Last Updated on October 24, 2026 by Valentim Tereshkova
Kitan Crawford’s family has an interesting connection to professional American football. The Arizona Cardinals safety grew up in Tyler, Texas, and is the son of Natika Johnson and stepson of Eric Johnson. He is also a second cousin of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Born on December 31, 2001, Crawford developed into an outstanding high school football player before attending the University of Texas and the University of Nevada. His performances eventually earned him a place in the NFL when the Arizona Cardinals selected him in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Although Crawford’s mother, stepfather and famous cousin have been identified in official sports biographies, he has shared considerably less information about his biological father, siblings, romantic relationships and possible children.
Here is everything publicly known about Kitan Crawford’s wife or girlfriend, children, parents, siblings and family background.
Kitan Crawford’s Wife or Girlfriend: Is He Married?
Kitan Crawford has not publicly confirmed a wife or girlfriend through reliable interviews, official NFL biographies or established sports publications.
As of now, his marital status and current romantic relationship status have not been independently established.
Despite attracting national attention during his college football career and becoming an Arizona Cardinals player in 2025, Crawford has kept his dating life relatively private.
His public interviews have concentrated primarily on football, his experience at Texas and Nevada, his performance on special teams and his transition to the NFL.
There is also no sufficiently verified public announcement identifying a spouse, fiancée or long-term romantic partner.
Consequently, it would be inaccurate to identify any particular woman as Kitan Crawford’s wife or girlfriend without reliable confirmation.
Kitan Crawford’s Children: Does He Have a Son or Daughter?
As of now, there is no verified public information confirming that Kitan Crawford has children.
His official Arizona Cardinals biography and University of Nevada football profile do not identify any sons or daughters.
Likewise, reliable sports interviews reviewed for this article have not established that he is a father.
However, the absence of public information does not necessarily mean Crawford has no children. It simply means that his parental status has not been confirmed through trustworthy reporting.
For now, information about possible children remains private.
Kitan Crawford’s Parents: Meet His Mother and Stepfather
Kitan Crawford’s publicly identified parental figures are Natika Johnson and Eric Johnson.
The University of Nevada’s official football biography confirms that Natika Johnson is his mother and Eric Johnson is his stepfather.
The university also included their names in its February 2024 announcement introducing Crawford as part of Nevada’s incoming football class.
Kitan Crawford’s Mother: Natika Johnson
Natika Johnson is Kitan Crawford’s mother.
Her identity is confirmed in the University of Nevada’s official athletics records, which provide details about Crawford’s family background and college football career.
Crawford grew up in Tyler, Texas, where he developed into a nationally recognized high school football prospect.
Although Natika is publicly identified as his mother, she has maintained a relatively private profile.
Reliable sports publications have not extensively documented her occupation, educational background or professional career.
Similarly, detailed accounts of her involvement in Crawford’s childhood football training and recruitment are not widely available through independently verified interviews.
Her name nevertheless remains part of his official college football biography, establishing their family relationship.
As of now, Natika Johnson is the only parent whose identity is explicitly confirmed as a biological parent in the official biographical sources reviewed.
Kitan Crawford’s Stepfather: Eric Johnson
Eric Johnson is Kitan Crawford’s stepfather, according to the University of Nevada.
His name appears alongside Natika Johnson in Crawford’s official college football biography.
Eric is therefore a confirmed member of the Arizona Cardinals player’s immediate family.
However, information about his professional career, education and personal background remains limited.
There are also no sufficiently detailed firsthand interviews establishing his specific involvement in Crawford’s athletic development.
Because Eric Johnson is a relatively common name, individuals with the same name should not be assumed to be related to the NFL player without reliable evidence.
As of now, Nevada’s official athletics records provide the clearest confirmation of his relationship to Crawford.
Kitan Crawford’s Biological Father: Who Is His Dad?
The identity of Kitan Crawford’s biological father has not been reliably established in the official player biographies and major sports publications reviewed for this article.
While the University of Nevada identifies Natika Johnson as Crawford’s mother and Eric Johnson as his stepfather, its biography does not name his biological father.
The Arizona Cardinals’ official player biography also does not provide information identifying his father.
Consequently, there is insufficient verified evidence to establish his father’s name, occupation or personal background.
The available information also does not explain his biological father’s involvement in his upbringing.
It would therefore be inappropriate to speculate about their relationship or identify another individual as his father without reliable confirmation.
Kitan Crawford’s Siblings: Does He Have Brothers or Sisters?
