Jamison Crowder Bio
Jamison Crowder, born June 17, 1993, in Monroe, North Carolina, is an American professional football wide receiver and return specialist. Standing 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing approximately 178 pounds, Crowder built a reputation as a reliable slot receiver and a dangerous punt returner during a professional career that began in 2015. He played college football at Duke University before being selected by the Washington Redskins in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL draft. Over the course of his career, Crowder has also suited up for the New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, and New York Giants, and he returned to Washington as a member of the Commanders.
Crowder first gained attention in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) at Duke, where he set conference records for receptions and became one of the most productive pass catchers in program history. In the NFL, he has been valued for his quickness, route precision, and special teams ability, earning conference weekly honors for his punt return work.
Early Life and Background
Jamison Crowder grew up in Monroe, North Carolina, where he attended Monroe High School under coach Johnny Sowell. A three-year letterman, he helped lead the program to a three-year record of 29–10 with three state playoff berths. As a junior, he recorded 26 catches for 618 yards and contributed 19 total touchdowns, showcasing the versatility that would later define his professional profile.
Beyond football, Crowder was a multisport athlete. He helped Monroe to a 32–1 record and the 2010 1A state basketball championship, earning Rocky River Conference Player of the Year honors in basketball. He also competed in track and field. As a senior, he rushed for 641 yards and 11 touchdowns, caught 41 passes for 790 yards and nine touchdowns, and scored four times on returns. In 2010, he was named first-team All-State and the conference’s Offensive Player of the Year, and he was rated by Rivals.com as a three-star recruit and the No. 65 athlete nationally by ESPN.com. He also participated in the 74th annual Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
Crowder went on to graduate from Duke in December 2014 with a degree in sociology and a minor in African and African American studies. He has a younger brother, Jamaris, who was born with Down syndrome, a relationship Crowder has spoken about publicly.
Path to American Football
Crowder’s path to professional football ran through Duke University, where he played under head coach David Cutcliffe from 2011 to 2014. As a true freshman in 2011, he appeared in all 12 games and posted 14 receptions for 163 yards and a touchdown. He became a full-time starter as a sophomore in 2012, finishing that season with 76 receptions for 1,074 yards and eight touchdowns.
His junior campaign in 2013 was his breakout year. Crowder started all 14 games and set an ACC single-season record with 108 receptions, totaling 1,360 yards and eight touchdowns. The performance earned him first-team All-ACC recognition. As a senior in 2014, he started all 13 games and tied the ACC’s all-time receptions record with 283 catches in his final college game, the 2014 Sun Bowl. He closed that season with 85 receptions for 1,044 yards and six touchdowns, and he again earned first-team All-ACC honors.
Over his college career, Crowder finished with 283 receptions for 3,641 yards and 23 touchdowns, and he returned a school-record five punts for touchdowns. His production and special teams value positioned him as a fourth-round selection by the Washington Redskins in the 2015 NFL draft.
Jamison Crowder Career
Early Career (2015)
The Washington Redskins selected Crowder in the fourth round with the 105th overall pick of the 2015 NFL draft, and he signed a four-year rookie contract on May 11, 2015. He made his NFL debut on September 13, 2015, against the Miami Dolphins, and earned his first start on October 11, 2015, against the Atlanta Falcons, finishing with eight catches for 87 yards.
Crowder’s first touchdown came on November 15, 2015, an eleven-yard reception from quarterback Kirk Cousins against the New Orleans Saints. He closed his rookie year with 59 receptions for 604 yards and two touchdowns, breaking the Washington franchise rookie reception record previously held by Hall of Fame receiver Art Monk.
Washington Redskins Tenure (2015–2018)
In his second season, Crowder emerged as a dynamic punt returner and a steady target in the passing game. On September 18, 2016, he caught his first touchdown of the year against the Dallas Cowboys. He later added a 55-yard receiving score against the New York Giants on September 25, 2016, along with a 52-yard punt return. On October 9, 2016, against the Baltimore Ravens, Crowder returned a punt 85 yards for a touchdown, becoming the first Redskins player to do so since Santana Moss in 2008 and earning NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
Crowder recorded multiple 100-yard receiving games during the 2016 season, including efforts against the Detroit Lions, Cincinnati Bengals, Green Bay Packers, and Dallas Cowboys. On November 20, 2016, against the Packers, he caught three passes for 102 yards and a touchdown as part of a rare game featuring two 100-yard receivers and a 100-yard rusher for Washington. He finished 2016 with 67 receptions for 847 yards and seven touchdowns, and reached 100 career receptions in just 25 games, the third-fastest in franchise history at the time.
In 2017, Crowder posted 66 receptions for 789 yards and three touchdowns, highlighted by a 141-yard, one-touchdown performance against the New York Giants on Thanksgiving. His 2018 season was shortened to nine games, during which he recorded 29 receptions for 388 yards and two touchdowns.
