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Maxx Crosby marks personal milestone with powerful post after NFL forced him to change sobriety-inspired face mask
Maxx Crosby has marked five years of sobriety by sharing a powerful post on social media. The Las Vegas Raiders defensive end, who was drafted in 2019, has recently inked a $106.5million contract extension to become one of the highest-paid non-quarterbacks in NFL history. Crosby, one of the NFL’s top stars, is now five years soberGetty He is regarded as one of the best defensive players in the league, and is the cornerstone of the Raiders’ D-line thanks to his elite production. Crosby came into the NFL with a chip on his shoulder, and he made clear his desire to be the hardest worker in the room and the best player he could be. But it was his off-the-field decision to enter rehab in March 2020, and maintain his sobriety in the years since, that has helped him become a top pro. Taking to social media on Tuesday, Crosby celebrated his personal milestone by captioning a photo of his anniversary tattoo: “5 Years Sober. God is Great.” His X post was quoted by the official NFL Films account, which shared a video of Crosby discussing his journey. “I remember March 11th when I went in there,” he began. “Every day seemed like the longest day ever. I had no phone, everything was completely different. “It slowed down and then when I was living I was like, ‘I did my 30 days I am going back home screw this. I am ready to go home.’ “They were like, ‘No. You are going to sober living, you are going to stay there until training camp.'” Crosby then admitted that putting himself in rehab alone was the ‘hardest part’ and that he ended up staying longer than the 30 days he initially expected. Crosby has previously opened up on his sobriety journey during an interview with the NFLYouTube: NFL Films He shared a photo of his tattoo with the date he entered rehab to mark five years of sobrietyX: @CrosbyMaxx He continued: “Putting yourself in a rehab alone is the hardest part, admitting you have a problem, but I wasn’t ready. “I think it was two and a half months I end up staying there. Looking back on it like that was something I truly needed because I wasn’t ready to go back to Vegas after the 30 days. “I had just left the house, and I had blacked out the last time I was there.” Crosby went on to detail the challenges he faced coming out of rehab. “The first year of sobriety was so hard and I went through so much mentality,” he said, adding that he was dealing with injury issues for most of the year that required surgery on a torn labrum and broken hand. “I got my surgery we went back to Vegas and literally everything changed. Crosby has become one of the NFL’s top stars thanks to his off-the-field decisions Crosby will be hoping to inspire the Raiders to an improvement on their 4-13 2024 seasonGetty “Sat with a nutritionist, got with the strength staff, got with everybody. Listen, I am not trying to be middle of the road guy or a good story, ‘Oh he got sober in the league whatever.’ “I am trying to be the best, I am going to do everything I can to make it happen.” With a new $100m deal signed ahead of the 2025 season, Crosby will be a key part of Tom Brady’s Raiders team that is looking to bounce back from a 4-13 finish last time out. In previous years, the defensive end was seen sporting a special face mask that was inspired by his life-changing sobriety. Crosby’s unique triangle mask was personal for him – and much more than just an on-field fashion statement – before the NFL forced him to change back to a normal mask in 2023. “The triangle to me represents sobriety,” he said at the time. “It’s everything. It’s why I’m here. It’s why I’ve got a beautiful daughter, a family, great circle of people. “It literally is everything. If I didn’t make that decision to clean my life up, get in AA and the 12 steps, I wouldn’t be here. So that’s what it comes down to.” Stay up to date with the latest from across the NFL via our talkSPORT Facebook page, and subscribe to our Endzone YouTube channel for news, views and exclusive interviews as we build up to the NFL Draft.
Maxx Crosby has marked five years of sobriety by sharing a powerful post on social media.
The Las Vegas Raiders defensive end, who was drafted in 2019, has recently inked a $106.5million contract extension to become one of the highest-paid non-quarterbacks in NFL history.
He is regarded as one of the best defensive players in the league, and is the cornerstone of the Raiders’ D-line thanks to his elite production.
Crosby came into the NFL with a chip on his shoulder, and he made clear his desire to be the hardest worker in the room and the best player he could be.
But it was his off-the-field decision to enter rehab in March 2020, and maintain his sobriety in the years since, that has helped him become a top pro.
Taking to social media on Tuesday, Crosby celebrated his personal milestone by captioning a photo of his anniversary tattoo: “5 Years Sober. God is Great.”
His X post was quoted by the official NFL Films account, which shared a video of Crosby discussing his journey.
“I remember March 11th when I went in there,” he began.
“Every day seemed like the longest day ever. I had no phone, everything was completely different.
“It slowed down and then when I was living I was like, ‘I did my 30 days I am going back home screw this. I am ready to go home.’
“They were like, ‘No. You are going to sober living, you are going to stay there until training camp.'”
Crosby then admitted that putting himself in rehab alone was the ‘hardest part’ and that he ended up staying longer than the 30 days he initially expected.
He continued: “Putting yourself in a rehab alone is the hardest part, admitting you have a problem, but I wasn’t ready.
“I think it was two and a half months I end up staying there. Looking back on it like that was something I truly needed because I wasn’t ready to go back to Vegas after the 30 days.
“I had just left the house, and I had blacked out the last time I was there.”
Crosby went on to detail the challenges he faced coming out of rehab.
“The first year of sobriety was so hard and I went through so much mentality,” he said, adding that he was dealing with injury issues for most of the year that required surgery on a torn labrum and broken hand.
“I got my surgery we went back to Vegas and literally everything changed.
“Sat with a nutritionist, got with the strength staff, got with everybody. Listen, I am not trying to be middle of the road guy or a good story, ‘Oh he got sober in the league whatever.’
“I am trying to be the best, I am going to do everything I can to make it happen.”
With a new $100m deal signed ahead of the 2025 season, Crosby will be a key part of Tom Brady’s Raiders team that is looking to bounce back from a 4-13 finish last time out.
In previous years, the defensive end was seen sporting a special face mask that was inspired by his life-changing sobriety.
Crosby’s unique triangle mask was personal for him – and much more than just an on-field fashion statement – before the NFL forced him to change back to a normal mask in 2023.
“The triangle to me represents sobriety,” he said at the time.
“It’s everything. It’s why I’m here. It’s why I’ve got a beautiful daughter, a family, great circle of people.
“It literally is everything. If I didn’t make that decision to clean my life up, get in AA and the 12 steps, I wouldn’t be here. So that’s what it comes down to.”
Stay up to date with the latest from across the NFL via our talkSPORT Facebook page, and subscribe to our Endzone YouTube channel for news, views and exclusive interviews as we build up to the NFL Draft.
