Northcutt was born in Los Angeles, California. He attended Washington High School in Los Angeles, then transferred to Dorsey High School in Los Angeles, California, and was a student and a letterman in football and track helping the Dons win the CIF LA 4-A CITY Football Championship. In football, as a senior, he was named the City Player of the Year, and made 74 rushing attempts for 900 yards and 23 touchdowns.
College career
He attended the University of Arizona, where he played for the Arizona Wildcats football team from 1996 to 1999. He earned recognition as one of the best receivers and returners in Wildcats history, catching 223 passes for 3,252 yards. Only two other Pac-10 players have had more receptions and receiving yards in their careers. Northcutt also caught passes in 43 straight games, a conference record. In his senior year, he set an Arizona records with 88 receptions for 1,422 yards. His punt-return average that year of 19 yards per return was second in the nation. As a senior in 1999, he was recognized a consensus first-team All-American as an "all-purpose" athlete.
The Cleveland Browns chose Northcutt in the second round of the 2000 NFL Draft. After a good rookie season and an injury-plagued second one, he established himself as one of the team's most important weapons in 2002. He led the team that year with eight touchdowns, including two on punt returns, and finished third in the league with a 14.7 yard punt return average. According to Football Outsiders, Northcutt's 2002 season is the most efficient season, play-for-play, of any wide receiver from 1991-2011, even though Northcutt caught a modest 38 passes. Despite his efficiency, Northcutt’s 2002 season is most memorable for a critical drop on third down in the Browns playoff matchup against the rival Pittsburgh Steelers. In 2003, Northcutt led the Browns with 62 receptions, and in 2004, he led the Browns with 55 receptions. Northcutt left the Browns as the 10th best receiver in Browns history with 276 catches for 3,438 yards and 9 touchdowns. He was a good punt returner for the Browns, finishing his stint there with 202 returns for 2,149 yards. Three of his returns went for touchdowns, though seven were called back due to penalties. He holds the record for most punt return yardage in Browns history. On March 4, 2007, Northcutt signed a five-year, $17 million deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an unrestricted free agent. Signing with a different team gave him the opportunity to start out fresh. He quickly rose to the top of the WR depth chart in his first season with the team. During his first year on the team, he placed second on the team in both receptions and yards receiving, and finished tied for second on the team in touchdown receptions. He also served as an occasional punt returner during the season. On June 26, 2009, he was traded to the Detroit Lions in exchange for Safety Gerald Alexander. Northcutt played in all 16 games of the 2009 season for the Lions, starting in two games. On September 5, 2010, Northcutt was waived in the Lions' final cuts before the start of the regular season. He has since joined a recreational flag football league at the North Ave turf fields.
