Maxx Crosby Bio
Maxx Robert Crosby is an American professional football defensive end for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Eastern Michigan Eagles and was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL draft. Crosby has established himself as a premier pass rusher in the league, earning multiple Pro Bowl selections and All-Pro honors. Known for his intense playing style and resilience, he has become a fan favorite and a key player for the Raiders.
Early Life and Background
Maxx Robert Crosby was born on August 22, 1997, in Lapeer, Michigan, and later moved to Colleyville, Texas, during his adolescence. The distinctive spelling of his first name reflects his size at birth, when he weighed 11 pounds and 9 ounces. He attended Colleyville Heritage High School in Colleyville, Texas, where he began to attract attention as a promising football prospect.
Crosby’s mother, Vera Crosby, is of Serbian and Albanian origin. Asked about his Serbian roots on his Instagram account, Crosby replied with “najbolji smo, najjaci,” Serbian for “we are the best, we are the strongest,” and added an eagle emoticon. The eagle reference connects to the Serbian national sports teams and their supporter groups, and reflects the cultural pride he carries into his professional career.
Path to American Football
Crosby played college football at Eastern Michigan University from 2015 to 2018. Eastern Michigan was the only college football program to offer him a scholarship, making the opportunity especially significant for his development. He earned first-team All-MAC honors in both 2017 and 2018, establishing himself as one of the conference’s top defensive players.
His strong college resume led to his selection by the Oakland Raiders in the fourth round, 106th overall, of the 2019 NFL draft. Crosby’s transition from a lightly recruited high school player to a professional pass rusher reflects both his work ethic and the physical tools he developed during his time at Eastern Michigan.
Maxx Crosby Career
Early Career (2019–2020)
Crosby made his NFL debut in Week 1 of the 2019 season against the Denver Broncos, recording six tackles in a 24–16 win. In Week 5 against the Chicago Bears, he recorded his first career sack on Chase Daniel during a 24–21 victory. His most dramatic rookie moment came in Week 11 against the Cincinnati Bengals, when Crosby sacked Ryan Finley four times, including a strip sack recovered by Maurice Hurst Jr., earning AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. His four sacks set a franchise record for the most by a rookie in a single game and were the most by a Raider since Khalil Mack in 2015.
Crosby finished his rookie season with ten sacks, 47 total tackles, four passes defended, and four forced fumbles. In 2020, he began the year on the reserve/COVID-19 list before being activated in mid-August. He recorded his first two sacks of the season on Cam Newton in a Week 3 loss to the New England Patriots, and his first sack of Patrick Mahomes in a Week 5 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Crosby closed the year with seven sacks, 39 tackles, and a memorable Week 17 performance in which he blocked two field goals against the Broncos, earning AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.
NFL Breakthrough (2021–2022)
In 2021, Crosby elevated his game with a strong Week 1 performance against the Baltimore Ravens that included two sacks and earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week. He set personal bests in passes defended and quarterback hits, finishing with 30 quarterback hits to lead the Raiders. His play earned him second-team All-Pro honors from the Associated Press, and he was ranked 59th on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2022.
On March 11, 2022, the second anniversary of becoming sober, Crosby signed a four-year, $98.98 million contract extension with the Raiders. That season, he produced a career-high 12.5 sacks, 89 total tackles, four passes defended, and three forced fumbles, while leading the NFL with 22 tackles for loss. He was named a 2022 Pro Bowler and ranked 17th on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2023, confirming his status among the league’s elite pass rushers.
Las Vegas Raiders Era (2023–Present)
Crosby continued his ascent in 2023, recording four tackles for loss against the Green Bay Packers in Week 5, a league-best that week, and earning AFC Defensive Player of the Week. He closed the season with 14.5 sacks, 90 total tackles, two passes defended, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery, tying for the league lead with 23 tackles for loss. His performance earned Pro Bowl honors and a tenth-place ranking on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2024.
