Antonio Cromartie is one of the best football cornerbacks of the 21st century. He played for the Florida State Seminoles from 2003-2005 and was a first-round selection (19th overall) in the 2006 NFL Draft. He then had an 11-year NFL career with four different franchises, racking up 31 interceptions before he retired in 2016.
While Cromartie’s career may be over, his son, Antonio Cromartie Jr., is just beginning. Cromartie Jr. committed to Florida State in January and will be a freshman in the fall. In a recent interview, he broke the silence on why he decided to follow in his dad’s footsteps.
Antonio Cromartie Jr. Explains Why He Chose Florida State
Antonio Cromartie Jr. was a three-star recruit in the 2025 class and was ranked by 247Sports as the 166th corner in the country. The 5’11”, 170-pound freshman had offers from small schools Southeast Missouri State, UT-Martin, and Wofford before finally committing to Florida State, where his dad played, in January.
Often, legacy athletes avoid following in their parents’ footsteps to build a name for themselves and carve out their own paths. However, in a recent interview with the Florida State Press, Cromartie Jr. explained that he enjoys being a legacy kid.
“You know, I embrace it wholeheartedly. You know, I kind of love being a legacy kid,” Cromartie Jr. said. “My biggest thing is continuing that legacy of greatness. To be on that path of being a great DB or a great DB than he was.”
It’s an interesting outlook on the situation. Being a “legacy” comes with a lot of attention and expectations, but it seems like Cromartie Jr. views it as a challenge and one that he hopes to live up to.
Not only does he embrace being a “legacy”, but his dad going to Florida State instilled an early love for the school in him.
“For me, I love Florida State. I grew up around it, and I was at every game when I was little. It’s kind of been like a dream to come play here,” Cromartie Jr. said.
The Cromartie family’s connection runs deep. Antonio Sr. earned first-team All-ACC honors in 2004 and was a first-team All-Pro in 2007, when he led the NFL with 10 interceptions.
Antonio Cromartie Sr. was proud of how his son handled himself in the interview, praising him on X.
So proud of you @AJ_CRO31 . Really good interview!!! Brings tears to my eyes watching this. https://t.co/FJ6ka5dJS2
— COACH ANTONIO CROMARTIE (@CRO31) June 24, 2025
It’s every parent’s wish to get to watch their son or daughter live out their own dreams, and after a long career, Cromartie Sr. gets to finally sit on the sidelines and watch his son pursue his legacy at Florida State.
