Charles Cross Bio
Charles Ellis Cross (born November 25, 2000) is an American professional football offensive tackle for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) and weighing around 317 lb (144 kg), he plays the left tackle position and has been a full-time starter since entering the league. Cross was selected ninth overall in the 2022 NFL draft and has since developed into one of the cornerstones of Seattle’s offensive line. He is recognized for his footwork, balance, and pass-protection skills at a position that demands both size and agility.
Before reaching the NFL, Cross built his reputation as a multi-year starter at Mississippi State, where he earned First-team All-SEC honors in 2021. His combination of college production, athletic testing, and positional projection helped him rise into the top ten of his draft class. He continues to be viewed as a long-term building block for the Seattle Seahawks.
Early Life and Background
Charles Ellis Cross was born on November 25, 2000, in Laurel, Mississippi, where he grew up and attended Laurel High School. Laurel, a small city in the southeastern part of the state, has produced several notable athletes, and Cross was among the most heavily recruited offensive linemen to come out of the region in recent years. He developed physically early and was projected as a high-major college prospect by the time he reached his upperclassman years.
During his high school career, Cross drew attention from multiple top college programs. He initially committed to play college football at Florida State, reflecting the level of interest he had generated nationally. However, he later decommitted from Florida State during his senior season, choosing instead to stay closer to home. He wrapped up his high school career by appearing in the 2018 All-American Bowl, one of the premier all-star games for top senior prospects.
That decision to re-open his recruitment led him to Mississippi State, a program where he would eventually become a full-time starter and an All-SEC performer. His senior season in Laurel and his performance in the All-American Bowl gave him a strong platform heading into the college ranks.
Path to American Football
Cross arrived at Mississippi State in 2018 and quickly began working toward a future in the offensive line. He redshirted his true freshman year after appearing in three games, preserving a year of eligibility while adjusting to the speed and complexity of the college game. Even in limited action, his frame and movement skills hinted at long-term starter potential.
Going into his redshirt freshman season, Cross was named the Bulldogs’ starting left tackle, an early vote of confidence from the coaching staff. He responded by starting ten games and earning a spot on the Southeastern Conference (SEC) All-Freshman team, signaling that he was on track as one of the conference’s top young linemen. By his redshirt sophomore season, he was widely viewed as one of the top offensive tackle prospects in the country for the 2022 NFL draft and entered the year as a preseason second-team All-SEC selection. Following that final college season, Cross declared for the 2022 NFL draft, forgoing any remaining eligibility.
Charles Cross Career
Early Career (2022)
Cross was selected ninth overall in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft by the Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks used a first-round pick that was acquired in the trade that sent quarterback Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos, and the team targeted Cross as a long-term answer at left tackle. Acting as his own agent, Cross signed his four-year rookie contract with Seattle on June 2, 2022, beginning his professional career.
As a rookie in the 2022 season, Cross appeared in and started all 17 regular-season games, an unusual workload for a first-year tackle. He also started the Seahawks’ playoff game that year, demonstrating the durability and consistency that would come to define his early career arc. The immediate insertion into the starting lineup reflected both his college readiness and Seattle’s confidence in his development.
NFL Breakthrough (2023–2024)
In the 2023 season, Cross appeared in and started 14 games, maintaining his hold on the starting left tackle job. The reduced games-played total reflected a handful of missed contests rather than any loss of role, as he remained the team’s primary option at the position. His pass-protection work continued to be a focal point for an offense that relied heavily on clean pockets for its young quarterback.
The 2024 season marked a return to full availability. Cross started all 17 regular-season games, reinforcing his status as a dependable every-down player. By the end of the 2024 campaign, his career NFL totals included 62 games played and 62 games started, an unusual ratio that highlighted both his durability and his coaches’ trust in him. His play over these seasons helped solidify the left tackle spot as a strength of the Seattle offensive line.
