A trend that got started in the NBA and college basketball recently has found its way to the NFL and college football.
Just over a month ago future Hall of Famer and Warriors star Steph Curry became the first active professional athlete to take a front-office type role with a college basketball program when he took an assistant GM position at Davidson, where he will provide guidance to both the men's and women's basketball programs.
That move was followed by Hawks star Trae Young doing the same for the men's basketball program at Oklahoma.
Today, Raiders star rusher Maxx Crosby became the first NFL player to do the same, agreeing to become an assistant GM at his alma mater, Eastern Michigan.
At EMU, Crosby will give back to his alma mater while assisting the evaluation of high school prospects, managing the NIL budget, and assisting the athletic director with fundraising, alumni relations and student-athlete support, the school shares.
Crosby has also launched a "Maxx Match" challenge, where he has pledged to personally match all donations to EMU football up to $100k made before the end of May, and Chris Creighton's program has also recently renamed the weakside defensive end spot after their star alumnus, changing the position's name from LEO to MAXX with the team's top edge rusher donning Crosby's #92 as well.