Nick Cross Bio
Nicolas Cross is an American professional football safety for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). Born on September 10, 2001, in Bowie, Maryland, Cross played college football for the Maryland Terrapins before being selected in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Selected 96th overall, he was the youngest player taken in that draft at 20 years old. Cross has steadily developed into a reliable starter on the Colts’ defense, posting career-best numbers in 2024.
Early Life and Background
Nicolas Cross was born on September 10, 2001, in Bowie, Maryland, to Michael Cross and Anna Cross. His father, Michael, is from Jamaica, while his mother, Anna, is from Trinidad and Tobago, giving Cross a Caribbean family heritage. For his early schooling, Cross attended St. Jerome Academy in Hyattsville, Maryland.
Cross later attended DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland, where he emerged as a standout football recruit rated as a four-star prospect. In January 2019, he played in the Army All-American Bowl, one of the premier high school football showcases in the United States. Cross also competed on the school’s track and field team, racing in the 60-meter, 100-meter, 200-meter, 4×100-meter relay, and 4×200-meter relay events. His personal best in the 60-meter dash stood at 6.68 seconds, demonstrating the speed that later became a hallmark of his game.
Although Cross originally committed to Florida State University to play college football, he changed his commitment and signed with the University of Maryland, College Park, staying closer to his hometown in the Washington, D.C. suburbs.
Path to American Football
Cross joined the Maryland Terrapins in 2019 and quickly earned a role in the defensive secondary. Over three college seasons from 2019 to 2021, he started 21 of 29 games and recorded 134 tackles, six interceptions, three forced fumbles, and four sacks. His production earned him Honorable Mention All-Big Ten recognition in each of his three seasons at Maryland.
Following the 2021 season, Cross chose to forgo his senior year and enter the 2022 NFL Draft. At the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine, he posted the fastest 40-yard dash time among all safeties at 4.34 seconds, drawing strong evaluations from several prominent draft analysts. NFL media analyst Daniel Jeremiah ranked him as the seventh-best safety prospect, while Pro Football Focus’s Michael Renner ranked him fourth among safeties on his big board.
Nick Cross Career
Early Career (2022)
The Indianapolis Colts selected Cross in the third round, 96th overall, of the 2022 NFL Draft. To acquire the pick, the Colts traded with the Denver Broncos, sending their 2022 fifth-round pick (179th overall) and a 2023 third-round selection (67th overall) in exchange for the rights to draft Cross. On May 13, 2022, he signed a four-year, $5.06 million rookie contract that included an initial signing bonus of $864,100.
Cross competed against veteran Rodney McLeod for the starting strong safety job during training camp and was named the starter by head coach Frank Reich after Khari Willis retired. He made his professional regular-season debut on September 11, 2022, against the Houston Texans, recording four solo tackles in a 20-20 overtime tie. After Week 2, defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus benched Cross in favor of McLeod, and the rookie spent much of the rest of the season on special teams. Cross finished his rookie year with 17 combined tackles, one forced fumble, and one fumble in 16 games and two starts, earning a special teams grade of 90.0 from Pro Football Focus.
Indianapolis Colts Breakthrough (2023)
Entering his second season, Cross competed for a starting safety role under new defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, but head coach Shane Steichen initially listed him as a backup behind Julian Blackmon and Rodney Thomas II. He appeared in all 17 games but started only twice.
On December 16, 2023, Cross recorded his first career interception against Mitchell Trubisky, breaking up a pass intended for George Pickens in a 30-13 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The following week, he earned his first start of the season after Blackmon was placed on injured reserve and posted a season-high nine combined tackles in a 23-20 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. Cross finished 2023 with 39 combined tackles, two pass deflections, and one interception, earning an overall grade of 71.8 from Pro Football Focus.
Indianapolis Colts Era (2024-Present)
Cross entered the 2024 season competing for a starting role against Rodney Thomas II and Ronnie Harrison. Head coach Shane Steichen named him the starting strong safety alongside free safety Julian Blackmon, a position he held all season. He started all 17 games for the first time in his career and produced a breakout year.
In Week 2, Cross collected a career-high 15 combined tackles against the Green Bay Packers. On October 6, 2024, he intercepted a pass by Trevor Lawrence intended for Brian Thomas Jr. during a 37-34 loss at the Jacksonville Jaguars. On December 1, 2024, he recorded nine tackles and his first career sack, taking down New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye for a two-yard loss in a 25-24 victory. The following week, Cross picked off a pass by Bo Nix intended for Courtland Sutton, setting a new career high with his third interception of the season. He closed 2024 with 146 combined tackles, five pass deflections, three interceptions, and one sack, earning an overall Pro Football Focus grade of 70.3, which ranked 45th among 171 qualifying safeties.
Driving Style and Strengths
Cross brings rare speed to the safety position, evidenced by his 4.34-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. He is a reliable run-defender who thrives near the line of scrimmage and has steadily improved in coverage, showing a growing ability to read quarterbacks and break on the ball. His production in 2024 demonstrated improved tackling consistency and a more disciplined approach to pass coverage.
Notable Events and Milestones
Cross became the youngest player selected in the 2022 NFL Draft at 20 years old. He recorded his first career interception in December 2023 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, posted his first career sack on Drake Maye in December 2024, and set a personal best with three interceptions during the 2024 season. His 146 combined tackles in 2024 marked a career high and established him as a foundational piece of the Colts’ defense.
Nick Cross Career Wins
While individual win totals for a defensive player are not always formally tracked, Cross has been part of several notable team victories during his tenure with the Indianapolis Colts. His standout performances have included games against divisional rivals and high-profile opponents across multiple seasons.
Indianapolis Colts Highlights
Cross earned his first career start on September 11, 2022, against the Houston Texans in a 20-20 tie. He recorded his first career interception against the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 16, 2023, in a 30-13 Colts victory. In 2024, he helped anchor a defense that posted victories over the New England Patriots, among other opponents, while starting all 17 games for the first time.
Nick Cross Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Nicolas Cross is the son of Michael Cross, who is from Jamaica, and Anna Cross, who is from Trinidad and Tobago. His Caribbean family heritage has played an important role in his upbringing in the Washington, D.C. suburbs of Maryland.
Personal Life
Cross resides in the Indianapolis area while playing for the Colts. He is not publicly known to be married, and details about his personal relationships remain private.
2025 Season Performance
Cross is expected to enter the 2025 NFL season as the Indianapolis Colts’ starting strong safety, a role he held throughout 2024. Coming off his best professional season, he will look to build on his 146 combined tackles, three interceptions, and first career sack. His partnership with Julian Blackmon in the Colts’ secondary will be a focal point for the team’s defensive efforts.
Under head coach Shane Steichen, the Colts will rely on Cross as a steady presence in the secondary. His continued development as a coverage defender and his tackling reliability should make him a central figure in Indianapolis’ defensive game plans throughout 2025.
If Cross sustains the production he displayed in 2024, he could position himself among the more productive safeties in the AFC. With two more seasons remaining on his rookie contract, 2025 also represents an opportunity for Cross to demonstrate that he is deserving of a long-term extension with the Colts.