Retired New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz didn’t have the NFL career he hoped he would. Marred by injuries that cut his career short, Cruz played five seasons with the Giants before injuries forced him into retirement.
Upon his retirement, Cruz joined ESPN as an analyst.
Cruz is moving on to the next phase of his career, now joining TNT Sports as an analyst. TNT is embarking on its first season of Mountain West football coverage and announced a new lineup of commentators on Wednesday.
Joining Cruz for studio coverage of the Mountain West will be former NFL stars Champ Bailey and Takey Spikes as analysts, and the studio shows will be hosted by Adam Lefkoe.
An undrafted free agent upon joining the league, Cruz was known for his speed, acrobatic catches, and doing the Salsa after every touchdown.
Over his five seasons in New York, Cruz recorded 303 receptions for 4,549 yards and 25 touchdowns with just three fumbles. After tearing his patellar tendon in 2014, he struggled to recover and didn’t make it back for the 2015 season after also suffering a calf injury.
Cruz returned to the field in 2016 but was ultimately released by the Giants in 2017. He joined the Chicago Bears but was waived in September of that year. He ultimately announced his retirement ahead of the 2018 season, at which time he joined ESPN.
Coverage of the Mountain West conference begins on August 29 and is the first time TNT Sports has covered college football since 2006.