New York Jets Era (2019–2021)
On March 15, 2019, Crowder signed a three-year, $28.5 million contract with the New York Jets that included $17 million guaranteed. He opened his Jets career in Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills with 14 receptions for 99 yards, tying Al Toon’s franchise record for catches in a game by a wide receiver. He scored his first touchdown as a Jet in Week 9 against the Miami Dolphins and added another against the New York Giants the following week. Crowder closed 2019 leading the Jets in receptions (78), receiving yards (833), and receiving touchdowns (6).
In 2020, Crowder opened the season with seven catches for 115 yards and a 69-yard touchdown against the Bills. He added 104 yards against the Denver Broncos and 116 yards and a score against the Arizona Cardinals. In Week 16 against the Cleveland Browns, he threw his first career touchdown pass, a 43-yard trick play to Braxton Berrios. He finished 2020 with 59 receptions for 699 yards and six touchdowns. In 2021, he appeared in 12 games and finished with 51 receptions for 447 yards and two touchdowns.
Buffalo Bills (2022)
Crowder signed a one-year deal with the Buffalo Bills on March 22, 2022. He suffered an ankle injury in Week 4 and was placed on injured reserve on October 8, 2022.
New York Giants and Return to Washington (2023–2024)
On March 23, 2023, Crowder signed with the New York Giants before being released on August 29, 2023. On September 6, 2023, he signed with the practice squad of the Washington Commanders, rejoining his original franchise, and was elevated to the active roster five days later. In Week 6, his 61-yard punt return was the longest in the league for that week, earning him NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. In 2023, he recorded 16 receptions for 159 yards and a touchdown, with the score coming in Week 8 against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Crowder re-signed with the Commanders on a one-year contract on March 13, 2024. He was placed on injured reserve with a calf injury on October 2, 2024, and was activated on December 14, 2024. In Week 16 against the Eagles, he caught two touchdowns in a 36–33 victory.
Driving Style and Strengths
Crowder has built his career on quickness, precise route running, and reliable hands out of the slot. He has been particularly effective on underneath and intermediate routes that exploit zone defenses, while his track background gives him the speed to challenge defenses vertically. His punt return instincts and vision have made him a difference-maker on special teams throughout his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Crowder’s 85-yard punt return for a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens in 2016 was the first by a Redskins player since Santana Moss in 2008 and earned him his first NFC Special Teams Player of the Week award. He set the Washington franchise rookie reception record in 2015, surpassed Art Monk’s long-standing mark, and tied Al Toon’s Jets single-game receptions record in his New York debut. He also threw his first career touchdown pass in 2020 and tied the ACC’s all-time receptions record during the 2014 Sun Bowl.
Jamison Crowder Career Wins
Jamison Crowder has not been widely recognized as the central figure of a championship-winning team, but he has produced consistent winning contributions as a slot receiver and returner. His college tenure at Duke featured All-ACC seasons and a Sun Bowl appearance, while his professional résumé includes multiple 100-yard receiving games and standout special teams performances.
NFL Highlights
Across his NFL career, Crowder has produced multiple seasons with 60 or more receptions, including 78 catches for the Jets in 2019 and 67 catches for the Redskins in 2016. He has also earned multiple NFC Special Teams Player of the Week awards, with his 2016 punt return against Baltimore and his 2023 return against Philadelphia standing out as signature plays.
Other Performances
At Monroe High School, Crowder helped lead his team to a 32–1 record and the 2010 1A state basketball championship, earning conference Player of the Year honors in basketball. At Duke, he set an ACC single-season receptions record in 2013 and tied the conference all-time record with 283 career catches.
Jamison Crowder Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Crowder does not come from a professional sports family. He grew up in Monroe, North Carolina, and developed his athletic foundation at Monroe High School.
Personal Life
Crowder has a younger brother, Jamaris, who was born with Down syndrome. He graduated from Duke University in December 2014 with a degree in sociology and a minor in African and African American studies.
2025 Season Performance
Crowder is currently signed with the Washington Commanders through the 2024 season, with his contract set to expire at the end of the year. His 2024 campaign was interrupted by a calf injury that placed him on injured reserve from early October until mid-December, limiting his role late in the year.
When healthy in 2024, Crowder contributed as a possession receiver and a punt returner. His two-touchdown performance against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 16 demonstrated that he could still produce in key moments, even in a limited offensive role behind the team’s younger pass catchers.
Looking ahead to 2025, Crowder’s future with Washington is uncertain given the structure of his current contract. Should he return, he is likely to be deployed primarily in the slot and on punt returns, where his experience and instincts remain valuable. If he moves on, his track record as a dependable third-down target and proven special teams contributor should attract interest from teams seeking veteran depth.