Steve Crosby

Steven Kent Crosby (born July 3, 1950) is an American former professional football coach and player. He spent 33 years in the National Football League (NFL)—3 as a player, 4 as a scout and 26 as a coach. Crosby was named the NFL Special Teams Coach of the Year with the San Diego Chargers in 2007.

A running back, Crosby played college football for the Fort Hays Tigers. He played professionally for the New York Giants (1974–1976). Afterwards he scouted or coached in the NFL for the Miami Dolphins, Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles. He then coached college football for three years at Vanderbilt University before joining the Chargers in 2002.

College career Crosby played college football at Fort Hays State, where he received honorable mention on the Associated Press's Little All-American team (1973). He was a two-time National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) All-District 10 (1972–1973) and two-time All-Great Plains Athletic Conference selection (1972–1973). 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.

Professional playing career Crosby was selected 419th overall by the New York Giants in the 17th round of the 1974 NFL draft. 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.

Coaching career 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. Crosby was honored as the 2007 NFL Special Teams Coach of the Year by Professional Kicking Services. 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. 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.

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." 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. 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.