Michael Crabtree is a former American football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL) for ten seasons. He was born on September 14, 1987, in Dallas, Texas, and attended David W. Carter High School, where he played football and basketball.
Crabtree played college football at Texas Tech University, where he was a two-time unanimous All-American and won the Biletnikoff Award twice as the nation's top receiver. He set numerous school and NCAA records, including most receptions in a season (134) and most career touchdown receptions (41).
In the 2009 NFL Draft, Crabtree was selected by the San Francisco 49ers with the 10th overall pick. He signed a six-year contract worth $32 million, which included $17 million in guaranteed money.
Crabtree had a successful rookie season, catching 48 passes for 625 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games. He followed that up with a breakout season in 2010, recording 72 receptions for 874 yards and four touchdowns. He helped lead the 49ers to the NFC Championship game, where they lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers.
In 2011, Crabtree suffered a foot injury that caused him to miss the first five games of the season. He finished the year with 72 receptions for 874 yards and four touchdowns. In 2012, Crabtree had his best season yet, catching 85 passes for 1,105 yards and nine touchdowns. He helped lead the 49ers to the Super Bowl, where they lost to the Baltimore Ravens.
Crabtree's production dipped in 2013, as he caught just 19 passes for 284 yards and one touchdown in five games due to an Achilles injury. He bounced back in 2014, recording 68 receptions for 698 yards and four touchdowns.
After the 2014 season, Crabtree became a free agent and signed a one-year deal with the Oakland Raiders. He had a solid season, catching 85 passes for 922 yards and nine touchdowns. He signed a four-year, $34 million contract extension with the Raiders in 2016.
Crabtree had another productive season in 2016, catching 89 passes for 1,003 yards and eight touchdowns. He followed that up with 58 receptions for 618 yards and eight touchdowns in 2017.
In 2018, Crabtree signed a three-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens. He caught 54 passes for 607 yards and three touchdowns in his first season with the team. He was released by the Ravens in February 2019 and signed with the Arizona Cardinals in August of that year. However, he was released by the Cardinals before the start of the regular season.
Crabtree announced his retirement from the NFL in April 2020. He finished his career with 637 receptions for 7,499 yards and 54 touchdowns in 141 games. He ranks 75th all-time in receptions and 87th all-time in receiving yards.
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