Eastern Michigan Athletics
Photo by: Michael Clemens | Las Vegas Raiders
EMU’s Maxx Crosby Takes Home Pro Bowl Defensive MVP Honor
2/7/2022 10:57:00 AM | Football
Crosby is just the second player from the MAC to take home a Pro Bowl MVP accolade
LAS VEGAS, Nev. (EMUEagles.com) — What happens in the Pro Bowl, stays in the Pro Bowl.
After a week of giving back to the Las Vegas community and entertaining fans with skills competitions and practices, the Pro Bowl came to a close with a 41-35 victory for the AFC.
The Las Vegas Valley and Raider Nation were well-represented with four Pro Bowl selections – Maxx Crosby, Denzel Perryman, Hunter Renfrow, and AJ Cole – all making their first appearance in the annual showcase of elite NFL talent. Crosby, like he has all year, gave Allegiant Stadium its money's worth.
Crosby capped off his eight-sack season with one last dominant performance in the Pro Bowl, padding his stat line with five total tackles, three pass deflections, three tackles for loss, and a game-high two sacks. The all-around performance from "The Condor" landed him the game's Defensive MVP award – plus a donation to his favorite charity, Stand Up for Pits Foundation – in front of the hometown crowd.
"Being back here in Vegas, I had to put on a show," Crosby said after the game. "Denzel [Perryman], Hunter Renfrow, AJ [Cole] ... We had to come back and get a W for everybody."
"It's amazing, without my teammates I couldn't have made this happen," continued Crosby. "But I just wanted to come out here and have some fun. It's my last little bit of football I have until next year. So I had an incredible time and it's just a blessing to be out here."
Named NFL All-Pro second team by The Associated Press after another solid season, Crosby finished the regular season with an NFL-leading 101 quarterback pressures and racked up 56 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss, eight sacks, 30 QB hits, and seven passes defended.
He was also named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for the final week of the regular season after compiling six total tackles, two sacks, three tackles for loss, four QB hits, and three passes defended.
The Colleyville, Texas native was drafted by the Raiders in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft and has already amassed 25 sacks in his three seasons in the NFL.
At EMU, Crosby was a two-time first team All-Mid-American Conference selection.
He is just the third former EMU football player to reach the Pro Bowl, joining Chuck Shonta (1966) and TJ Lang (2016-17).
Additionally, Crosby, is only the second player from a Mid-American Conference school to collect Pro Bowl MVP honors, joining Marshall's Randy Moss (1999).
EMU In the Pro Bowl since 1950
1966 - Chuck Shonta (Boston)
2016 - TJ Lang (Green Bay)
2017 - TJ Lang (Green Bay)
2021 - Maxx Crosby (Las Vegas) - Defensive MVP
MAC Alumni to Win Pro Bowl MVP Honors since 1950
1999 - Randy Moss (Marshall)
2021 - Maxx Crosby (Eastern Michigan) - Defensive MVP
After a week of giving back to the Las Vegas community and entertaining fans with skills competitions and practices, the Pro Bowl came to a close with a 41-35 victory for the AFC.
The Las Vegas Valley and Raider Nation were well-represented with four Pro Bowl selections – Maxx Crosby, Denzel Perryman, Hunter Renfrow, and AJ Cole – all making their first appearance in the annual showcase of elite NFL talent. Crosby, like he has all year, gave Allegiant Stadium its money's worth.
Crosby capped off his eight-sack season with one last dominant performance in the Pro Bowl, padding his stat line with five total tackles, three pass deflections, three tackles for loss, and a game-high two sacks. The all-around performance from "The Condor" landed him the game's Defensive MVP award – plus a donation to his favorite charity, Stand Up for Pits Foundation – in front of the hometown crowd.
"Being back here in Vegas, I had to put on a show," Crosby said after the game. "Denzel [Perryman], Hunter Renfrow, AJ [Cole] ... We had to come back and get a W for everybody."
"It's amazing, without my teammates I couldn't have made this happen," continued Crosby. "But I just wanted to come out here and have some fun. It's my last little bit of football I have until next year. So I had an incredible time and it's just a blessing to be out here."
Named NFL All-Pro second team by The Associated Press after another solid season, Crosby finished the regular season with an NFL-leading 101 quarterback pressures and racked up 56 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss, eight sacks, 30 QB hits, and seven passes defended.
He was also named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for the final week of the regular season after compiling six total tackles, two sacks, three tackles for loss, four QB hits, and three passes defended.
The Colleyville, Texas native was drafted by the Raiders in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft and has already amassed 25 sacks in his three seasons in the NFL.
At EMU, Crosby was a two-time first team All-Mid-American Conference selection.
He is just the third former EMU football player to reach the Pro Bowl, joining Chuck Shonta (1966) and TJ Lang (2016-17).
Additionally, Crosby, is only the second player from a Mid-American Conference school to collect Pro Bowl MVP honors, joining Marshall's Randy Moss (1999).
EMU In the Pro Bowl since 1950
1966 - Chuck Shonta (Boston)
2016 - TJ Lang (Green Bay)
2017 - TJ Lang (Green Bay)
2021 - Maxx Crosby (Las Vegas) - Defensive MVP
MAC Alumni to Win Pro Bowl MVP Honors since 1950
1999 - Randy Moss (Marshall)
2021 - Maxx Crosby (Eastern Michigan) - Defensive MVP
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