It seems like just yesterday that former New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz was salsa dancing after a touchdown for Big Blue.
Cruz, of course, has been out of the league for a few years now but remains active in his post-playing career.
We all know how big a fan favorite Cruz was just from being a local product out of Patterson, New Jersey and overcoming the odds as an undrafted free agent. What many overlook however, is the crazy numbers Cruz put up in the year he broke out where the Giants would eventually hoist the Lombardi Trophy.
Cruz recorded 1,536 yards (a franchise record) and nine touchdowns on the year. In fact, Cruz had one of the most efficient seasons of the last decade putting up crazy yards per route run.
Most yards per route run in a single season 2010-2019 (PFF, min. 50 targets)
2019 George Kittle (3.12)
2016 Julio Jones (3.12)
2017 Julio (3.08)
2011 Victor Cruz (3.08)
2015 Julio (3.04)— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) July 9, 2020
Cruz would eclipse 1,000 yards again in 2012 and was just two yards short of the 1,000 yard mark in 2013, but he never got close to the breakout campaign of 2011.
The Giants certainly had a stacked wide receiver core that season as Cruz lined up alongside Mario Manningham and Hakeem Nicks, but Cruz’s breakout year surely played a huge factor in the Giants’ success that year.
Cruz has done well for himself in his post-NFL career, but he will forever be remembered for his breakout season in 2011 when he helped the Giants get their second Super Bowl win in four years.
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