Josh Cribbs

Josh Cribbs

Cribbs in 2019
No. 16
Position:	Wide receiver Return specialist
Personal information
Born:	(1983-06-09) June 9, 1983 (age 40) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Height:	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:	215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High school:	Dunbar (Washington, D.C.)
College:	Kent State (2001–2004)
Undrafted:	2005
Career history
Cleveland Browns (2005–2012) Oakland Raiders (2013)* New York Jets (2013) Indianapolis Colts (2014)
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
First-team All-Pro (2009) Second-team All-Pro (2007) 3× Pro Bowl (2007, 2009, 2012) NFL kickoff return yards leader (2007) NFL 2000s All-Decade Team Cleveland Browns Legends Kent State Golden Flashes No. 9 retired
Career NFL statistics
Receptions: 110 Receiving yards: 1,175 Receiving touchdowns: 7 Kickoff return yards: 11,113 Punt return yards: 2,375 Return touchdowns: 11
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Joshua Cribbs (born June 9, 1983) is an American former football wide receiver and return specialist who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Kent State Golden Flashes and was signed by the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent after the 2005 NFL draft. Cribbs is tied for the second most NFL career record with eight kickoff returns for touchdowns, and also the NFL record with two kickoffs of 100 yards or more returned for touchdowns in a single game. He has also played for the New York Jets, the Oakland Raiders and the Indianapolis Colts. He was most recently a special teams coaching intern for the Cleveland Browns.^[1]

High school career

Cribbs played quarterback at

During Cribbs' time at Dunbar, the Crimson Tide won three consecutive DCIAA football titles.[3] In his senior season, Cribbs completed 130-of-277 passes for 2,022 yards, nine touchdowns and five interceptions. In the 2000 Turkey Bowl (DCIAA Championship game played the morning of Thanksgiving), he led Dunbar to a 35-12 victory over the Ballou Knights. Two second-half touchdowns thrown by Cribbs were key to the Crimson Tide's victory over Ballou—one of which was caught by then Dunbar sophomore tight end Vernon Davis.^[4]

College career

Cribbs attended Kent State University, where he played quarterback for the Kent State Golden Flashes football team. He is the all-time total offense leader with 10,839 yards. Other school records include rushing touchdowns (38), pass completions (616), pass attempts (1,123), passing yardage (7,169), touchdowns scored (41), and points scored (246).

He is one of only two

Cribbs is also the only player in NCAA history to lead his team in both rushing and passing in four different seasons, although his 2003 single-season school record of 3,125 combined yards was eclipsed in 2008 by quarterback Julian Edelman.^[7]

Cribbs was a communication studies

In 2006, Cribbs signed a six-year contract extension with the Browns. That year, he set a new franchise record for most kickoff yardage in a season, breaking the record he had set the year prior.

2007 season

After returning yet another kickoff for a touchdown against the Oakland Raiders in Week 3 of the 2007 season, Cribbs had one kick-return touchdown in each of his first three years in the NFL. Cribbs recorded his fourth kickoff-return touchdown with a 100-yard return against the Steelers in Week 10 of the 2007 season, as well as a 90-yard return earlier in the game. Cribbs continued his season with 245 return yards and 61 punt return yards in the Browns overtime victory over the Ravens in week 11. Cribbs was voted to the 2008 Pro Bowl as a kick returner for the AFC. Cribbs also had a 76-yard punt return for a touchdown against the 49ers. Cribbs had another returned for 94 yards for another score but was called back on a holding penalty.

2008 season

For the fourth straight season, Cribbs again had a touchdown on a kickoff return, scoring on a 92-yard return versus the Baltimore Ravens in Week 9. It was the fifth kickoff return touchdown of Cribbs's career. Cribbs also had a four-yard rushing touchdown against the Buffalo Bills. On November 26, 2008, after placing Brady Quinn on injured reserve, the Browns named Cribbs their emergency quarterback.^[9]

2009 season

On September 13, in the Browns' home opener versus the Minnesota Vikings, Cribbs returned a punt 67 yards for a touchdown, tying the team record for career returns for a touchdown (seven) with Eric Metcalf. Also, in that same game, Cribbs was named as a starting wide receiver for the first time in his NFL career. On October 18, Cribbs returned a Pittsburgh kickoff for a touchdown, breaking the team record for returns for a touchdown. In this game he became the first NFL player to throw an interception and record a kick-off return touchdown in the same game since 1950. On December 10, Cribbs led the Browns to victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, their first win over their rival in 13 games. Cribbs led all offensive players with 200 all-purpose yards, including 87 yards rushing out of the Wildcat formation.^[10] On December 20, Cribbs returned two kickoffs for touchdowns against the Kansas City Chiefs to set and extend the all-time NFL record for most kickoff returns for touchdowns in a career. On December 29, Cribbs was named to the 2010 Pro Bowl for the second time in his career as the Browns' and AFC's representative as the kick returner. Cribbs was also named the Browns' team MVP for the 2009 season.

