Maxx Crosby Returns to Eastern Michigan as Assistant GM Amid NFL Career

YPSILANTI, Mich. — Eastern Michigan University announced the hiring of Maxx Crosby, a standout defensive end for the Las Vegas Raiders, as its new assistant general manager on April 14, 2025. This groundbreaking appointment makes Crosby the first player in the school’s history to hold such a position while still active in the NFL.

Crosby, who will continue playing for the Raiders, expressed excitement about his dual role, announcing via social media his desire to attract the best edge rushers to Eastern Michigan. “This one goes out to the absolute best Edge Rushers in all of college football! I want you at Eastern Michigan!” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

As part of this initiative, the Eagles are renaming their weakside defensive end position to “The MAXX,” with the player occupying this role wearing the No. 92, which Crosby wore during his college career. Crosby is expected to be heavily involved in recruiting and coaching players in this position.

“There is no place more important to my personal and athletic development than Eastern Michigan University,” said Crosby. “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.”

A Lapeer, Michigan, native, Crosby played college football for Eastern Michigan from 2015 to 2018. He was a fourth-round pick for the Raiders in 2019 and has since earned four Pro Bowl selections. Most recently, he signed a three-year, $106.5 million contract, becoming the NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback at that time.

In a show of commitment to his alma mater, Crosby, along with his wife Rachel, a former soccer player at Eastern Michigan, donated $1 million to the EMU athletics department on October 30, 2023.

Head coach Chris Creighton praised Crosby’s return to the program, calling it a “full-circle moment.” Creighton highlighted Crosby’s passion for mentoring players, saying, “It’s always special when former players return to be part of our staff. He has already positively impacted our program, and now we’re taking it to another level. How many people have a position named after them? That’s got to be a first.”

Creighton has been leading the Eagles since 2014, guiding them to six bowl game appearances, a notable improvement for a program that had only seen one bowl game in its history before his arrival. The coaching staff at Eastern Michigan is optimistic about the future with Crosby’s involvement.