Danny Crossman
Encyclopedia
Danny Crossman is an American football
coach who is currently the special teams coordinator for the Detroit Lions
of the National Football League
. Previously, he served in the same capacity for the Carolina Panthers
(2007-2009).
at Pittsburgh
. He lettered two seasons (1987 and 1989) as a defensive back
and one (1988) as the Panthers’ starting fullback
. As a senior he served as team captain and was named the squad’s MVP
as he led the Panthers to the 1989 Sun Bowl
. He also played one season at Kansas
, where he was a Freshman All-America by The Sporting News in 1985 before following KU head coach Mike Gottfried
to Pittsburgh.
Crossman signed as a free agent with the Washington Redskins
in 1990. He made the squad, but was put on injured reserve
after just three games. He also spent time on injured reserve with the Detroit Lions
in 1991 and 1992.
He captained the London Monarchs
of the World League of American Football
in 1991 and 1992, earning All-League honors. He recorded three interceptions and earned MVP honors in the inaugural World Bowl
, leading the Monarchs to the league title.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
coach who is currently the special teams coordinator for the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. Previously, he served in the same capacity for the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
(2007-2009).
Playing career
Crossman was a second-team all-America and all-Big East cornerbackCornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Panthers football
Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football...
. He lettered two seasons (1987 and 1989) as a defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
and one (1988) as the Panthers’ starting fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
. As a senior he served as team captain and was named the squad’s MVP
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
as he led the Panthers to the 1989 Sun Bowl
Sun Bowl
The Sun Bowl is an annual U.S. college football bowl game that is usually played at the end of December in El Paso, Texas. The Sun Bowl, along with the Sugar Bowl and the Orange Bowl are the second-oldest bowl games in the country, behind the Rose Bowl...
. He also played one season at Kansas
Kansas Jayhawks football
The Kansas Jayhawks football program is the intercollegiate football program of the University of Kansas Jayhawks. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I, and the team competes in the Big 12 Conference....
, where he was a Freshman All-America by The Sporting News in 1985 before following KU head coach Mike Gottfried
Mike Gottfried
-External links:*...
to Pittsburgh.
Crossman signed as a free agent with the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
in 1990. He made the squad, but was put on injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
after just three games. He also spent time on injured reserve with the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
in 1991 and 1992.
He captained the London Monarchs
London Monarchs
The London Monarchs were a professional American football team in NFL Europe and its predecessor league, the World League of American Football . The Monarchs played their final season in 1998 as the England Monarchs...
of the World League of American Football
World League of American Football
The World League of American Football was founded in 1990 with support from the National Football League to play professional American football in North America, Europe and later possibly Asia...
in 1991 and 1992, earning All-League honors. He recorded three interceptions and earned MVP honors in the inaugural World Bowl
World Bowl 91
World Bowl '91, also commonly referred to as World Bowl I, was the first annual championship game of the World League of American Football. It took place June 9, 1991 at London's Wembley Stadium. The game featured a matchup between the Barcelona Dragons and the London Monarchs...
, leading the Monarchs to the league title.