Cleveland Browns legend takes coaching role at alma mater
Josh Cribbs returning to where it all started as he joins HC Mark Carney’s staff at Kent State.
CLEVELAND - JANUARY 03: Joshua Cribbs #16 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Cleveland Browns Stadium on January 3, 2010 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images) | Getty Images The Cleveland Browns have not had much go right since returning to the NFL in 1999. But one thing they absolutely nailed was signing Josh Cribbs as an undrafted free agent in the spring of 2005.
A standout quarterback at Kent State for four years, Cribbs left the Golden Flashes as the program’s all-time leader in total offense with 10,839 yards, and in rushing touchdowns (38), completions (616), attempts (1,123), passing yards (7,169), and points (246). As impressive as those numbers were, no NFL team was willing to give Cribbs a shot at playing quarterback. But once he arrived in Cleveland and took over the kick return duties, Cribbs carved out what could arguably be called a Hall-of-Fame-worthy career.
𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗧𝗼 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗹𝗮𝘀𝗵 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗝𝗼𝘀𝗵 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗯𝘀! The 🐐 returns home as our new Special Teams Analyst ⚡️ 📰 https://t. co/IRNWzXeQBl #GoFlashes ⚡️ | #HAB1TS pic.
twitter. com/D5lGx5ECgv — Kent State Football (@KentStFootball) April 29, 2026 In eight seasons with the Browns, Cribbs rewrote the franchise’s record book, as he in the team’s all-time leader in career kickoff return yards (10,015), combined kickoff and punt return yards (12,169), all-purpose yards (14,065), most kickoff return yards in a single season (1,809 in 2007), most kickoff return touchdowns in a single season (three in 2009), and most all-purpose yards in a single season (2,510 in 2009). Cribbs earned Pro Bowl nods in 2007, 2009, and 2021; was a First Team All-Pro selection in 2009; was chosen to the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 2000s; and is a member of both the franchise’s Legends Program and the Kent State Sports Hall of Fame.