Auburn RB Joe Cribbs

Joe Stanier Cribbs (born January 5, 1958 in Sulligent, Alabama) is a retired National Football League and United States Football League football running back. He played collegiately at Auburn University along with future NFL backs William Andrews and James Brooks. He began his professional career in 1980 with the Buffalo Bills.

After being drafted in the second round of the 1980 NFL Draft, Cribbs went on to start all 16 games of his rookie year with Buffalo, finishing with 1185 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. His performance earned him consensus UPI AFL-AFC Rookie of the Year honors and a spot in the Pro Bowl, the only rookie chosen as a starter that year. In five seasons with the team, split around a detour with the USFL, Cribbs had 13 100-yard games and ran for 1,000 yards in a season three times.

In the spring of 1984, Cribbs left the Bills in a contract dispute and signed on as a member of the Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League (USFL).

Today, Cribbs is living in Alabama with his wife, Vernessa; and son Nigel, 14. Their daughter Ajai lives in Orlando, Florida but their son's ,Omar, whereabouts is unknown.

His favorite nephew Tony Stewart lives in Caledonia Mississippi. For the past six years, he has run Joe Cribbs Associates, an advisory company. "I do a lot of work with some current NFL players, helping them with investments and different things. Just basically helping them understand the game and get prepared for life after the game. Some I may assist with disability insurance or help get an annuity. Just various degrees of work. So it just depends on the guy."



In the athletic arena, Cribbs soon found success. His first year in professional football, his performance as a running back, earned him the title of Rookie of the Year and a spot in the Pro Bowl. "My faith has enabled me to do some great things athletically. I have always felt God gave me special talents. I was always small but for some reason He made me special when it came to football. I felt that the more successful I was on the field the more I glorified Him with the talents He gave me."


Cribbs never lost sight of the responsibility that came with his fame. "I am so conscious of being a role model. I would not allow myself to be in a situation that would reflect negatively." Cribbs knew from experience the disappointment of looking up to someone whose personal life did not match his athletic talent. "I remember one individual that I tried to emulate. I idolized him as an athlete, but I found out later he was a horrible person. I guess in some ways situations like that have caused me to be more than just an athlete."

Cribbs was the final draft pick in the trade that sent OJ Simpson from Buffalo to the San Francisco 49ers in 1978. The Bills selected him 29th overall in the second round of the 1980 NFL Draft. The Auburn-alum rushed for 1,185 yards in a Rookie of the Year campaign that also earned him a starting Pro Bowl spot, he was the only rookie starter.

Following two consecutive Pro Bowl appearances, Cribbs was in the midst of a career year before the players strike cut short the 1982 season. His 90.4 yards per game led the league and his 4.7 yards per carry was also a career best (previous highs were 74.1 ypg in 1980 and 4.3 ypc which he did three times).

Three weeks prior to the start of 1983 training camp, Cribbs opted to sign a contract with the Birmingham Stallions of the USFL. In his first season back in his home state of Alabama, he led the league in rushing with 1,467 yards. In two seasons, he racked up 2,514 yards rushing, 787 yards receiving and 21 TDs.

Cribbs returned to the Bills in 1985 and was traded to the San Francisco 49ers in 1986. He was later signed by the Indianapolis Colts and would finish his career with the Miami Dolphins in 1989.

In all, Cribbs was a three-time Pro Bowler and is third on the prestigious Buffalo Bills rushing leader board behind Thurman Thomas and OJ Simpson with 4,445 yards. In his eight year NFL career, he rushed for 5,356 yards, accrued 2,199 yards receiving and reached the end zone 43 times. During his entire professional football career, Cribbs accrued 9,945 all-purpose yards and 64 TDs.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• football
• auburn
• sec
• alabama
• sulligent
• pro
• bowl
• nfl
• rookie

[Steppedonmyhead]

@RodericSpode I would have to say that James, Agee and Jackson was the best backfield at Auburn. Sure Andrews, Cribbs and Brooks were great, but that backfield never won a SEC championship or defeated Alabama.

[Steppedonmyhead]

@pdk25 Georgia has had their share of talent as well.

[NiHaoZippo]

He is My cousin Fr Fr By blood!

[jdcouch2]

Holy Cow!! I forgot how good he really was.

[pdk25]

@RodericSpode I`m a Georgia fan but you might be correct in saying the Cribbs, Brooks, and Andrews is the best backfield ever. Don`t forget though, Auburn also had Lionel James, Tommy Agee, and Bo Jackson in the backfield. Man, Auburn was loaded with talent.

James Brooks, Lionel James, and Bo Jackson were the backs that I thought were the best.

[RodericSpode]

Cribs, Brooks and William Andrews has to be the best college backfield ever.

[bimbuyo]

Bring back the tear-away jersies!

[Zippertheslipper]

A very good running back for the Buffalo Bills after O.J. left.

[ganu29]

Hey, real good video. Joe Cribbs was truly awesome. I remember watching him play for the Stallions down here in B'ham.

(P.S. Roll Tide.)

[warboy42]

@sonofnun1 yeah he's his uncle