Maxx Crosby Bio
Maxx Robert Crosby, born on August 22, 1997, is an American professional football defensive end for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League. 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 moved to Colleyville, Texas during adolescence. The spelling of his first name comes from how large he was at birth, weighing 11 pounds 9 ounces. Crosby attended Colleyville Heritage High School in Colleyville, Texas, where he developed into a highly recruited defensive prospect.
Crosby’s mother, Vera, is of Serbian and Albanian origin. When 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.” He added an eagle emoticon, the Eagles being a nickname both for the Serbian national sports teams and for their supporter groups.
Path to American Football
Crosby played college football at Eastern Michigan from 2015 to 2018, where he was the only scholarship offer he received from a college football program. Despite being lightly recruited, he quickly proved himself at the Mid-American Conference level, earning first-team All-MAC honors in both 2017 and 2018.
His production at Eastern Michigan drew the attention of NFL scouts, and in 2019 he was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the fourth round with the 106th overall pick. Crosby was later inducted into Eastern Michigan’s Ring of Honor in 2023, and in 2024 the playing field at Rynearson Stadium was renamed “Crosby Field” following a $1 million donation to the program from Crosby.
Maxx Crosby Career
Early Career (2019)
Crosby made his NFL debut in the 2019 season opener against the Denver Broncos, recording six tackles in a 24–16 victory. During Week 5 against the Chicago Bears, he recorded his first career sack on Chase Daniel in a 24–21 win. His breakout moment came in Week 11 against the Cincinnati Bengals, when he sacked Ryan Finley four times, including a strip sack recovered by teammate Maurice Hurst Jr., earning AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. He finished his rookie year with 10 sacks, 47 total tackles, four passes defended, and four forced fumbles.
Las Vegas Raiders Breakthrough (2020–2022)
In 2020, Crosby battled injuries and a stint on the reserve/COVID-19 list but still contributed seven sacks, including his first two sacks of the season on Cam Newton against the New England Patriots. He also blocked two field goals against the Denver Broncos in Week 17, earning AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. In 2021, Crosby set personal bests with 7 passes defended and a team-leading 30 quarterback hits, earning second-team All-Pro honors from the Associated Press.
On March 11, 2022, the second anniversary of becoming sober, Crosby signed a four-year, $98.98 million contract extension with the Raiders. He responded with a career-high 12.5 sacks and 89 total tackles, leading the NFL with 22 tackles for loss, and was named a 2022 Pro Bowler. Crosby was ranked 17th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2023.
Las Vegas Raiders Era (2023–Present)
In 2023, Crosby posted 14.5 sacks, 90 total tackles, two forced fumbles, and tied for the league lead with 23 tackles for loss, earning Pro Bowl honors for the third consecutive season. He was ranked 10th on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2024. The 2024 season was cut short by an ankle injury that required surgery, but Crosby still finished with 7.5 sacks and tied 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 and an average salary of $35.5 million per year, making him the NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback at the time. He finished the 2025 season with 10 sacks, 73 tackles, two forced fumbles, six passes defensed, and his first career interception, earning his fifth straight Pro Bowl nod.
Driving Style and Strengths
Crosby is widely regarded as one of the most relentless pass rushers in the NFL, combining high-end athleticism with exceptional effort on every snap. Since 2019, his 324 pressures are 40 more than the next-closest player, Nick Bosa, illustrating his consistent disruption of opposing quarterbacks. His strength lies in his motor, his hand technique, and his ability to impact both the passing and running games.
Notable Events and Milestones
Crosby recorded four sacks against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2019, the most by a rookie in franchise history. He earned multiple AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors across his career, and in 2023 he became the first active NFL player to hold a college football personnel position when he was hired as assistant general manager for Eastern Michigan.
Maxx Crosby Career Wins
Maxx Robert Crosby has built a decorated NFL resume highlighted by two second-team All-Pro selections and five consecutive Pro Bowl nods from 2021 through 2025. He has also earned two first-team All-MAC honors during his time at Eastern Michigan.
Las Vegas Raiders Highlights
Across his time with the Oakland and Las Vegas Raiders, Crosby has accumulated 69.5 career sacks, 439 total tackles, 11 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, 29 pass deflections, and 1 interception. His single-game high of four sacks came in 2019, and he has posted double-digit sack totals in multiple seasons, including 14.5 in 2023 and 12.5 in 2022.
Other Wins and Performances
At Eastern Michigan, Crosby was a two-time first-team All-MAC selection and was later inducted into the school’s Ring of Honor. He also became a minority shareholder in the Premier League soccer club Leeds United, expanding his presence in the sports world beyond football.
Maxx Crosby Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Crosby’s mother, Vera, is of Serbian and Albanian origin, and he has openly expressed pride in his Serbian heritage on social media. He has credited his family for supporting his football career from his early days in Michigan through his high school years in Texas.
Personal Life
In March 2020, Crosby checked into rehab for alcoholism and has since spoken openly about his sobriety journey. In February 2022, he got engaged to Rachel Washburn, and the couple welcomed their first child, a son, on October 13, 2022. Crosby and Washburn were married in Nevada on March 4, 2023.
2025 Season Performance
Maxx Robert Crosby entered the 2025 season fresh off a record-setting contract extension that made him the NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback. He opened the year as a cornerstone of the Raiders’ defense, leading the team in sacks, tackles for loss, forced fumbles, and passes defensed through 15 starts. He also recorded his first career interception, adding a new dimension to his game.
Crosby earned his fifth consecutive Pro Bowl selection, cementing his status among the league’s elite pass rushers. He finished the season with 10 sacks and 73 tackles, but on December 27, he was placed on injured reserve, with reports suggesting offseason meniscus surgery as a possibility. His leadership and production remained central to the Raiders’ defensive identity throughout the campaign.
Looking ahead, Crosby’s future with the Raiders is uncertain following a March 2026 trade agreement with the Baltimore Ravens that was mutually voided after he failed his physical. With his contract running through 2028, his next chapter will be a major storyline for both Crosby and the league.