2010 season

Relations between Cribbs and the Browns soured at the end of the 2009 season, as negotiations on a new contract extension ended with a reported $1.4 million per year offer that Cribbs felt was insultingly low. On January 7, 2010, Cribbs cleaned out his locker at the Browns' training complex and announced his intention to walk out on the final three years of his contract, telling reporters, "... it absolutely felt like the last time I'd be setting foot inside the building. I feel like it's over for me in Cleveland", adding that the Browns' offer felt "like I've been betrayed and stabbed in the back."

On March 5, 2010, Cribbs re-signed with the Cleveland Browns with a three-year, $20 million contract.

In January 2010, Cribbs was named to the

On October 7, during a Week 5 game against the New York Giants, during which Cribbs returned 6 kickoffs for 221 yards, including a 74-yard return; he also returned one punt for just 12 yards. The Browns would lose to the Giants, 41-27.

Cribbs was told he would not be re-signed on March 12, 2013. He took to an emotional response and posted a farewell message to Browns fans via Instagram.^[13]

Oakland Raiders

Cribbs signed with the Oakland Raiders on May 15, 2013.^[14] After a poor preseason, Cribbs was subsequently released by the team on August 25, 2013.

New York Jets

Cribbs was signed by the New York Jets on October 15, 2013.^[15] Cribbs suffered a shoulder injury in a Week 13 game against the Miami Dolphins and was placed on injured reserve on December 3, 2013.^[16]

Indianapolis Colts

Cribbs was signed by the Indianapolis Colts on November 17, 2014.^[17] In six games, he recorded one reception for eight yards, as well as 19 kickoff returns for 608 yards and 19 punt returns for 125 yards.

On May 1, 2015, the Colts released Cribbs.

Retirement

On March 22, 2017, Cribbs announced his retirement from professional football as a Cleveland Brown.^[18]

NFL career statistics

Records

NFL records

• Two kickoff return touchdowns of 100 yards or more in a single game (tied with Ted Ginn Jr.)
• Most kickoff return touchdowns in a single game: 2 (tied with 9 others)

Browns franchise records

• Most career kickoff return yards: 10,015^[19]
• Most career combined kickoff and punt return yards: 12,169^[19]
• Most career all-purpose yards: 14,065^[19]
• Most kickoff return yards in a single season: 1,809 (2007)^[19]
• Most kickoff return touchdowns in a single season: 3 (2009)^[19]
• Most all-purpose yards in a single season: 2,510 (2009)^[19]
• Most career combined kickoff and punt return touchdowns: 11^[19]

Personal life

Cribbs has been married to Maria Cribbs since 2002. He has two children, Kimorah and Israel Cribbs. The Cribbs family lives in North Royalton, Ohio.^[20]

Cribbs is also part-owner of a children's indoor inflatable play arena called Bounce City. He shares the ownership of the facility, which is located in Strongsville, Ohio, with Darnell Dinkins, a former Browns tight end.^{[citation needed]}

Cribbs indicated via Twitter that he will give his 2010 Pro Bowl paycheck to relief efforts for the 2010 Haiti earthquake.^{[citation needed]}

Cribbs was also featured in an episode of The League, "The White Knuckler", in which Ruxin (Nick Kroll) contacts Cribbs to help out a sick kid in the hope of meeting Cribbs himself.^{[citation needed]}

Cribbs played himself in an episode of Hot in Cleveland, "The Gateway Friend," which originally aired May 2, 2012. He appeared in the bar/restaurant that Melanie, Joy, and Victoria frequent, placing second in a karaoke contest to guest star Kristin Chenoweth. He did not actually sing on camera, but did have multiple lines.^{[citation needed]}

Following the 2014 season Cribbs appeared on an episode of

Cribbs and his wife have hosted a local television talk show titled Cribbs in the CLE on WOIO since 2019.^[22]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Josh Cribbs.

• New York Jets bio
• Cleveland Browns bio