored in a season by a rookie, falling short of Kevin Butler's record of 144 points set in 1985.
2001: Historical Kicking Struggles
In 2001, NFL kicker Kris Brown experienced a game with similar struggles to Mason Crosby's challenging Week 5 performance in 2018. These instances highlight the rarity and historical context of such events in professional football.
2003: Start of College Football Career at Colorado
Mason Crosby's college football journey began in 2003 when he joined the Colorado Buffaloes.
2004: Game-Winning Kicks in the Rocky Mountain Showdown
Crosby's clutch performances were evident in 2004 and 2005 when he secured victories against Colorado State University with game-winning field goals in consecutive years. Notably, he made kicks from 55 yards in 2004 and 48 and 47 yards in 2005.
2004: Record-Breaking Field Goal Against Iowa State
In 2004, Crosby set a school record with a 60-yard field goal against Iowa State, showcasing his exceptional leg strength.
2004: Impressive Kickoff Specialist for the Buffaloes
In 2004, Crosby showcased his prowess as a kickoff specialist, notably with an 87-yard kickoff touchback from the 20-yard line against Iowa State.
2004: First-Team All-Big 12 Selection
Mason Crosby was recognized for his exceptional performance in 2004, 2005, and 2006 by being named a first-team All-Big 12 selection.
2005: Unanimous First-Team All-American Recognition
Crosby's outstanding performance in 2005 earned him unanimous first-team All-American honors, a testament to his exceptional skills and impact on the field.
2005: Game-Winning Kicks in the Rocky Mountain Showdown
Crosby's clutch performances were evident in 2004 and 2005 when he secured victories against Colorado State University with game-winning field goals in consecutive years. Notably, he made kicks from 55 yards in 2004 and 48 and 47 yards in 2005.
2005: Longest Field Goal at Sea Level without a Tee
Crosby achieved the longest field goal in NCAA Division I-A football history at sea level without a tee with a 58-yard kick against Miami in 2005.
December 2006: Crosby Graduates from the University of Colorado
In December 2006, Mason Crosby graduated from the University of Colorado, where he majored in communication.
2006: First-Team All-American Selection and Big 12 Conference Record
Crosby continued to excel in 2006, earning first-team All-American recognition again and setting a Big 12 Conference record by being named Player of the Week eight times.
2006: Conclusion of College Football Career
In 2006, Mason Crosby concluded his college football career with the Colorado Buffaloes.
November 2007: NFC Special Teams Player of the Month
Crosby's exceptional performance in November 2007, where he led all NFL kickers in points and tied for the lead in field goals, earned him the NFC Special Teams Player of the Month award.
2007: Longest Field Goal in Heinz Field History (Preseason)
During a preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2007, Crosby made a 52-yard field goal, marking the longest in Heinz Field history at the time.
2007: Drafted into the NFL
In 2007, Mason Crosby was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round of the NFL Draft.
June 28, 2008: Crosby Marries Molly Ackerman
Mason Crosby married Molly Ackerman on June 28, 2008. They went on to have five children together.
2008: League Leader in Extra Points
Crosby's consistency was evident in the 2008 season as he led the league in both extra point attempts and conversions.
2009: Consistent Performance as Placekicker
Crosby continued to be a reliable placekicker for the Packers in 2009, converting a high percentage of both extra point and field goal attempts.
2010: Super Bowl XLV Victory
Crosby played a crucial role in the Packers' Super Bowl XLV victory in 2010, successfully converting all his extra point attempts and his sole field goal attempt.
2010: Career-Long Field Goal and NFC Special Teams Player of the Week
In the 2010 season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles, Crosby kicked a career-long 56-yard field goal, setting a new franchise record. His performance earned him the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honor.
July 27, 2011: Contract Extension with the Packers
Crosby's value to the Packers was solidified on July 27, 2011, when he signed a five-year, $14 million contract extension.
October 9, 2011: Franchise Record Field Goal and NFC Special Teams Player of the Week Honors
Crosby continued to shine in 2011, setting a franchise record with a 58-yard field goal and earning NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors twice. He also achieved the impressive feat of kicking four field goals in a game on three separate occasions.
2012: Lowest Field Goal Percentage Among Active Kickers
Crosby faced a challenging year in 2012, recording the lowest field goal percentage among active kickers in the league.
2012: Previous Lowest Field Goal Completion Percentage
The 2012 season marked a low point for Mason Crosby's field goal completion percentage before his struggles in 2017. This recurring challenge highlights the fluctuations in performance that can occur throughout a kicker's career.
2013: Successful Season with the Green Bay Packers
During the 2013 season, Mason Crosby had a successful run with the Green Bay Packers, kicking a season-high of five PATs in multiple games and achieving a season-long 57-yard field goal twice. He tied the franchise single-season record by converting 42 extra point attempts and 33 field goals.
2014: Achieving a Scoring Milestone with the Packers
In 2014, Mason Crosby continued his successful stint with the Green Bay Packers, kicking a season-long 55-yard field goal and achieving a personal milestone. In his 124th career game, he scored his 1,000th point, making him one of the fastest players to reach that milestone in NFL history.
