The Las Vegas Raiders took a bit of a gamble when they selected Maxx Crosby in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Crosby wasn’t a highly-touted recruit, and his only collegiate offer came from Eastern Michigan, though he worked hard to get drafted. However, there were still concerns about his lack of size, speed and technique at the league level.
Not only did Crosby get dinged for his physical traits, he was fighting his own demons as he struggled with alcoholism. However, the 26-year-old eventually checked himself into rehab and, once he returned, turned into the defensive star he is today.
Crosby has been open about his addiction, and he opened up about how hard it was for him and how far he’s come via Patrick Andres of Sports Illustrated:
“Easily the biggest thing is overcoming addiction,” Crosby said when asked about the biggest hurdle he’d had to overcome in his professional career. “I’ve been sober for over three years now.”
The Raiders defensive end is a highly-motivated individual who can get himself going, but he also leans a lot on his family. Crosby discussed the tattoo he has of his daughter and what it means to him:
“(My tattoo) means a lot. I obviously got my daughter on my chest,” Crosby said. “I’m a very visual person and I like to work for it on a daily basis. I just don’t talk about it. I chase relentlessly.”
Football fans love a good underdog story, and Crosby is an inspiration to numerous people across the nation for how he was able to better himself and develop into the person he is today. There’s never any way of knowing what someone is going through, so Crosby’s openness about his past demons is a good reminder that change can happen if you put the time and effort in.
Las Vegas has to be happy and proud of Crosby, and the team has greatly benefited from having him on the roster. The Raiders may still be a few pieces away from competing for a Super Bowl, but they’ve definitely got a foundational piece in Crosby.
