Kicker Mason Crosby grateful to Packers for support after family tragedy

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Green Bay Packers kicker Mason Crosby has a lot to feel good about this season, including hitting a 47-yard field goal and four extra points in a 31-13 victory Sunday over the New York Giants on a slushy MetLife Stadium field.

But his outstanding season hasn’t come without some heartbreak and difficult times.

On Friday, a day before the Packers were to fly here for their game against the Giants, the longtime kicker received news that his sister-in-law, Brittany Crosby, 30, had died at 4 a.m. According to the Packers’ website, she had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer three years ago.

Brittany was married to Crosby’s younger brother, Rees, and the couple lived in Georgetown, Texas, where Mason and his wife, Molly, have a home.

Crosby flew to Austin, Texas, and drove to his brother’s home Friday to be with the family. The Packers flew him back Saturday night to be with the team.

“We’ve had a tough couple days as a family,” Crosby said in the locker room after the game. “I’ve just been praying, and everyone just keep Brittany, my sister-in-law’s family, in your prayers, and my brother and our family.

“It’s not anything you ever want to go through. She fought until the end. I definitely have a heavy heart right now.”

The news of Brittany’s death comes months after doctors had found a tumor in Molly’s lung. In August, Molly Crosby had surgery to treat a blood clot and had the tumor removed.

According to Packers.com, Brittany and Rees came to Green Bay to spend a week with Molly after her surgery.

Crosby said he planned on returning to Georgetown to be with his brother and the entire family.

“I’m going to fly right back to Austin and be with my brother and spend a couple of days with him,” Crosby said. “I’m just so thankful for this organization and the way they handled this tragedy and the fact that they didn’t blink at all to make it so I could go be with my brother.”

Asked about the difficult year he has had, Crosby said he relies on his faith.

“Yeah, just relationships, people in my life that I know I can depend on,” he said. “In this situation, I’m trying to be a rock and be there for my brother and for Brittany’s family and try to be whatever I can and be available and be there as much as possible and support them.”

Through the difficult months since Molly’s diagnosis, Crosby has had one of his finest seasons. Now in his 13th season, Crosby, 35, has connected on 14 of 15 field goals and 33 of 33 extra points. His kickoffs have been as strong as ever and as his ability to connect from 47 yards Sunday showed, he never lets weather conditions bother him.

During warm-ups, Crosby was hitting from 53 yards out, but that was before the snow started to fall and create an icy covering over the field. But as usual, it did not bother him.

Crosby’s teammates were made aware of his sister-in-law's death and wanted to support him the best they could.

“Tough situation for sure, especially to find out like he did Friday morning after Thanksgiving, when we’re all counting our blessings,” quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. “That was obviously really tough for him.

“We wrapped our arms around him and supported him. He’s been through a lot this year. He really has. He’s a great friend, a great locker room presence for us I do applaud the organization for, again, reminding us where the priorities are and allowing him to get down there and see his brother as well as (going there this) upcoming week.”