Victor Micahel Cruz was born on November 11, 1988, and was an American football wide receiver. He played most of his career for the New York Giants and one year for the Chicago Bears before retiring from his sport and moving on to other endeavors. Cruz was very accomplished in his sport and won the Super Bowl in 2011 against the New England Patriots. In his career, he has 303 catches for 4,549 yards and scored 25 touchdowns. He was in a relationship with Elaina Watley and they have a 10-year-old daughter Kennedy Cruz.
Fast Facts
Full Name:
Victor Michael Cruz
Nickname:
Vick
Birth date:
November 11, 1986
Age:
37 years, 11 months
Zodiac Sign:
Scorpio
Height:
6' 0"
Relationship Status:
Single
Net Worth:
$16.0 million
Background
Victor Michael Cruz was born on November 11, 1988, in Paterson, New Jersey. His father, Mike Walker was an African American firefighter and his mother is Puerto Rican. He has three other siblings, Andrea, Ebony, and Malik. He attended Paterson Catholic High School where he played wide receiver and defensive back. Cruz credits his success to his coach Andrew Slome. Cruz caught 42 passes and scored 19 touchdowns, earning himself All-State honors and his team was undefeated. Later, he attended Bridgton Academy, an all-male college preparatory. There, he put up 47 catches for 869 yards and eight touchdowns in a single season.Cruz attended the University of Massachusetts but struggled to maintain his studies while playing football. His grades suffered and he was not eligible to play football at the university until 2007 due to his poor academic record. Despite not joining the football team until his third year at U.Mass, Cruz had 131 catches and ranked fourth of everyone on the U.Mass receptions list. Eventually, he managed to maintain his grades and his football career. Cruz graduated with a degree in Afro-American Studies. He was named a first-team All-Colonial Athletic Association wide receiver in 2008 and 2009.Cruz went for the 2010 N.F.L. Draft but was not selected. The following day, he was signed by the New York Giants. In his first preseason game, he caught six passes for 145 yards and scored three touchdowns. When the season started, Cruz played three games before taking time off after suffering an injury. He played for the Giants for six years before getting released. In 2017, he signed with the Chicago Bears and was released that year. Despite speculations that he may come back to the Giants, Cruz announced his retirement in 2018.
Career timeline
Cruz is signed with the New York Giants.
Cruz wins the Super Bowl XLVI.
Cruz makes the Pro Bowl, an all-star game of the N.F.L.
Cruz signs a one-year deal with the Chicago Bears.
Cruz hosts "The Challenge: Chaps Vs. Pros.
Victor Cruz FAQs
Why did Victor Cruz retire?
Cruz retired after suffering a torn patellar tendon.
What does Victor Cruz do now?
He is pursuing various projects such as hosting “The Challenge: Champs Vs. Pros” and he partnered with the fast food chain Krystal to bring the chain out of the southeast.
Is Victor Cruz Hispanic?
Cruz comes from a Puerto Rican background.
5 Surprising Facts
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He has a touchdown dance
When scoring a touchdown, Cruz does a salsa dance that his grandmother taught him.
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He has a clothing line
Victor Cruz and Nate Collins founded the clothing line Young Whales.
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His college roommate is with the Rams
Cruz’s roommate at U.Mass is Loam Coen, the Rams offensive coordinator.
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He was signed as a free agent
When signed with the New York Giants, Cruz was an underrated free agent and could play for any team.
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He broke an N.F.L. record
Cruz broke the N.F.L. record for the longest receiving touchdown of 99 yards.
Why We Love Victor Cruz
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He is extremely talented
Cruz is immensely talented in his sport. Not many recognized his skills at first, but Liam Coen was one of the first to see his talent. He helped the Giants win 31-16 in his first game.
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He is kind
Cruz paid tribute to his dedicated fan Jack Pinto, a victim of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting by writing “R.I.P Jack Pinto” and “Jack Pinto My Hero” on his shoes. He even visited the family and gifted Pinto’s brother the cleats and gloves he wore in the Falcon’s game.
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He is a dedicated father
The first line on his Instagram bio reads “Dad” before mentioning his Super Bowl win. The athlete is constantly posting his outings with his daughter Kennedy and is a very involved father.
Victor Cruz’s birthday dates
Year | Date | Day |
---|---|---|
2022 | November 11 | Friday |
2023 | November 11 | Saturday |
2024 | November 11 | Monday |
2025 | November 11 | Tuesday |
2026 | November 11 | Wednesday |