From 'crappy hotel' to Cleveland return: Kicker Cade York back with Browns a changed man

CLEVELAND — Rock bottom doesn't have a set address. It's typically wherever one is when they finally get to that place.

Browns kicker Cade York knows exactly where rock bottom was located for him when he found it last December.

“Yeah, that was in East Rutherford, New Jersey," York said after the Browns' 23-10 preseason loss to the Green Bay Packers . "My crappy hotel.”

At the time, York was a kicker for the New York Giants, the third organization he had been with that season. He had started with the Browns, who cut him after a rocky preseason , and then landed on the Tennessee Titans practice squad before the Giants signed him in November.

However, on this day, York was on injured reserve, his season ended by a quad injury right about the time he was supposed to get his shot kicking for the Giants in a Christmas game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Instead of kicking in his first game of the season, he found himself in a crossroads moment in life.

"I was supposed to play, and it was all on the TV and I made my mom turn it off," York said. "I was like, I don't want to watch this crap. And then that whole week I was just pretty dark and gloomy, just kind of wallowing in my own self pity. And then had this moment in my hotel room where I was eating, and the food did not taste good. It wasn't a bad food. I was just in such a bad mood, and I got so angry that I actually just like started kind of trashing my room."

That was the moment when York's plummet turned into his climb. It's the point when the Browns' 2022 fourth-round pick out of LSU fully submitted himself to a whole new worldview.

York admits it was like a power beyond him took control.

"I was throwing my crap around, just kind of started yelling at God and just kind of got pulled to my knees out of nowhere, started praying and just like, all right, God can't do anymore," York said. "I got to surrender it all. Take my career, take my finances, take any addictions, take any relationships, take it all from me. I can't do it anymore. I just remember kind of opening my eyes and being like, that was weird. I had this crazy feeling of just God taking this weight off of me."

It wasn't as if York hadn't spoken of his religion during his first stint in Cleveland. However, it was in that moment in his hotel room that he knew it was only through a recommitment to his faith that there would be a pathway back to kicking in the NFL.

York first connected with former Giants punter Steve Weatherford, who runs a ministry in Dallas, near York's hometown of Prosper, Texas. Then, a couple of months later, he was reconnected with Browns general manager Andrew Berry, who first made him an NFL kicker.

Just months earlier, on Aug. 27, Berry had cut York after a preseason that featured missed or blocked game-winners in the Browns' final two exhibitions. Now, in late March, he was signing the kicker to a futures contract .

"Yeah, this offseason was crazy getting healthy and it kind of just was at the worst time when it came to signing with teams and working out," York said. "I just couldn't do it for a few months or for a month or two after season. And so kind of lost out on a lot of opportunities. Doors closed when I didn't think they were.

"And then the door opened up back in Cleveland, and I don't know what it was but prayed about it, felt like God was calling me back here for both on the field and off the field things."

York had last kicked at Cleveland Browns Stadium on Aug. 11 of last season, in the Browns' preseason game against the Washington Commanders. On Saturday, 364 days later, he was once again in the place he called home for a little more than a year.

There was only one real opportunity for York in the loss to the Packers, but he made sure he was successful with that chance: A 55-yard field goal with 8:46 remaining in the first quarter to pull the Browns within 7-3. He later made the PAT after Aidan Robbins' 1-yard touchdown run that provided the final margin.

All in all, a quiet afternoon for York. Then again, considering the roller-coaster ride that was his first go-around in Cleveland — from a 58-yard season-opening game-winner his rookie year at Carolina to that final blocked go-ahead kick in Kansas City last August — it's quite the change for York.

It's also a changed York, though.

"I feel that way," York said. "Very thankful to be here. Definitely. Whatever God brings my way, I know it's for my good. Romans 8:28: 'And we know that all things work together for the good of those who love the Lord are called according to his purpose for them.' So just trying to live that out."

Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: From 'crappy hotel' to Cleveland return: Kicker Cade York back with Browns a changed man