PRESEASON EditiON - Detroit Lions
PRESEASON EditiON - Detroit Lions
PRESEASON EditiON - Detroit Lions
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danny Crossman<br />
sPeCial teams<br />
Coordinator<br />
Year with <strong>Lions</strong>: 3<br />
Years in NFL: 10<br />
Danny Crossman came to <strong>Detroit</strong> after working the previous seven<br />
seasons (2003-09) with the Carolina Panthers, including the final five<br />
seasons (2005-09) as special teams coordinator. He originally joined<br />
the Panthers in 2003 as special teams assistant and he also assisted<br />
with the team’s strength and conditioning program.<br />
lions coaching highlights<br />
‣ S John Wendling leads the NFL with 41 special teams tackles<br />
over the past two seasons (2010-11) and was tied for fourth in<br />
the NFL with 17 last season.<br />
‣ K Jason Hanson had another strong year for <strong>Detroit</strong> in 2011,<br />
finishing with 126 points which was the fourth best for a singleseason<br />
in franchise history.<br />
‣ Hanson also had five 50-yard field goals (second-highest of his<br />
career) and became the first player in NFL history to kick 50 50-<br />
yard field goals in his career.<br />
‣ In 2010, the <strong>Lions</strong>’ kick return unit was the third-most improved<br />
unit in the League in kickoff return average with 3.5 more yards<br />
per return than in 2009.<br />
‣ <strong>Detroit</strong> also had the NFL’s 10th-most significant improvement<br />
in punt return average in 2010: the <strong>Lions</strong> had an 8.8 punt return<br />
average in 2009 and improved to an average of 12.1 yards per<br />
return in 2010.<br />
‣ In average kickoff return yardage allowed, <strong>Detroit</strong> had the fourthmost<br />
improved coverage unit, allowing an average of 2.7 less yards<br />
per each kick return in 2010.<br />
During Crossman’s tenure with the Panthers, the team’s kicking and<br />
cover groups contributed significantly to the team’s success during<br />
his time in Carolina which included three playoff appearances (2003,<br />
2005 and 2008), two NFC South titles (2003 and 2008).The Panthers<br />
also finished with at least eight wins five of those seven seasons.<br />
In 2008, the Panthers ranked third in the NFL with an opponent<br />
average drive start following kickoffs of 24.7. They were one of only<br />
three teams that did not allow an opponent to start a drive following<br />
kickoffs past the 50-yard-line. Carolina led the NFL in touchbacks (30)<br />
and touchback percentage (33.7), and the team was ninth in the league<br />
by allowing a 21.9 opponent kickoff return average.<br />
In his first season (2005) as special teams coach, Crossman’s group<br />
ranked among the best in the League. That season, the Panthers<br />
ranked ninth in the comprehensive Dallas Morning News special<br />
teams ratings which was highlighted with rankings of second in punt<br />
coverage and seventh in kickoff coverage.<br />
Under Crossman’s tutelage, Panthers P Jason Baker set the<br />
franchise record in net punting average in both 2005 (38.9) and 2006<br />
(39.0). In both seasons, Baker’s net punting average ranked first in<br />
the NFC and third in NFL. From 2005-09, Baker ranked eighth in the<br />
NFL with a combined net punting average of 38.0.<br />
In 2003, Crossman’s first year assisting the Carolina’s special teams,<br />
the Panthers were second in the special teams ratings compiled by<br />
the Dallas Morning News.<br />
Crossman entered the pro ranks following 10 seasons as a college<br />
coach where he worked with special teams in each season and also<br />
coached multiple defensive positions. In 2002, Crossman served as the<br />
linebackers and special teams coach at Michigan State.<br />
From 1999-2001, Crossman was on the coaching staff at Georgia<br />
Tech. All three seasons, he was the Yellow Jackets special teams<br />
coordinator along with defensive ends coach (1999-2000) and<br />
defensive backs coach (2001). In both 1999 and 2001, Georgia Tech<br />
ranked high nationally in kickoff return average, net punting average<br />
and punt return average. Georgia Tech led the ACC in kickoff return<br />
average and punt return average during the 2000 season. Two of<br />
Crossman’s specialists, K Luke Manget and KR Kelley Rhino, were<br />
first-team All-ACC in 2001.<br />
Before arriving at Georgia Tech, Crossman was the defensive backs<br />
and special teams coach at Central Florida for two seasons (1997-98).<br />
Crossman served a three-year stint (1994-96) at Western Kentucky as<br />
special teams and secondary coach (1994-95) and outside linebacker<br />
and special teams coach (1996). He entered the coaching ranks in<br />
exeCutives & CoaChing<br />
<strong>Detroit</strong>lions.com<br />
Media.<strong>Detroit</strong>lions.com<br />
1993 as the defensive backs and special teams coach at the U.S.<br />
Coast Guard Academy.<br />
Crossman earned three letters at the University of Pittsburgh as the<br />
team garnered a 22-12-1 record those three seasons and appearances<br />
in 1987 Bluebonnet Bowl and 1989 Sun Bowl. He moved to strong<br />
safety as a senior and was named team MVP. Crossman earned<br />
second-team All-America honors as he recorded 62 tackles and one<br />
interception. He originally began his college career at the University<br />
of Kansas. As a freshman in 1985, Crossman made eight starts at<br />
defensive back, posted 48 tackles, recorded one interception and<br />
collected freshman All-America honors.<br />
Following his college playing career, he spent time with the<br />
Washington Redskins in 1990 and the <strong>Detroit</strong> <strong>Lions</strong> during training<br />
camp in 1991. He played for the London Monarchs of the World League<br />
of American Football in 1991-92. In the inaugural World Bowl in 1991,<br />
he was named MVP in the 21-0 shutout of Barcelona. Crossman<br />
intercepted three passes in the championship game and returned one<br />
for a 20-yard touchdown.<br />
Crossman earned a bachelor degree in business administration and<br />
communications from Pittsburgh in 1990. He and his wife, Susan, have<br />
a son, Kyle, and a daughter, Kaylie.<br />
crossMan' s Background<br />
<strong>Detroit</strong> <strong>Lions</strong> .................................................................. 2010-<br />
Special Teams Coordinator ............................................................ 2010-<br />
Carolina Panthers ........................................................2003-09<br />
Special Teams Coordinator ........................................................2005-09<br />
Special Teams Assistant ............................................................2003-04<br />
Michigan State .................................................................2002<br />
Linebackers/Special Teams .............................................................2002<br />
Georgia Tech ...........................................................1999-2001<br />
Defensive Backs/Special Teams .....................................................2001<br />
Special Teams/Defensive Ends ............................................ 1999-2000<br />
Central Florida ............................................................1997-98<br />
Defensive Backs/Specials Teams .............................................1997-98<br />
Western Kentucky .......................................................1994-96<br />
Outside Linebackers/Special Teams ..............................................1996<br />
Special Teams/Secondary ..........................................................1994-95<br />
U.S. Coast Guard Academy................................................1993<br />
Defensive Backs/Special Teams .....................................................1993
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