Nick Cross (American football)
A hard-hitting safety who went from a third-round draft pick to a defensive cornerstone for the Washington Commanders.
Born 2001 (age 25)·American football player·Birthday: September 10·Generation Z
Biography
Nick Cross arrived in the NFL with the kind of explosive athleticism that makes scouts take notice. After honing his skills at the University of Maryland, where he developed a reputation as a formidable presence in the secondary, he was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the 2022 draft. His rookie season was a period of adjustment, but a trade to the Washington Commanders signaled a fresh start. In Washington, Cross found a system that leveraged his speed and instinct for the ball, allowing him to evolve from a special teams contributor into a starting safety. His journey reflects the modern NFL path, where talent from the collegiate ranks is refined through opportunity and strategic team fits, building a young defender poised to anchor a defense for years.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Nick was born in 2001, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Nick Was Born
The biggest hits of 2001
#1 Movie
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Best Picture
A Beautiful Mind
#1 TV Show
Survivor
Nick's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
2001Born
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
2006Started school
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2014Became a teenager
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
2017Could drive
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2019Could vote
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2022Turned 21
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 25 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the third round (96th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft.
- Became a starting safety for the Washington Commanders following a trade in 2023.
- Recorded his first career NFL interception during the 2023 season.
Did You Know?
He was a standout track athlete in high school, competing in events like the 100-meter dash and long jump.
Cross majored in Family Science while playing college football at the University of Maryland.
He was a team captain during his final season with the Maryland Terrapins.
“My speed is a weapon, but film study turns it into a strategy.”
