Josh Cribbs
A Cleveland Browns special teams terror who redefined the kick return as a weapon, striking fear into NFL coverage units with his breathtaking speed and power.
Born 1983 (age 43)·American football player·Birthday: June 9·Millennials
Biography
Josh Cribbs's path to the NFL was an underdog's blueprint. An undrafted quarterback out of Kent State, he signed with the Cleveland Browns and was told his ticket to a roster spot was on special teams. He didn't just make the team; he revolutionized the role. Cribbs became the most electrifying return specialist of his era, a 6-foot-1, 215-pound blur who combined breakaway speed with the punishing running style of a tailback. For a decade, whenever he caught a kickoff, the entire stadium held its breath. He didn't just run past defenders; he often ran through them, turning what is usually a ceremonial play into a highlight-reel event. His eight career kickoff return touchdowns are a testament to his game-breaking ability. While he later contributed as a receiver and wildcat quarterback, it was in the open field, with a wall of blockers ahead and 11 men chasing, that Josh Cribbs truly became a star.
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.
Josh was born in 1983, 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 Josh Was Born
The biggest hits of 1983
#1 Movie
Return of the Jedi
Best Picture
Terms of Endearment
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Josh's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1983Born
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1988Started school
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1996Became a teenager
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Could drive
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2001Could vote
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2004Turned 21
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2013Turned 30
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 40
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 43 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Tied for the NFL's second-most career kickoff return touchdowns (8), a record that stood for years.
- Became the first player in NFL history to return two kickoffs of 100+ yards for touchdowns in a single game (2009).
- Selected to the Pro Bowl three times and named a First-Team All-Pro three times as a return specialist.
- Holds multiple Cleveland Browns franchise records for return yards and touchdowns.
Did You Know?
He was a star quarterback at Kent State University, setting numerous school records for total offense.
Cribbs worked as an emergency medical technician (EMT) during the NFL offseason early in his career.
He is a member of the Kent State University Athletic Hall of Fame.
“I just wanted to make a play. Every time I touched the ball, I felt like I could score.”
