"The NFL was crying": Maxx Crosby fumes after NFL allegedly forces him to remove pink cleats honoring his daughter during Raiders game

Maxx Crosby did not expect his most personal tribute to spark a league-wide debate, but that is exactly what unfolded on a December afternoon in Philadelphia. In a game that quickly slipped away from the Las Vegas Raiders, Crosby found himself frustrated not just by the scoreboard, but by a ruling that felt deeply personal.

What started as a quiet gesture for family became a public stand against rules he believes leave little room for individuality.The Raiders star entered the matchup wearing custom pink Jordan 11 cleats, designed with intention and heart. They carried the name of his three-year-old daughter, Ella Rose, across the front. For Crosby, the cleats were not a fashion statement or a protest. They were a reminder of why he plays and who he plays for.

By the time the issue reached him on the sideline, the moment had already turned into a statement.

Maxx Crosby opens up on cleat controversy and self expression

Speaking on his The Rush podcast days later, Crosby did not hold back. “The NFL was crying and forcing me to take my shoes off,” he said, recounting how the situation escalated after the game had already begun. He explained that the shoes were custom made before the season and carried emotional value. “I definitely wanted one of my daughter's,” Crosby said.

“And it says Ella on the front of them. They are freaking cold. So, I was like, ‘I am wearing them.’ Regardless of what they say. I will take the fine, I do not care.

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What surprised Crosby most was the timing. He said nothing was flagged during warm-ups or the opening series. Only later did he notice equipment staff holding a replacement pair on the sideline. “They are going to take you out of the game if you do not change your cleats,” he recalled being told.

His response was simple. On his final snap wearing the pink cleats, Crosby recorded a sack before jogging off and switching shoes.The cleats will not be forgotten. Crosby shared that they will be signed and placed in Ella’s room, alongside a matching pair made just for her. “She has been walking around with them and looking at them, and she loves them,” he said. “So, I had to represent.”NFL rules allow only specific colors tied to team branding, a policy the league continues to enforce strictly. Crosby said he plans to address the issue directly with commissioner Roger Goodell after the season. He also pointed to the NBA as an example of how self-expression can coexist with professionalism. “The way they express themselves is like their signature shoes,” he said. “I just feel like that is something football is missing.

”For Crosby, the moment was never about rebellion. It was about identity, pride, and honoring family. In that sense, the message landed exactly as he intended.Also Read: Matthew Stafford’s MVP push with the Rams could silence critics and fast-track his Hall of Fame destiny