Eastern Michigan Naming Football Field After Maxx Crosby

The Raiders edge rusher made a $1 million donation to the program’s athletics department.

Eastern Michigan is renaming its football field inside Rynearson Stadium after Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby following his $1 million donation to the athletics department, the university announced on Monday.

Crosby, a former EMU standout, made the donation official on Monday when he made a visit to campus ahead of the Raiders’ game against the Lions on Monday Night Football. The donation, in conjunction with his wife and former EMU soccer player Rachel, will be used to help the university launch phase two of its championship-building plan to benefit the overall growth of the athletic programs.

The two-time Pro Bowler said EMU naming its playing surface after him is the “ultimate honor.”

“… All the things that come with playing in the NFL are great, but I want to leave a legacy, not only for myself but my family, my daughter, my wife, who also went to Eastern Michigan,” Crosby said in a video released by the program. “…That’s the most important thing to me. … This is the beginning of something I feel like is going to be even bigger. Eastern Michigan was the start of all of it for me. The only school that offered me, and having my name on that field is something that I’ll never forget.”

Crosby played football for the Eagles from 2015 to ’18, registering a total 162 tackles with 73 being solo, 41 tackles for loss, 20 sacks, one interception, four pass deflections and eight forced fumbles while recovering four during his EMU career. He earned first-team All-MAC honors in the ’17 and ’18 seasons and was recently inducted into the program’s Ring of Honor.