Kitan Crawford’s brothers and sisters have not been reliably identified in publicly accessible official player biographies or major sports interviews.
Although the University of Nevada provides the names of his mother and stepfather, its biography does not list siblings.
Similarly, the University of Texas and Arizona Cardinals do not provide a verified breakdown of the Crawford household.
As of now, it remains unclear whether Crawford has biological brothers, sisters, half-siblings or stepsiblings.
Does Kitan Crawford Have a Brother?
There is no sufficiently verified public information identifying a brother of Kitan Crawford.
While Crawford has played alongside numerous athletes at Texas, Nevada and Arizona, those football relationships should not be confused with biological family connections.
Official team biographies do not establish whether he has any brothers.
Does Kitan Crawford Have a Sister?
Likewise, no sister has been reliably identified in the public sources reviewed.
Crawford has maintained a relatively private personal life, and established sports publications have not provided a complete account of his siblings.
Therefore, the number and identities of any sisters remain unconfirmed.
Is Kitan Crawford Related to Patrick Mahomes?
Yes. Kitan Crawford is a second cousin of Patrick Mahomes, the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback and multiple-time Super Bowl champion.
The relationship is confirmed in Crawford’s official Arizona Cardinals player biography.
Mahomes is one of the most accomplished quarterbacks of his generation, having established himself as a central figure in Kansas City’s success.
His family connection to Crawford became a subject of interest during the 2025 NFL Draft process.
Patrick Mahomes Celebrated Kitan Crawford’s NFL Combine Performance
During the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, Crawford demonstrated his exceptional athleticism by recording a 4.41-second 40-yard dash.
His performance attracted attention from football analysts and NFL fans.
Mahomes publicly acknowledged Crawford’s achievement on social media, referring to the defensive back as his younger cousin.
The gesture drew attention to their family relationship as Crawford prepared for the NFL Draft.
Although they play different positions, both athletes have demonstrated the athletic abilities needed to compete at the professional level.
Kitan Crawford and Patrick Mahomes’ NFL Connection
When the Arizona Cardinals selected Crawford in April 2025, the organization highlighted his relationship with Mahomes.
During his introductory interview after the draft, Crawford was asked about his famous cousin.
He explained that he had received numerous messages following his selection and expected to hear from Mahomes.
The two players subsequently had an opportunity to compete against each other during the 2025 NFL preseason, when Arizona faced Kansas City.
In August 2025, the Cardinals published an interview in which Crawford discussed his preseason experience and playing against his cousin.
The matchup created a notable family connection between the Cardinals and Chiefs.
Although Arizona’s official biography identifies Mahomes as Crawford’s second cousin, it does not provide a complete family tree explaining which ancestors connect them.
Kitan Crawford’s Childhood and Family Background
Kitan Crawford was born on December 31, 2001, in Tyler, Texas.
He grew up in East Texas, a region with a strong high school football tradition.
Crawford attended John Tyler High School, where he developed into an accomplished athlete capable of contributing on both offense and defense.
His speed and versatility made him particularly effective as a running back and cornerback.
He also demonstrated an ability to contribute on special teams, a skill that would later become an important part of his NFL career.
During his junior season in 2018, Crawford helped John Tyler achieve a 10-3 record and reach the Texas Class 5A Division I state quarterfinals.
He recorded 30 tackles, two interceptions and 12 passes defended while contributing on offense.
His performances attracted attention from several major college football programs.
Kitan Crawford’s High School Football Achievements
During his senior season in 2019, Crawford became one of the leading high school football prospects in Texas.
He rushed for 1,065 yards and 12 touchdowns on 120 carries while adding 21 receptions for 287 yards and another touchdown.
On defense, he recorded 33 tackles, three interceptions, a fumble recovery and a blocked punt.
His performances earned him first-team All-District 7-5A Division I recognition as both a running back and cornerback.
He was also selected to participate in the 2020 Under Armour All-America Game.
ESPN ranked him among the country’s leading prospects in the 2020 recruiting class.
After evaluating scholarship opportunities, Crawford committed to the University of Texas, allowing him to continue his education and football career in his home state.
Kitan Crawford’s College Football Career at Texas
Kitan Crawford joined the Texas Longhorns football program in 2020.
He spent four seasons with the university, appearing in 46 games and developing into a versatile contributor in the defensive secondary and on special teams.
During his freshman season, he participated in all 10 games, recording seven tackles and one tackle for loss.
