The Las Vegas Raiders star defensive end continues to play an integral role in Eastern Michigan football.
It’s been an eventful offseason for Maxx Crosby.
The Las Vegas Raiders star defensive end signed a three-year, $106.5 million extension with $91.5 million guaranteed in early March, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
Showered with two All-Pro selections, four Pro Bowl nods, and a record-breaking amount of money for his position, one thing has always remained a constant in Crosby’s life — his dedication to his roots. The Eastern Michigan alum wrote a $1 million check to his alma mater last offseason to renovate Rynearson Stadium, and now the field is named Crosby Field in recognition of Maxx and his wife Rachel.
Now, Crosby is furthering his contributions to Eastern Michigan as an official member of the athletics staff. He was named Assistant General Manager of the football team on April 14. Per Eastern Michigan Athletics, he “will assist with evaluating high school and transfer portal prospects and help manage the team’s NIL/revenue share budget” and “serve as a Special Assistant to the Athletic Director on fundraising, alumni relations, and student-athlete support.”
General managers and assistant general managers are a new trend in college football with the ever-expending realm of NIL. In recent weeks, it has become commonplace for active pro athletes to accept assistant general manager roles at their alma maters. Oklahoma named Atlanta Hawks star point guard Trae Young assistant manager of its basketball team, while Florida State provided the same role to fellow Atlanta Hawk shooting guard Terance Mann. Crosby is the first active NFL player to follow this trend.
As part of the announcement to the new position, Crosby also declared he would match any donation to Eastern Michigan football up to $100,000 through the end of May. Other Crosby-influenced changes were made to the football team as a result of his influence. The weakside defensive end position formerly known as the “LEO” is now called the “MAXX” — the same position where Crosby racked up 20.0 sacks and two All-MAC selections as an Eagle. Additionally, his number 92 will be worn by the team’s top pass rusher on an annual basis, creating a new tradition for Eastern Michigan.
“There is no place more important to my personal and athletic development than Eastern Michigan University,” Crosby said in a statement published by the university. “It truly is an honor for me to not only be named the Assistant GM of the EMU, but together with my wife Rachel, make another donation aimed at creating opportunities for other athletes to be impacted by the EMU program, community, students and alumni.”