British NFL star Jack Crawford officially announced his retirement today, bringing an end to one of this country’s finest American football exports to the United States.
After attending Penn State, Crawford entered the league when he was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the fifth round of the 2012 NFL Draft. The London-born defensive end went on to play for the iconic Dallas Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons, and Tennessee Titans.
Crawford signed with the Arizona Cardinals ahead of the 2021 season, but physical setbacks ensured he was placed on Injured Reserve prior to the opening game of the season. While the 33-year-old admitted making the decision to retire amid a bout of injuries was difficult, he has found his peace with it.
“It’s never easy,” Crawford told reporters, including Mirror Sport. “In my head, ending my career coming off a year of injury was especially hard but looking back on it, there’s no easy way to call it a day. Even if you look at Tom Brady, he’s been playing 20 years and won a load of Super Bowls and he still can’t call it a day!
“It’s hard. It’s all I’ve known for the past 10 to 15 years; I’ve been on a strict schedule with something to work towards - but now, I’m closing that chapter and looking forward to something else. It’s never easy but it’s important to retire on my own terms - I retire from the game before the game retires me.”
Crawford, who dreamed of playing basketball as a young boy, attended City of London high school before moving to the United States in 2005. He was in a characteristically jovial mood when reflecting on how he never anticipated a career in American football.
“I couldn’t have imagined my career would happen the way it did, and I’m grateful for every minute I was able to play a sport at this level,” Crawford said. “Not many people get to be in this position, so I’m grateful now and I would have been grateful then. It goes to show you never know where life can take you.
“I think every point of my career I had low lows and high highs - that’s football. It’s a rollercoaster. I wouldn’t trade a moment of my career for any other.”
A Brit that grew up in Kilburn, London without following American football particularly closely achieved the dream that proves to escape millions - playing in the NFL. In fact, Crawford represented the Dallas Cowboys, one of the most iconic sports teams on the planet.
His life would come full circle while in Dallas, as he registered a sack and a forced fumble against the Jacksonville Jaguars under the Wembley arch during the Cowboys’ International Series clash in 2014. While he believes New Orleans had the rowdiest fanbase he ever faced, Crawford revealed playing for the Cowboys bought an extra sense of publicity he had never experienced before.
“I definitely felt like I had more eyes on me,” Crawford added, before chuckling to himself. “When I left Dallas for Atlanta, I lost around 10,000 followers on Instagram - which is a good indication of how big the Cowboys are!”
Following a career spanning 10 years, three forced fumbles, 18 sacks and an interception, the defensive end feels a sense of accomplishment. Crawford is pleased he was able to fly the flag for the British fanbase for so long, even though he spent much of his career playing down his achievement as he was his own harshest critic.
“From the moment I left London and went over to the States, I almost felt that returning back without anything to show for it would feel like a failure,” Crawford continued. “I didn’t want to not make the most of the opportunity.
“I told myself when I was drafted that even if I didn’t play one snap in the league, I made it further than most. I think there’s a different sense of pressure coming from an international country and competing in the NFL.
“I’ve always been my own worst critic - that’s just the life of an NFL athlete - but only at this point can I look back on this journey with a sense of pride that I represented my country and had my family’s name on the back of my jersey at such a high level.”
Who do you think is the best British player in NFL history? Let us know in the comments section.
What next for Crawford now? Well, while he admitted he won’t miss four-hour long afternoon team meetings, the former Cowboys star declared he would undoubtedly miss the camaraderie of the locker room. He hopes not to be too far away from the action, though.
“I still want to be a voice representing the UK in this game,” Crawford added, with the passion he has developed for American football clear in his tone. “I want to be a resource for the players in the league that they can reach out to, because there is something about this experience that is hard to put into words.
“It’s a rollercoaster - it has its ups and downs - and sometimes you need some support along the way, so hopefully I can provide that for up and coming players.”
The NFL is certainly more embedded in the furniture of the British sporting landscape than it was in 2012, when the Raiders drafted a Brit 158th overall. Figures like Crawford, a core member of British NFL history, drive the sport forwards - and his retirement is richly deserved.
The NFL Academy are looking for the next Jack Crawford. If you’re aged between 16-18 recruitment for the class of 2022-23 is now underway. Sign up here