His responsibilities gradually expanded over the following seasons.
In 2022, Crawford recorded 25 tackles and two passes defended while making his first college start against Kansas State.
He also blocked a field goal against TCU, demonstrating the special-teams abilities that would become a defining characteristic of his career.
His final season at Texas in 2023 included 24 tackles, an interception and a blocked punt.
He recorded his first college interception during the Big 12 Championship Game against Oklahoma State.
His contributions helped Texas win the conference championship and reach the College Football Playoff semifinals.
Crawford earned honorable mention Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year recognition following the season.
He also completed a bachelor’s degree in Sports Studies at Texas.
Why Kitan Crawford Transferred to Nevada
After four seasons at Texas, Crawford entered the NCAA transfer portal in January 2024.
He subsequently joined the University of Nevada for his final college football season.
The move provided an opportunity to take on a larger defensive role while continuing to demonstrate his abilities on special teams.
During the 2024 season, Crawford started 12 of Nevada’s 13 games.
He led the Wolf Pack with 76 tackles and recorded three tackles for loss, two interceptions, seven passes defended, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
One of his most memorable performances occurred against Oregon State on October 12, 2024.
During the game, he returned an interception 52 yards for a touchdown, providing Nevada’s only defensive touchdown of the season.
He also recorded a career-high 11 tackles against Air Force in November.
His performances earned honorable mention All-Mountain West recognition.
The successful season helped Crawford improve his NFL Draft prospects.
Kitan Crawford’s NFL Career With the Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals selected Kitan Crawford in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft with the 225th overall pick.
His selection made him the first player from the University of Nevada ever drafted by the Cardinals.
The organization was particularly interested in his versatility, speed and extensive special-teams experience.
Across his college career, Crawford participated in more than 1,000 special-teams snaps.
At the NFL Scouting Combine, he recorded a 4.41-second 40-yard dash and a 41.5-inch vertical jump.
These athletic measurements helped demonstrate his potential as a professional defensive back.
During his rookie season in 2025, Crawford appeared in 15 games and made one start.
He contributed on defense and special teams, recording 20 combined tackles according to Arizona’s official season statistics.
He also blocked an extra-point attempt and played 316 special-teams snaps, ranking sixth among NFL rookies in that category.
Crawford continued with the Arizona Cardinals in 2026, although an ankle injury interrupted his season.
After spending time on injured reserve, he returned to Arizona’s active roster in October 2026.
As of now, he remains a member of the Cardinals, wearing jersey number 36.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kitan Crawford’s Family
Who is Kitan Crawford’s wife?
As of now, there is no verified public confirmation that Kitan Crawford is married. His marital status remains private.
Does Kitan Crawford have a girlfriend?
Kitan Crawford has not publicly identified a current girlfriend through reliable interviews or official sources.
Does Kitan Crawford have children?
There is no verified public information confirming that Kitan Crawford has a son or daughter.
Who is Kitan Crawford’s mother?
His mother is Natika Johnson, whose name is confirmed by the University of Nevada’s official football biography.
Who is Kitan Crawford’s father?
The identity of his biological father has not been reliably established. His publicly identified stepfather is Eric Johnson.
Who is Kitan Crawford’s stepfather?
His stepfather is Eric Johnson, according to official University of Nevada athletics records.
Does Kitan Crawford have siblings?
The names and number of Kitan Crawford’s biological brothers or sisters have not been reliably established through public sources.
Is Kitan Crawford related to Patrick Mahomes?
Yes. Patrick Mahomes, the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback, is Kitan Crawford’s second cousin, according to the Arizona Cardinals.
Where is Kitan Crawford from?
Kitan Crawford is from Tyler, Texas, where he attended John Tyler High School before playing college football.
When was Kitan Crawford born?
Kitan Crawford was born on December 31, 2001, in Tyler, Texas.
What colleges did Kitan Crawford attend?
He attended the University of Texas from 2020 through 2023 before transferring to the University of Nevada for the 2024 season.
What NFL team does Kitan Crawford play for?
As of now, Kitan Crawford plays safety for the Arizona Cardinals, who selected him in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Valentim Tereshkova is a sports journalist and NFL analyst specializing in team dynamics, scheme breakdowns, and league-wide trends. Covering everything from offseason roster construction and Draft developments to Sunday game plans and Super Bowl contenders, he delivers clear, sharp commentary on the gridiron. Valentim combines stat-driven analysis with a passion for football storytelling to give readers an expert look into the AFC and NFC.
