Why Maxx Crosby believes Pete Carroll can turn Raiders around

Star pass-rusher Maxx Crosby could've looked into leaving the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason amid the franchise's latest reset that included the hiring of new general manager John Spytek and 73-year-old head coach Pete Carroll. 

Crosby instead put pen to paper on a three-year, $106.5M contract extension to remain with what's been his only NFL home since he entered the league via the 2019 draft. He recently touched upon why he believes Carroll can be the right coach to take the Raiders where they hope to go as soon as this coming season. 

"Pete creates that culture, that energy," Crosby explained, as shared by Michael-Shawn Dugar and Tashan Reed of The Athletic. "Everyone knows it’s hard — you’re going to work your (expletive) off, you’re going to put in all the work — but you’ve got a whole organization of people that’ve all got to be on the same wavelength and go in the same direction. …I think Pete does an incredible job with that."

Carroll famously guided the Seattle Seahawks to one Super Bowl championship and to within one play of a second title during his stint with the organization that ran from 2010 up until Seattle seemingly pushed him into an advisor role following the 2023 season. Shortly after Las Vegas hired Carroll this past winter, the club acquired quarterback Geno Smith from the Seahawks. The Raiders later selected star running back Ashton Jeanty in the first round of this year's draft. 

Meanwhile, Crosby has had more head coaches (five) than postseason appearances (one) as a pro. Back in January 2022, the Raiders suffered a wild-card playoff loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. 

Despite that lack of team success, Crosby has repeatedly spoken over the years about wanting to be part of a Raiders turnaround.