“Congrats to an absolute LEGEND,” Pat McAfee tweeted, his words hitting like a perfectly struck field goal through a snowstorm. Mason Crosby’s career was a masterclass in resilience—think Rocky meets The Revenant, but with fewer bear fights and more frostbitten fingertips. Drafted out of Colorado in 2007 (where Crosby racked up 307 college points because tackling math and football is possible), he debuted with a 53-yard bomb and a game-winning 42-yarder against the Eagles.

“I was thankful for the opportunity,” he shrugged post-game, cooler than Fonzie, sipping a milkshake. Cue the waterworks, Cheeseheads. Mason Crosby, the Packers’ iron-legged icon, is hanging up his cleats after 17 seasons, leaving behind a legacy as sturdy as Lambeau’s frozen tundra.

Pat McAfee’s take on Mason Crosby’s exit

“The level of consistency required to be in the NFL as a kicker for 17 years? Immense.” Pat McAfee, the NFL’s resident hype-man-turned-media-mogul, didn’t just tip his cap—he cannonballed into the nostalgia pool. “I remember watching him come out of Colorado.. HUGE leg… absolute weapon,” calling Crosby’s surprise onside kicks “lethal” and his locker room presence legendary.

“Guy’s an all-time great #ForTheBrand,” he added, because even retirement announcements deserve a mic drop.

Crosby’s exit isn’t just the end of an era; it’s the closing of a chapter written in ice, grit, and clutch kicks. The man who drilled a 56-yard playoff dagger against the Cowboys in 2017 and booted the Packers to Super Bowl XLV glory is trading his helmet for a headset, hosting The Mason Crosby Show on Milwaukee radio.

But let’s be real: No amount of airtime can replicate the thrill of watching him nail a 51-yard game-winner as time expired. “Reflecting on my career, I’m filled with gratitude,” Crosby said. “Every kick was an opportunity to contribute.”

17 seasons later, Crosby’s resume reads like a Packers’ Hall of Fame pamphlet: 1,939 career points (11th all-time), 400 field goals, and a 97.2% extra-point rate that’d make a robot jealous.

He’s the franchise’s all-time leading scorer, outlasting Brett Favre’s retirements and Aaron Rodgers’ confusing phases. Remember that 2012 slump where he missed 12 kicks? Mason Crosby treated it like a bad haircut—annoying, but temporary. “My relationship with Christ carries me,” he said, because when you’re kicking in -20° wind chills, divine intervention isn’t just helpful—it’s mandatory.

Then there’s the other Mason Crosby: the guy who hosted Thanksgiving for the team and once dubbed himself “Mr. Magic Leg” on Twitter. “Kicking is what I do, not who I am,” he mused, proving he’s part philosopher, part ice-veined specialist.

Even his 2023 pitstop with the Giants felt like a victory lap—a chance to teach New Yorkers how to spell “loyalty” while still bleeding green and gold.

Legacy, Lambeau, and the Ghosts of Packers Past 

Retiring a Packer isn’t just a career milestone—it’s a sacred rite. Crosby joins Mount Rushmore figures like Bart Starr, who turned handoffs into hymns, and Reggie White, who redefined “quarterback nightmare.” He’s the kicker who outlasted three NFL rule changes, two MVP QBs, and approximately 1,000 “Is Rodgers happy?” think-pieces.

“The locker room loved him,” Pat McAfee said, and why wouldn’t they? This is the man who, in 2021, strolled onto the field with 37 seconds left, down 28-27 to the 49ers, and casually drilled a 51-yarder like he was ordering a beer.

But Mason Crosby’s legacy isn’t just stats—it’s soul. He’s the bridge between eras: from Favre’s Wrangler jeans to Jordan Love’s TikTok dances. He’s why the Packers fans still believe in magic, even when their season hinges on a third-string tight end. And let’s not forget the off-field heroics: that time he kicked a 52-yarder at Heinz Field, stealing Pittsburgh’s thunder (and the record book), or his post-game interviews, where he’d praise the long snapper like Shakespeare praising a sonnet.

As for McAfee, the man knows a legend when he sees one. Their podcast appearance together was less interview, less mutual admiration society. “His surprise onside kick was lethal,” Pat McAfee grinned, referencing Crosby’s 2010 Super Bowl run—a trick play so slick, it’d make Danny Ocean blush. Together, they rep the NFL’s unsung heroes: the punters, kickers, and madmen who turn special teams into art.

So what’s next for Mr. Magic Leg? Radio gigs, charity work, and maybe teaching Gen Z the beauty of a well-placed squib kick. But in Green Bay, his spirit lingers—in the “Go Pack Go” chants, the frozen goalposts, and the kids in backyards pretending to be #2, game on the line. “Football’s been a significant chapter,” Crosby said, “but I’m thankful for every moment.”

As the Packers turn the page, they do so with Crosby’s blueprint: resilience, faith, and the quiet confidence of a man who knew pressure was just noise. So here’s to the kicker who made Wisconsin believe in 4th-and-impossible, the teammate who hosted Thanksgiving feasts, and the legend who never flinched.

Lambeau’s turf might thaw, but Mason Crosby’s legacy? That’s frozen in time—right next to Starr’s smirk, Lombardi’s trophy, and the echo of a thousand “CROSBY! CROSBY!” chants. For the brand? For the history books.