Steve Crosby

Crosby played college football at Fort Hays State, where he was an Associated Press Little All-American (1973), two-time National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) All-District 10 (1972–1973), and two-time All-Great Plains Athletic Conference selection (1972–1973).[1][2][3] The tailback finished his career with 2,780 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns while also filling in for injured teammates at quarterback and middle linebacker.[4]

Crosby was selected by the New York Giants in the 17th round of the 1974 NFL Draft.[5] He was one of the few 17th round picks to ever make an NFL team after reporting to training camp in his best ever physical condition.[4] The 1974 NFL strike also may have helped as veterans missed training camp.[4] Stomach and knee injuries impacted Crosby's first year.[4] He played three seasons with the Giants and retired following the 1976 season after a serious knee injury.[6]

Crosby recovered from his injury and earned his master's degree. Three weeks after accepting a position to teach high school, he was offered to be a scout for the Miami Dolphins.[6] He accepted, and later became a coach under Don Shula. The Dolphins went to Super Bowl XVII in 1982. Crosby then coached for the Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles. In 1985 with the Browns, Crosby was the running backs coach that oversaw both Earnest Byner and Kevin Mack both running for 1,000 yards.[2]

Crosby joined the Chargers in 2002 as special teams coach under their new incoming head coach, Marty Schottenheimer.[7] Crosby was honored as the 2007 NFL Special Teams Coach of the Year by Professional Kicking Services.[8][9] His kickoff strategy with the Chargers emphasized placement of the ball—forcing the return team to one side of the field—as a tradeoff for the distance of the kick.[10] During his Chargers tenure, four special team players were selected to the Pro Bowl including covermen Kassim Osgood (3-time selection) and Hanik Milligan, kicker Nate Kaeding (2-times) and long snapper David Binn.[2] Additionally, punter Mike Scifres was a Pro Bowl first-alternate four times, and kick returner Darren Sproles was a first-alternate once and a second alternate twice.[2] Kaeding, who started his NFL career under Crosby, was the NFL’s most accurate kicker of all-time as of the end of the 2010 season, converting 86.5% of his field goals attempts.[2][11]

The San Diego Union-Tribune wrote that Crosby's special teams unit in 2010 was "by some measures the worst special teams season in NFL history."[7] The Chargers allowed touchdowns on three kickoffs and one punt, and had four punts blocked and another deflected.[8] As of 2010, two teams since 1994 had allowed more kickoff returns for touchdowns and five allowed as many as the Chargers. Two teams had allowed more blocked punts, and none since 1976 surrendered a punt return average higher than the Chargers' 18.9 yards.[7] Crosby was unable to get a group of inexperienced players to play at an acceptable level.[12] Some team members said it was time for a change after listening to Crosby for nine years, and his contract was not renewed after the season.[7][13]

• Steve Crosby at NFL.com
• Steve Crosby at Pro-Football-Reference.com