The role of NFL kickers is simple: make your kicks. Mason Crosby has done just that for the Packers since the team drafted him in 2007. As Crosby enters his 15th season with Green Bay, he continues to embody what being the perfect Packer looks like: consistently making plays on the field while also being a great person off the field.
On the Field: Mr. Reliable
Crosby seems to fly under the radar when it comes to his success on the field. He quietly goes about his business without getting much attention. His career has been nothing short of great, and he’s not done yet.
Crosby enters this season ranked as the NFL’s 20th all-time scorer with 1,682 points. He became the Packers’ all-time leading scorer back in 2015.
Crosby has made 81.75% (345/422) of his career field goal attempts. And he keeps getting better with age. Crosby made a career high 91.7% of his field goal attempts in 2019. He followed that up in 2020 with a perfect 16-of-16 record.
Look up a Packers kicking record, and you’ll most likely find that Crosby owns it. He holds the franchise records for field goals made (345), 50-yard field goals made (39), and extra points made (647).
What leads to this kind of success? Well, to start, Crosby’s skill. Additionally, being a part of consistently good teams throughout the years has set him up in lots of scoring positions. There’s also the fact that Crosby has never missed an opportunity to make a kick. The Packers have played 246 games since Crosby was drafted, and he’s played in all 246, not missing a single game during his career.
The Right Mindset
Crosby admits the stats he’s achieved over his tenure are exciting, but he’s not focused on them at the moment. “Those are definitely stats once I’m done, whenever it’s all said and done, I’ll kind of look at and see where I end up,” he said Monday. “Last year, I remember breaking into some different top spots and it’s cool. I’d lie if it was like it doesn’t mean anything to me.”
Crosby was quick to attribute his success to his teammates, adding, “That stuff is awesome, and it’s a credit to Aaron and Brett before him and the guys that on offense and the defensive side of the ball that allow me to go out there and finish scoring drives and kick field goals. I couldn’t do it without those guys, and it means a lot to me.”
Learning from Adversity
However, it hasn’t always been sunshine and roses for Crosby. He struggled in 2012, making just 63.6% of his field goal attempts. After arguably his worst season in Green Bay, the Packers brought in other kickers to take a look at. Crosby ultimately prevailed during training camp, retaining his spot.
And then came the disastrous October 7th, 2018 game in Detroit. Crosby missed 5 kicks — four field goals and one extra point — against the Lions that afternoon. People called for his job. Crosby was shocked by his own performance, calling it an “anomaly in life.” However, Mason did what he has always done: persevered.
“I’m not afraid to learn from positives and learn from all the negatives that have happened in my career,” Crosby said after Monday’s practice. “If I choose to avoid things and not learn from moments, then I’m not growing. I think I’ve grown a lot over my career. I’ve chosen to see a missed kick or a missed opportunity as a learning and a growing moment.”
Off the Field: Mr. Wonderful
Off the field, Crosby is a dedicated husband, dad, and friend. He’s passionate about helping people and doing his part to create a better world. Crosby is involved in many charitable projects, including Wisconsin’s Make-A-Wish chapter and the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation. He chairs the Lombardi Foundation’s annual golf tournament.
Battling cancer is something near and dear to Crosby’s heart. His wife, Molly, fought and overcame a cancerous tumor in her lung. His sister-in-law, Brittany, died of ovarian cancer in November 2019.
However, it’s not Crosby’s personal connection to the disease that pushed him to get involved. Even before his own family was affected, he was fighting the good fight and helping those less fortunate. From the moment he stepped foot in Green Bay, Crosby has been committed to bettering the community.
Perhaps what makes Crosby such a fan favorite is how he has made Green Bay his home throughout the past 15 seasons. While other players over the years have lamented about the lack of things to do in Green Bay, Crosby has embraced it.
“We love Green Bay and we love being here,” he said. “Our plan right now is to just live it to the fullest. I’ve taken up ice fishing more and am doing more winter activities as we stay here through the offseason every year. Just really making it home and seeing where that takes us.”
Crosby understands the significance of being a part of the legendary Green Bay team, organization, and community he has called home since 2007.
“It’s an honor to be able to say that I’ve worn the green and gold for this long, and I hope to do it as long as I possibly can.”
Thank you, Mason, for embodying what being the perfect Packer looks like. Packer Nation loves you!
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1 Comment
Guy like this is needed in all the teams of all sports around the world.