Antonio Cromartie
A cornerback with breathtaking ball-hawking instincts, he authored one of the most electrifying single plays in NFL history.
Born 1984 (age 42)·American football player·Birthday: April 15·Millennials
Biography
Antonio Cromartie played the cornerback position with a high-risk, high-reward audacity that made him a constant threat to change a game in one snap. Blessed with rare height and length for his position, he combined those physical tools with an almost preternatural ability to track the football in the air. His 2007 season was a masterpiece of disruption, leading the league in interceptions and earning All-Pro honors. While consistency in coverage could elude him, his playmaking was undeniable, most spectacularly demonstrated by his 109-yard return of a missed field goal—a record that stands as the longest possible scoring play. Journeys through San Diego, New York, Arizona, and Indianapolis showcased a player whose sheer athletic brilliance could, at any moment, produce the unforgettable.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Antonio was born in 1984, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Antonio Was Born
The biggest hits of 1984
#1 Movie
Beverly Hills Cop
Best Picture
Amadeus
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Antonio's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1984Born
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1989Started school
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1997Became a teenager
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Could drive
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2002Could vote
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Turned 21
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2014Turned 30
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 40
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 42 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Set the NFL record for the longest play ever: a 109-yard return of a missed field goal for a touchdown in 2007.
- Led the NFL with 10 interceptions in the 2007 season, earning first-team All-Pro recognition.
- Selected to four Pro Bowls (2007, 2012, 2013, 2014) over his eleven-year career.
- Recorded 31 career interceptions, returning three for touchdowns.
Did You Know?
He played wide receiver and returned kicks in addition to cornerback during his rookie season at Florida State.
He is a distant cousin of former NBA star Marcus Camby.
Cromartie famously struggled to recall the names of all his children during a television interview, highlighting his large family.
“If the ball is in the air, it's my ball. I'm taking it from you.”
