Victor Cruz

High school

Paterson Catholic High School

College

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Pro team(s)

New York Giants, Chicago Bears

Victor Cruz was born on November 11, 1986, in Paterson, New Jersey, and attended Paterson Catholic High School, where he was a standout receiver. He went on to the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he was largely unheralded — undrafted and signed as a free agent by the New York Giants in 2010. What happened next became one of the great underdog stories in recent NFL history. Cruz made the roster on pure production, emerged as the Giants' explosive slot receiver, and became a fan favorite for his trademark salsa touchdown celebration — a tribute to his Puerto Rican grandmother. In the Giants' improbable 2011 Super Bowl run, Cruz was their most dangerous weapon, finishing the regular season with 1,536 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. He earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2012. His career was curtailed by a patellar tendon injury in 2014, but his story — an undrafted kid from Paterson who became a Super Bowl champion and Pro Bowl receiver — remains a lasting part of Giants lore and a source of deep hometown pride in New Jersey. Born and raised in Paterson, New Jersey.