The NBA trend of professional hoopers becoming name, image, and likeness connoisseurs at their alma maters has hit the NFL.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby is joining the football staff of Eastern Michigan University as assistant general manager. Crosby will help with paying players through NIL and revenue sharing, judging talent in high school players and the transfer portal, and be a special assistant to the athletic director for “fundraising, alumni relations, and student-athlete support,” according to a university release.
NBA players Stephen Curry and Trae Young have made similar commitments, but Crosby is believed to be the first NFL player to do so.
Crosby will match all donations to the football program up to $100,000 before the end of May. In 2023, Crosby and his wife donated $1 million to the football team.
“There is no place more important to my personal and athletic development than Eastern Michigan University,” Crosby said in a statement. “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.”
Also as part of the announcement, the weakside defensive end will be called the “Maxx” on the Eastern Michigan depth chart, and the best edge pass rusher will wear Crosby’s No. 92.
Crosby played for the Eastern Michigan Eagles from 2015 to 2018 before being drafted by the Raiders in the fourth round of the 2019 draft.
Crosby and the Raiders agreed in March to a three-year, $106.5 million extension. “What you bring to the table, not only on it but off it, you get compensated that way as well,” he told Front Office Sports at Radio Row in February.
Last month, Curry became the volunteer assistant GM at his alma mater Davidson College for both the men’s and women’s basketball teams, starting an “eight-figure fund” to pay players alongside credit card executive Matt Berman. A couple weeks later, Oklahoma announced Young would become an assistant GM, along with a $1 million donation. While not taking an official role with the program, James Harden has given in the high six-figures to Arizona State’s collective for the basketball team, as FOS reported.
There’s precedent for big names in football teaming up with NIL collectives. One example is Drew Brees at Purdue. But in the new era of college sports, one that awaits revenue sharing alongside NIL payments, a growing number of athletes are taking on official roles within their old athletic department to help lure in talent and funding.
“Big-time edge rushers will want to come here—not just to play but to build a relationship with Maxx and learn from one of the best,” coach Chris Creighton said in a statement.