In 2024, Crosby was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his two-sack game against the Baltimore Ravens in a 26–23 win. He battled an ankle injury throughout the season that ultimately required surgery and ended his year early, but he still finished tied with T. J. Watt for the league lead with 17 tackles for loss. On March 5, 2025, Crosby signed a three-year, $106.5 million contract extension with $91.5 million guaranteed, making him the NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback at the time.
Driving Style and Strengths
Crosby is recognized for his relentless motor, hand technique, and ability to disrupt plays in both the run and pass game. Since 2019, his 324 pressures lead the NFL by 40 over the next-closest player, Nick Bosa, underscoring his consistency as a pass rusher. His combination of power and quickness has made him equally effective against the run and as a tackler for loss, allowing him to influence games in multiple ways.
Notable Events and Milestones
Crosby’s four-sack performance against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2019 remains one of the defining moments of his early career, setting franchise records and earning league-wide recognition. He has since added multiple AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors, Pro Bowl selections from 2021 through 2025, and second-team All-Pro nods in 2021 and 2023. His 2025 contract extension further cemented his place among the top defensive players in football.
Maxx Crosby Career Wins
While Crosby’s value is measured primarily in pressures, sacks, and tackles for loss rather than traditional win totals, he has produced several landmark performances across his NFL career. His rookie-year four-sack game, multiple AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors, and consistent double-digit sack seasons have defined his resume. The following sections outline his series-level accomplishments and career statistics.
NFL Career Highlights
Crosby has recorded double-digit sack totals in multiple seasons, including 10 sacks as a rookie in 2019, a career-high 14.5 sacks in 2023, and 12.5 sacks in 2022. He led the NFL in tackles for loss in both 2022 and 2023, and tied for the league lead in 2024. His career pressures total of 324 since 2019 leads the league by a wide margin and reflects his sustained excellence as a pass rusher.
Other Performances
At the college level, Crosby was a two-time first-team All-MAC selection in 2017 and 2018 at Eastern Michigan, the only program to offer him a scholarship. He was inducted into Eastern Michigan’s Ring of Honor in 2023 and had the playing field at Rynearson Stadium renamed “Crosby Field” in 2024 following a $1 million donation to the program.
Maxx Crosby Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Crosby was raised by his mother, Vera Crosby, whose Serbian and Albanian heritage has played an important role in his cultural identity. His unusual first-name spelling reflects the size and personality he showed from the moment he was born. While he does not come from a multi-generational football family, his mother’s support and cultural pride have shaped his public persona.
Personal Life
In March 2020, Crosby checked into rehab for alcoholism, a turning point he has openly discussed. He became engaged to Rachel Washburn in February 2022, and the couple welcomed their first child on October 13, 2022. Crosby and Washburn married on March 4, 2023, in Nevada, and in 2023 he tattooed his chest with the words “Be Legendary” alongside portraits of Muhammad Ali, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, and an image of his daughter as an infant.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, Crosby signed a three-year, $106.5 million contract extension on March 5, 2025, with $91.5 million guaranteed, making him the NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback at the time. The deal reflects both his production and his importance to the Las Vegas Raiders’ defensive scheme. His return from ankle surgery will be a central storyline as the Raiders look to build momentum around their star pass rusher.
After tying for the league lead with 17 tackles for loss in 2024 despite missing time late in the year, Crosby enters 2025 with realistic expectations for another Pro Bowl-caliber season. He has now been named to the Pro Bowl in each of the past five seasons, from 2021 through 2025, and has set a personal standard of double-digit sack production. The Raiders’ defensive outlook depends heavily on his ability to stay healthy and maintain his league-leading pressure rate.
On April 14, 2025, Crosby was hired as the assistant general manager of the Eastern Michigan football program, becoming the first active NFL player to hold a college football personnel position. His growing influence in player development adds another dimension to his professional profile as he balances his playing career with off-field leadership.