15 Interesting Facts About Victor Cruz

Introduction:

Victor Cruz is a former wide receiver in the NFL, known for his outstanding career with the New York Giants, and for becoming the first Hispanic-American to do so. His talent, skill, and dedication led to him becoming one of the most beloved athletes in the history of the NFL. He was put on the map after his incredible performance in the Super Bowl in 2012, and his rags-to-riches story is one that will inspire generations of football players to come. Learn all about Victor Cruz and what he has accomplished, with these .

Fact 1:

Victor Cruz was born in November of 1986 in Paterson, New Jersey. He grew up in an extremely poor family, living in a two-bedroom apartment with seven other people. He had to help his single mother take care of his three siblings and was often exposed to a rough neighborhood. Despite the hardships, Victor Cruz pushed on and eventually made it to college.

Fact 2:

Victor Cruz enrolled at the University of Massachusetts in 2005. He had planned to study Scientific Computing, but soon changed his major to Sports Management. During this time, he played football for the university’s team, and his impressive performances earned him an invitation to the NFL’s Draft Combine in 2010.

Fact 3:

Victor Cruz was signed by the New York Giants in October of 2010. He received a $7.3 million contract with an optional bonus of $6.1 million- a great deal at the time for a rookie free agent. He immediately made an impact on the team, as he was the first wide receiver to record more than 1,500 yards in his rookie season.

Fact 4:

Victor Cruz was a part of the Giants’ run to the Super Bowl XLVI in 2012. He recorded 82 receptions for 1,536 yards and 9 touchdowns, more than any other wide receiver in the season. In the Super Bowl itself, Victor recorded 10 receptions for 142 yards and a touchdown. His efforts helped the Giants secure a 21-17 victory over the New England Patriots.

Fact 5:

In 2013, Victor Cruz was selected as a Pro Bowl player for the first time in his career. He also achieved the highest number of receptions in his career, recording 86 catches for 1,092 yards. This season highlighted his impressive skill and talent, and he was awarded the NFL’s Salute to service award for his hard work.

Fact 6:

Victor Cruz made history in 2014 as he became the first Hispanic-American in NFL history to sign a $45 million contract. The deal was a huge endorsement of his talent, and came after some tremendous performances in the 2013 season. His efforts in the NFL continued to bring him personal and financial success.

Fact 7:

In July of 2015, Victor Cruz embarked on a huge charity mission along with teammate Odell Beckhman Jr. The pair founded the Catch in the Community event, an event meant to teach children the basics of football, while donating equipment to schools in need. It was a great gesture from the two players, and received widespread support.

Fact 8:

Unfortunately, the remainder of Victor Cruz’s 2015 season was cut short due to injury. This was a huge blow for the Giants, as Cruz had already recorded 27 receptions for 464 yards and a touchdown in only six games. Despite the injury, Cruz persevered and worked to bounce back to his former level.

Fact 9:

Victor Cruz returned to the New York Giants in 2016, but due to persistent injury problems, only managed to play five games. As a result, his contract with the team was cut short, and he was released after the season. Despite the setback, Cruz was grateful for the opportunity to play with the Giants for six years, and constantly expressed his thankfulness on social media for the chance to play at the NFL level.

Fact 10:

Although no NFL Clubs signed Victor Cruz for the 2017 season, he still managed to stay extremely involved with the sport. He signed a one year deal with the Uninterrupted Media Group in March 2017, in order to pursue a potential career in sports broadcasting. His strong charisma and knowledge of the game made for some great broadcasts, and he soon developed a strong fan-base.

Fact 11:

In May of 2017, Victor Cruz received an invitation to play for the Chicago Bears. He signed a one-year deal, and with this, completed his comeback to the NFL after a short hiatus. It was a massive achievement for Cruz, and he was ecstatic to have the chance to play with the Bears. He made a tremendous contribution to the team in the 2017-18 season, and was signed for a further two years afterwards.

Fact 12:

Victor Cruz’s professional success did not go unnoticed. He was invited to numerous celebrity events, and even had the chance to meet some of his personal idols, such as boxer Floyd Mayweather and President Barack Obama. He also made an appearance in Taylor Swift’s music video for “Bad Blood”, and guest appeared in an episode of the popular show “Law & Order SVU”.

Fact 13:

Victor Cruz’s accomplishments did not go unnoticed outside of the NFL either. He was given the key to the city of Paterson, New Jersey- his hometown- in August of 2018 and was presented with an award from the Latino-American Cultural Center in Bronx, New York. He also received an honorary degree from Rutgers University in recognition of his charity work in the New Jersey area.

Fact 14:

Victor continued to stay busy in his football career, signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019. Fans were delighted to see Cruz back in the NFL, and the receiver himself acknowledged that the opportunity to play with the Jaguars was a dream come true. He was drafted by the team in order to help them utilize the network of veterans on the team, and offer some experience to the younger players.

Fact 15:

In December of 2019, Victor Cruz announced his official retirement from professional football. He made an emotional announcement in which he thanked his family, friends, teammates, and fans for helping him throughout his journey. Cruz enjoyed a spectacular career with some impressive statistics, and has left a legacy which will forever be remembered.

Conclusion:

Victor Cruz is one of the most iconic athletes in NFL history, and his impressive career was full of highs and lows. His dedication, determination, and talent enabled him to overcome some of the biggest challenges he faced in order to achieve a place in NFL history. His story is told through these , and will always be remembered by football fanatics around the world.