Victor Cruz

Victor Cruz is a former wide receiver with the NFL's New York Giants and a Super Bowl champion. In 2018, Cruz officially announced his retirement from the NFL to become an analyst for ESPN. He is also recognized for his work outside of football, including his role as a co-host on E!'s morning news show, "Pop of the Morning."

Cruz attended Paterson Catholic High School in New Jersey and completed a post-graduate semester at Bridgton Academy in Maine. He went on to play football at the University of Massachusetts where he is ranked fourth on the all-time UMass receptions list, despite not starting a game until his junior season. He totaled 11 touchdowns and just under 2,000 receiving yards in his college career. Cruz was named a first-team All-Colonial Athletic Association wide receiver in 2008 and 2009. His professional career highlights include setting a single-season franchise record for receiving yards by the end of the 2011 season, being named second-team All-Pro by the Associated Press, and being selected for the 2012 Pro Bowl.

In 2010, Cruz went undrafted and was later signed by the New York Giants. He led the NFL with 297 receiving yards in his first preseason, tied for the preseason lead with 4 touchdown catches, and ranked second overall with 15 catches. He made the Giants' 53-man regular season roster and played a key role in their victorious Super Bowl XLVI, tying an NFL record with a 99-yard touchdown reception. Apart from his accomplishments on the field, Cruz has also made significant contributions off the field through the Victor Cruz Foundation, which he established in 2012 to support educational programs for youth and has funded various community projects, including renovations at the Boys & Girls Club of Paterson / Passaic. He has authored the New York Times best seller "Out of the Blue" and is a prominent advocate for mental health and discussions on critical issues like COVID-19 and Black Lives Matter within the sports community.