Antonio Cromartie

National Football League (NFL) cornerback Antonio Cromartie enjoyed a career dotted with both high points, including four trips to the Pro Bowl and the league record for returning a missed field goal, and disappointments, including injuries and other issues that contributed to his dismissal from five teams in a decade.

Born into a Haitian-American family in Tallahassee, Florida on April 15, 1984, Cromartie was a standout player at Lincoln High School, recording 12 tackles and two interceptions while running 450 yards and one touchdown on 30 catches. Minted the USA Today defensive player of the year in 2002 and sixth among cornerback prospects in the United States, Cromartie accepted an athletic scholarship from Florida State University, where he carried out solid play for two seasons between 2003 and 2004.

A knee injury forced him to sit out the entire 2005 season, but did not prevent him from being selected 19th overall in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers. After signing a five-year, $13.5 million contract with the team, Cromartie saw only modest action in his rookie season, save for a 91-yard kickoff return that set team records. The following year cemented Cromartie's value to the team when he intercepted a missed field goal attempt during a game against the Minnesota Vikings; after catching the ball just two inches from the back of the end zone, he ran 109 yards for a touchdown and established an NFL record for longest play.

The extraordinary play put Cromartie in the starting lineup, where he again proved his worth by intercepting three passes thrown by Peyton Manning, including a one-handed catch. The remainder of 2007 continued in this vein, with Cromartie setting franchise records and leading the league with 10 interceptions and the first of four trips to the Pro Bowl. But his rate of success dropped dramatically in 2008 and 2009, with only two and three interceptions logged, respectively, and by 2010, Cromartie had been traded to the New York Jets.

Play with the new team was again up and down, with 3 interceptions and 18 broken passes in his regular season, but also 7 lost touchdowns, and 2011 proved to be more of the same, compounded by bruised ribs and a pulmonary contusion after a game against the Oakland Raiders. Between 2014 and 2016, Cromartie signed with and left three different teams, including the Arizona Cardinals and Indianapolis Colts. Following this final dismissal, Cromartie dismissed claims about his retirement and declared himself a free agent.