Maxx Crosby is one of the best pass rushers in the NFL. Unfortunately, Crosby’s team, the Las Vegas Raiders, has not had much team success recently.
The Raiders finished the 2025 season with just three wins, and Crosby is apparently ready for a change. In fact, one NFL insider is reporting that Crosby has already given an ultimatum to the team’s leadership.
Maxx Crosby Allegedly Willing To Retire Rather Than Return to the Raiders
In 2025, Crosby played in 15 games for the Raiders and racked up 73 tackles, 10 sacks, and 28 tackles for loss. PFSN’s EDGE Impact metric gave Crosby an elite 95.3 grade, which was second among 123 qualified edge rushers.
However, rumors began circulating late last season that Crosby was unhappy. The team announced that Crosby would sit out the final two games of the season with an injury, but Crosby claimed he was healthy enough to play and disagreed with the decision.
Now, NFL insider Jason La Canfora is reporting that Crosby has essentially given the team an ultimatum.
“He told (Raiders owner and future Hall of Fame quarterback) Tom Brady he will never play for the Raiders again,” said one NFL general manager who would have interest in trading for Crosby, according to La Canfora.
Crosby signed a massive three-year extension with the Raiders less than a year ago, but it’s clear the star doesn’t plan on playing that contract out in Las Vegas.
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“That’s a fact. He told them he’ll retire before he ever plays for them again. But I’m not sure they’re actually going to trade him. (Browns pass rusher) Myles Garrett said the same thing last year, and we know how that ended up,” that anonymous NFL general manager added.
However, this situation isn’t exactly like Garrett’s in Cleveland. Garrett expressed unhappiness and then signed a massive extension. Crosby has already signed an extension, so it doesn’t seem like this is a money issue.
There would undoubtedly be plenty of interest in Crosby on the open market, but the Raiders may be reluctant to trade one of the game’s best defenders.
Crosby Produced Another Elite Season in 2025
Crosby is arguably the Raiders’ most popular player and was one of the few bright spots in 2025. 2025 was the fifth season in a row in which Crosby earned a Pro Bowl selection and his fourth career season with 10+ sacks. Crosby has previously expressed a desire to remain a Raider, but the lack of success may finally be getting to the star.
Since Crosby entered the league in 2019, the Raiders have only made the playoffs once and have no playoff wins. The Raiders would get a haul in exchange for Crosby, but it won’t be easy for teams to add his $35 million cap hit to the books.
