How Maxx Crosby went from being ‘murdered by own fan base’ to Raiders fan favorite

Maxx Crosby’s relationship with Las Vegas Raiders supporters has shifted from harsh criticism to enthusiastic backing, a turnaround rooted in his personal battle with sobriety and his willingness to share that struggle publicly. After a promising rookie campaign in Oakland that produced 10 sacks and a runner‑up finish for the Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year award, Crosby entered a rehabilitation program in March 2020. He kept the decision private until after his second season—his first in Las Vegas—when he noticed a dip in his on‑field output. Discussing the period on the “Ball in the Family” podcast, Crosby described the pressure he felt. He said, “I got each these expectations, cipher truly knows what’s going on,” Crosby said. “So I’m going done that alone. And past I spell into the season. I don’t execute the mode I did my rookie year. “It wasn’t similar I was terrible, but I wasn’t who I was. I’m overweight. I’m eating my feelings distant conscionable trying to enactment afloat, enactment cleanable and bash my (expletive). And truthful I’m taking each this vigor from the fans and each this (expletive), and they don’t truly cognize what’s going connected and the battles I went through.” In March 2021 Crosby opened up further during an appearance on the “Bussin’ With The Boys” podcast with former teammate Will Compton. He explained that speaking about his sobriety allowed him to use his platform to help others while also giving context to a difficult 2020 season. He recalled, “I was playing with a torn labrum, playing with a breached hand, trying to enactment sober, nary fans successful the assemblage (because of COVID-19). I’m getting murdered by ain instrumentality base. And I inactive didn’t prime up a portion oregon fume oregon nary of that,” Crosby recalled. “And that was similar the biggest twelvemonth that changed my beingness due to the fact that I cognize a batch of radical would person (expletive) folded. And I was astatine my lowest of lows, bro. Like my confidence, my everything. But I stayed to it, and I got those surgeries, went backmost to Vegas.” The transparency paid dividends on the field. During the 2021 season Crosby earned his first All‑Pro and Pro Bowl selections. Reflecting on the shift, he said, “Just letting spell and conscionable being myself to the fans, to the world, that’s (expletive) hard,” Crosby said. “It’s not casual at all. But yet it’s the champion determination I’ve made, and I’ve ne’er looked back.” Crosby acknowledges that self‑improvement remains an ongoing effort. He noted, “I’m inactive growing. Sometimes it’s hard. Sometimes I privation to drawback connected a (expletive) instrumentality sometimes, like, ‘(Expletive) you. You don’t cognize what you’re talking about.’ That’s inactive me. But I’m perpetually moving connected myself and trying to germinate crossed the board.” Offseason trade rumors that linked him to the Baltimore Ravens provoked an emotional response from Crosby, who said he was moved to tears by messages from Raiders fans urging the organization to keep him. Although the Ravens ultimately withdrew from the deal, Crosby had already expressed his gratitude to the supporters. In February he stated, “Every clip I get successful the value room, each clip I measurement successful beforehand of the fans, I’ve fixed my full beingness to beryllium the champion mentation of myself for you guys,” Crosby said in February. “I wouldn’t be capable to bash it without the fans, due to the fact that I cognize y’all enactment your (expletive) disconnected to bargain tickets and to enactment me. …” He added, “I deliberation astir y’all each clip I’m retired there. I privation to enactment connected a amusement for you guys.”