Seattle Seahawks Era (2022–Present)
On April 28, 2025, the Seahawks exercised the fifth-year option on Cross’s contract, locking him in through the 2026 season. The move signaled Seattle’s long-term commitment to their homegrown left tackle and rewarded his consistent production through his first three professional seasons. Shortly after, on January 4, 2026, Cross signed a four-year, $104.4 million contract extension with Seattle that included $75 million guaranteed, one of the largest commitments the team has made to an offensive lineman.
Cross started in Super Bowl LX, a 29–13 win over the New England Patriots, claiming a championship ring in his fourth professional season. The combination of his contract extension and the championship appearance positioned him at the center of Seattle’s plans moving forward. He remains a foundational piece of the team’s offensive identity and a player around whom the front office can build.
Driving Style and Strengths
Although primarily a pass-protecting left tackle, Cross is valued for his balance, lateral agility, and ability to mirror edge rushers in space. His footwork allows him to recover when initially beaten, and he pairs that movement with the length and anchor needed to handle power rushers. He is also considered reliable in communication at the line of scrimmage, helping coordinate protection schemes for the rest of the offensive line.
Notable Events and Milestones
Cross’s most significant milestone to date is his selection as the ninth overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft, a placement that placed him in the top ten of his class. He has added a Super Bowl LX championship following the 2025 season, a four-year, $104.4 million contract extension in January 2026, and a First-team All-SEC selection from 2021 to his list of career markers. Starting all 62 of the regular-season games he has appeared in remains one of the defining statistical features of his early career.
Charles Cross Career Wins
Cross’s professional resume features one of the most coveted achievements in American football: a Super Bowl championship. He was a starting member of the Seattle Seahawks team that won Super Bowl LX over the New England Patriots, earning a championship ring in his fourth season. Beyond that title, he has also been recognized individually with First-team All-SEC honors from 2021, awarded for his dominant redshirt sophomore season at Mississippi State. The combination of a major individual college honor and a professional championship defines the high points of his career to date.
NFL Highlights
Cross’s most celebrated professional moment came with the Super Bowl LX victory over the New England Patriots, a 29–13 win in which he served as a starting left tackle. The championship was the culmination of four seasons of steady development, including 17 starts as a rookie, 14 starts in 2023, and 17 starts in 2024. Each of those seasons built toward the kind of playoff run that ended with a title.
Other Awards & Performances
Cross earned First-team All-SEC honors in 2021 during his redshirt sophomore year at Mississippi State, an award that recognized his standing among the conference’s top offensive linemen. He was also named to the SEC All-Freshman team earlier in his college career, marking him as a prospect to watch. These college honors, paired with his top-ten draft status, remain the foundation of his pre-NFL accolades.
Charles Cross Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Cross was raised in Laurel, Mississippi, a community that has played a central role in shaping his early life. Publicly available details about his immediate family, including parents and siblings, are limited, and he has largely kept his personal relationships out of the spotlight. His upbringing in Laurel, combined with his decision to commit to Mississippi State over other out-of-state programs, reflects the strong ties he maintains to his home region.
Personal Life
Cross has maintained a low public profile away from football, with limited confirmed information about his personal relationships. He is not publicly known to be married, and details about a spouse or children have not been verified. He continues to be represented by himself in contract matters, as he was during his initial rookie deal with Seattle.
2025 Season Performance
Cross entered the 2025 season as a firmly established starter and one of the most experienced linemen on the Seattle roster. He started all 17 regular-season games, anchoring the left side of the offensive line throughout the year. His consistency helped the Seahawks navigate a season in which the offensive line remained a team strength.
The high point of the 2025 season came in the postseason, where Cross and the Seahawks advanced all the way to Super Bowl LX. The 29–13 victory over the New England Patriots gave him his first career championship and capped a year defined by steady performance and postseason success. The contract extension signed in early January 2026 reflected the value he provided during that championship run.
Looking beyond 2025, Cross is signed through 2030 on his new extension and is expected to remain a fixture at left tackle for Seattle. The combination of a healthy career to date, a Super Bowl win, and a major long-term deal positions him as a central figure in the Seahawks’ plans. His continued development as a pass protector and leader in the locker room will be a key storyline for the franchise in the seasons ahead.