January 18, 2015: NFC Championship Performance
On January 18, 2015, during the NFC Championship game, Mason Crosby displayed a strong performance, kicking a season-high of five field goals, including a crucial 48-yarder that forced overtime against the Seattle Seahawks. Despite his efforts, the Packers lost the game.
2015: Breaking Records and Achieving Recognition
In 2015, Mason Crosby broke the Green Bay Packers' career scoring record, surpassing Ryan Longwell's record of 1,054 points. He achieved a season-high five field goals in a game, including a season-long 56-yarder, and was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance.
January 3, 2016: Defensive Play in Season Finale
On January 3, 2016, in a game against the Minnesota Vikings, Mason Crosby demonstrated his versatility by recording a forced fumble. This unusual play for a kicker highlighted his contributions to the team beyond his kicking duties.
March 1, 2016: Contract Extension with the Packers
On March 1, 2016, Mason Crosby solidified his future with the Green Bay Packers by signing a four-year contract extension, reflecting the team's confidence in his abilities and contributions.
January 15, 2017: Clutch Performance in NFC Divisional Round
Mason Crosby delivered a remarkable performance on January 15, 2017, during the Packers' NFC Divisional Round game against the Dallas Cowboys. He kicked three crucial field goals, including two from 51 yards, with the final one securing a 34-31 victory for the Packers as time expired. This clutch performance marked the first time a kicker had achieved two 50+ yard field goals in the final two minutes of a playoff game, and it extended Crosby's postseason consecutive field goal record to 20, surpassing David Akers' previous record.
2017: Absence from Playoff Contention
The 2017 season marked only the second time in Mason Crosby's 10-year NFL career that he did not participate in the playoffs. The Green Bay Packers faced challenges, including the absence of quarterback Aaron Rodgers for a significant portion of the season, defensive struggles, and special teams inconsistencies, contributing to their failure to secure a playoff berth.
2017: Challenges and Inconsistency in Performance
In 2017, Mason Crosby experienced inconsistencies in his performance, recording his lowest field goal completion percentage since 2012. The Packers' struggles with the long snapper position and changes in holder responsibilities contributed to missed field goals and extra points, highlighting the importance of a cohesive special teams unit.
2018: Missed Opportunities and Redemption
The 2018 season presented both challenges and triumphs for Mason Crosby. In Week 2, he missed a potential game-winning field goal in overtime after an "icing the kicker" timeout, resulting in a tie with the Vikings. Week 5 proved even more challenging as Crosby had an uncharacteristic game, missing four field goals and an extra point. However, he displayed resilience by bouncing back the following week, converting all his kicks, including a game-winning field goal against the San Francisco 49ers.
2019: Game-Winning Kicks and Celebration
Mason Crosby played a pivotal role in securing victories for the Packers in 2019. He kicked game-winning field goals in Week 6 against the Detroit Lions and repeated the feat in a Week 17 rematch. His celebration with a Lambeau Leap after the Week 6 win showcased his enthusiasm and connection with the fans.
February 24, 2020: Contract Extension and Recognition
On February 24, 2020, Mason Crosby's valuable contributions to the Green Bay Packers were recognized with a three-year, $12.9 million contract extension. This deal reflected the team's commitment to Crosby as their long-term kicker.
August 15, 2020: Return to Active Roster
On August 15, 2020, Mason Crosby was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list, rejoining the Green Bay Packers' active roster and allowing him to resume his kicking duties for the team.
March 23, 2021: Contract Restructure and Extension
On March 23, 2021, the Green Bay Packers adjusted Mason Crosby's contract, converting a portion of his salary into bonuses and adding three void years to the deal. This restructure aimed to create salary cap flexibility while securing Crosby's presence on the team.
2022: Game-Winning Kicks and Missed Playoffs
In the 2022 NFL Season, Mason Crosby came through with clutch performances, kicking game-winning field goals in overtime against the New England Patriots in Week 4 and the Dallas Cowboys in Week 10. However, the Packers finished the season with an 8-9 record, missing the playoffs despite Crosby's contributions.
2022: Departure from Green Bay Packers
Mason Crosby's 16-season tenure with the Green Bay Packers ended after the 2022 season.
December 6, 2023: Signing with the Los Angeles Rams
On December 6, 2023, Mason Crosby joined the Los Angeles Rams' practice squad, marking a new chapter in his NFL career.
December 22, 2023: Crosby Signs with Giants Practice Squad
On December 22, 2023, Mason Crosby joined the New York Giants practice squad after their kicker, Cade York, sustained an injury.
2023: Brief Stint with Rams and Signing with Giants
In 2023, Crosby briefly joined the Los Angeles Rams' practice squad before signing with the New York Giants later in the season.
January 7, 2024: Crosby's Contract with Giants Expires
Mason Crosby's contract with the New York Giants expired on January 7, 2024, following the end of the team's season.