Jack Crawford (American football)

Jack Justin Crawford (born September 7, 1988) is an English-born American football defensive end for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Penn State and was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the fifth round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He was also a member of the Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons.

Jack Crawford
Crawford with the Dallas Cowboys
No. 94 – Tennessee Titans
Position:Defensive end
Personal information
Born: (1988-09-07) 7 September 1988
London, England
Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:288 lb (131 kg)
Career information
High school:St. Augustine Preparatory School
(Richland, New Jersey)
College:Penn State
NFL Draft:2012 / Round: 5 / Pick: 158
Career history
Roster status:Reserve/COVID-19
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2019
Total tackles:136
Sacks:16.0
Forced fumbles:2
Fumble recoveries:0
Interceptions:1
Pass deflections:4
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Early years

Growing up in Kilburn, London, he attended high school at City of London School, where he was in the same class as Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe.[1] At the age of seven, Crawford was diagnosed with alopecia universalis, a rare, autoimmune disease causing the total loss of all hair on the body.[2]

After moving to the United States in 2005, he attended St. Augustine Preparatory School while he resided in Longport, New Jersey. Although he intended to pursue basketball, he couldn't play as a sophomore because of an international transfer rule and decided to join the American football team with no previous experience.

He found success as a defensive end and tight end in his last year,[3] being rated as the fifteenth defensive end in the nation (Scout.com), registering 12 touchdown passes and receiving All-area honors. He also practiced basketball and soccer.

College career

Crawford accepted a scholarship from Pennsylvania State University. As a true freshman he played both defensive tackle and tight end, recording 4 tackles and 2 passes defensed. The next year, he replaced Aaron Maybin and started all games at defensive end, ranking ninth in the Big Ten Conference in tackles for loss (15) and tenth in sacks (5.5).[4]

As a junior started 7 games and recorded 14 tackles (5 for loss) and 2 sacks. In his last year he started all games, posting 40 tackles (7 for loss), 6.5 sacks,6 passes defensed and one fumble recovery.

Professional career

Oakland Raiders

Crawford was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the fifth round (158th overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft.[5] As a rookie, he was a backup player, appearing in 4 games and registering 5 tackles.

The next year, he played all along the defensive line, appearing in 15 games, while recording 12 tackles (one for loss) and 2 quarterback pressures. He was waived on August 30, 2014.

Dallas Cowboys

On September 2, 2014, Crawford was signed as a free agent by the Dallas Cowboys, who had scouted him during joint training camp practices with the Oakland Raiders. He missed 3 games with a calf injury before returning to play in London against the Jacksonville Jaguars, registering two tackles, one sack, one quarterback pressure and forced a fumble. He suffered a right broken thumb against the New York Giants and was placed on the injured reserve list on November 26.

In 2015, he played in every game (one start) at both defensive tackle and defensive end, finishing with 18 tackles (3 for loss), 4 sacks, 10 quarterback pressures and one pass defensed.

Crawford re-signed with the Cowboys on a one-year, $1.1 million contract on April 4, 2016.[6] He made a career-high 10 starts, mostly at left defensive end, posting 27 tackles, 3.5 sacks and 12 quarterback pressures (fifth on the team). During the games he was used at multiple positions along the defensive line.

Atlanta Falcons

On March 9, 2017, Crawford signed a three-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons.[7] He was a backup defensive tackle, appearing in 4 games with 5 tackles and 3 quarterback hurries. On October 3, he was placed on the injured reserve list after suffering a bicep injury in Week 4.[8]

During the 2018 season, Crawford finished the season with six sacks, 35 combined tackles, one forced fumble, and one interception.

Tennessee Titans

On April 8, 2020, Crawford was signed by the Tennessee Titans.[9] He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the team on August 7, 2020.[10]

References
  1. "When Harry Potter meets NFL". Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  2. "Comfortable in his own skin: PSU's Crawford doesn't let rare skin disorder affect him". AltoonaMirror.com. Retrieved October 9, 2016.
  3. "Jack Crawford eyes key second season as Oakland's original British raider". TheGuardian.com. August 28, 2013. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  4. "Lions' import with impact Jack Crawford, from England, replaces Aaron Maybin". Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  5. "Five international players selected in NFL Draft". USA Football. April 30, 2012. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
  6. Archer, Todd (April 4, 2016). "Jack Crawford, Cowboys agree to one-year deal". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 6, 2016.
  7. Jackson, Curtis (March 9, 2017). "Falcons Agree to Terms With DL Jack Crawford". AtlantaFalcons.com. Archived from the original on October 4, 2017.
  8. Conway, Kelsey (October 3, 2017). "Falcons Place Jack Crawford On Injured Reserve". AtlantaFalcons.com. Archived from the original on February 25, 2018.
  9. Wyatt, Jim (April 8, 2020). "Titans Agree To Terms With Defensive Lineman Jack Crawford". TitansOnline.com. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  10. Wyatt, Jim (August 7, 2020). "Titans Place DL Jack Crawford On Reserve/COVID-19 List". TennesseeTitans.com. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
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