Rock Cartwright
A seventh-round draft pick who carved out a decade-long NFL career through special teams ferocity and relentless work ethic.
Born 1979 (age 47)·American football player and coach·Birthday: December 3·Generation X
Biography
Rock Cartwright's football story is a testament to the power of grit over glamour. Drafted in the seventh round by the Washington Redskins in 2002, he was never destined to be a feature running back. Instead, he forged his identity as a special teams ace, a role that demands a unique blend of fearlessness, speed, and tactical intelligence. For eight seasons in Washington, he became a core special teams contributor and a respected locker room voice, occasionally flashing his ability as a change-of-pace back and reliable receiver out of the backfield. His willingness to do the hard, often unnoticed work extended his career to ten NFL seasons, with later stops in Oakland and San Francisco. This understanding of the game's fundamentals naturally led to coaching; he transitioned to an offensive quality control role with the Cleveland Browns, beginning a new chapter in teaching the next generation the same blue-collar principles that defined his playing days.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Rock was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Rock Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Rock's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
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
2000Turned 21
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
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
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
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played 10 seasons in the NFL as a running back and special teams standout, primarily with the Washington Redskins.
- Led the NFL in kickoff return yards (1,277) during the 2007 season.
- Selected by the Washington Redskins in the seventh round of the 2002 NFL Draft out of Kansas State.
- Served as the offensive quality control coach for the Cleveland Browns starting in 2016.
Did You Know?
He was a standout running back at Kansas State, rushing for over 1,000 yards in his senior season.
His given first name is Roderick; 'Rock' is a nickname.
He was a team captain for the Washington Redskins.
He played in every game for seven consecutive seasons during his time in Washington.
“You earn your spot on the plane every week with your helmet and your heart.”
