Two-time Pro Bowl kick returner 
No matter how many tackles he sheds or kickoffs he returns for touchdowns, Cribbs cannot outrun breast cancer. It has touched his life and ignited a passion in the sixth-year professional from Kent State University.
“My grandmother passed from it,” Cribbs said. “It’s something that I’m going to hop on board with, not just breast cancer, but cancer awareness. A lot of women fall victim to breast cancer from not being treated. Being a part of it, I’ve studied up on it and found a lot of facts on it that can help save lives. I’m affected by it because my grandmother and family members that passed away from it.
“That’s what makes it so dear to me,” he continued. “She was important in my life, my family’s life and caring about people in general, you kind of know what other people go through when they have their loved ones go through the same thing. It’s just motivation to know that I don’t really want other people to go through that if they don’t have to. If they could do something about it, then they should.”
With that knowledge Cribbs has gained from studying breast cancer, he makes sure to spread the message to those closest to him.
“In my own family, we have a lot of women,” he said. “That’s what my family is known for, having a lot of women and internally, I’m sending out mass text messages to all my family and just telling them to send it to their girlfriends. I’m starting a foundation and that’s going to be under my foundation as well, to help out the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Spreading awareness is all you can do at this point, spread awareness and help raise money for it.”
Cribbs has received several honors in his career, from Pro Bowl selections in 2007 and 2009, as well as AFC Special Teams Player of the Week and AFC Special Teams Player of the Month to being named a kick returner on the 2000s NFL All-Decade Team. However, the one honor Cribbs received after the 2009 season had much more meaning to him.
At their Power of a Promise event at Windows on the River, The Northeast Ohio chapter of Susan G. Komen For the Cure recognized Cribbs and several other local celebrities and businessmen as one of their “Pink-Tie Guys.” Cribbs received a pink tie and was asked to wear it a various events throughout the year in order to bring awareness to breast cancer and breast cancer research.
“It meant a lot to be able to be put in a position to cause change is great and I must use my stage effectively,” Cribbs said. “I’ve been blessed with having a stage to reach many people and I choose to use it this way. I reach out to people and create awareness.
Cribbs is especially going to bring breast cancer awareness to his daughter, Kimorah.
“Because I’m aware now and technology is so far advanced now, she’s going to get her checks daily,” he said. “I’m going to personally see to that.”
