Maxx Crosby in action for the Raiders (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Las Vegas Raiders star Maxx Crosby is making one thing very clear — he wants to win.Â
The 28-year-old defensive end is entering his seventh season, and he’s made it to the playoffs just once in his career – in the 2021 season. Although Crosby is considered one of the best pass rushers in the league as a four-time Pro Bowler, he has yet to win his first playoff game.
“It’s everything,” says Crosby in a one-on-one interview of winning while speaking to DJ Siddiqi on behalf of his investment in RECOVER 180. “I’m not here to just rack up sacks and stats. I’m here to win. I tasted the playoffs once, and it wasn’t enough. That’s the fire that’s been burning ever since. Making it back isn’t just a goal, it’s a standard we need to hold ourselves to.”
Since the Raiders’ move to Vegas in 2020, they’ve posted just one winning season. Over that time frame, the Raiders have just a 36-48 record (.428 winning percentage). That’s one of the bottom 11 records in the NFL during that span.
The franchise hasn’t won a playoff game since advancing to the Super Bowl during the 2002 season, which means it’s been 23 years since the Raiders have won a postseason game. That’s the second-longest drought in the NFL, behind the Miami Dolphins.
“The city of Las Vegas, the fans, the organization, they deserve more,” says Crosby. “I truly believe we’ve got the group, the mindset, and the hard to get it done, and it starts now.”
Crosby posted 7.5 sacks in 12 games last season, which was his second-lowest total and a decline from the career-high 14.5 sacks he collected in 2023. When asked if there are any specific areas he worked on in the offseason, Crosby says he can be better in “all aspects.”
“I feel there isn’t a single part of my game that requires additional focus,” says Crosby. “Instead I believe I can be better in all aspects and I approach each day to find a way to work on all of the details around my craft. What you see on the field is not just about getting bigger, stronger, faster. It’s not just about watching more film or working on technique in the run or pass game. It’s all of that plus all of the little things. Sleep, nutrition, mental clarity, focus, and resolve. Doing the extra rehab and maintenance work.”
New Era in Sin City
Las Vegas will usher in a new era in 2025 with the additions of Super Bowl-winning coach Pete Carroll and his former Seattle Seahawks starting quarterback Geno Smith. The hope is that Carroll and Smith will both be able to lead the Raiders back to a consistent winning culture.
Carroll obviously molded the Seahawks into an annual playoff contender during his 14 seasons with the franchise, advancing to two Super Bowls and clinching 10 postseason berths. Meanwhile, Smith re-invented himself as a two-time Pro Bowl quarterback in Seattle, including leading the Seahawks to the playoffs during the 2022 season.
Crosby mentions wanting to be an even better leader as the Raiders look to start winning in the new era.
“Becoming a better leader and bringing others up with me,” says Crosby. “Doing all of these things consistently day in and day out so the on field product is to the standards that this team, the organization, the fans, and most importantly the standard I hold myself to. I talk about it daily – I want to get better in every aspect, everyday, whether it’s 1% or more. That has been my focus this offseason and going into this season.”
While Crosby has the fifth-most sacks in the NFL (59.5) since entering the league in 2019, he stresses once again that his goal is to win.
“Every single day, every single year, I step onto that field, my goal is to dominate, plain and simple,” says Crosby. “Individually, I want to be the best player on the field every single snap. That means leading by example, pushing my limits and being relentless in everything I do: pass rush, run defense, leadership, all the above. None of that matters if we’re not winning as a team.”
Crosby once again mentions the Super Bowl as the “mission.”Â
“Our goal as a team first, we got to win,” says Crosby. “We got to make the playoffs. We got to win the division. Put ourselves in a position to bring a championship back to Las Vegas. That’s the mission.”