Crosby Discusses Return to Bay Area Ahead of 49ers
Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby spoke about playing in the Bay Area for the first time since his rookie season in Oakland, ahead of Week 9.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Football
Maxx Crosby spoke to reporters on Nov. 4 about returning to play in the Bay Area ahead of the Raiders' Week 9 game against the San Francisco 49ers. The Raiders are 4-4 entering the matchup, and the 49ers are coming off a bye week and a loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
Why it matters
The game marks a return to the region for Crosby and the Raiders, who played in the Bay Area through the 2019 season before relocating to Las Vegas. Crosby described Oakland as having a crowd and energy unlike any other city.
Crosby's 2019 rookie season included 10 sacks, 14 QB hits, four forced fumbles, four passes defended, 47 tackles and 16 tackles for loss, and he finished second in AP Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. The Raiders enter Week 9 at 4-4, and the source does not provide a current-season comparison for Crosby's production.
The players
Maxx Crosby
Maxx Crosby is a defensive end for the Las Vegas Raiders who was selected in the 2019 NFL Draft and became a prominent pass rusher.
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a National Football League franchise based in the Bay Area and are the Raiders' Week 9 opponent.
The details
Crosby made the comments to reporters on Nov. 4, describing the energy of the Oakland crowd as unlike any other city. The Week 9 game against the 49ers will be played in the Bay Area, where the Raiders were based through 2019.
Timeline
2019: Crosby's rookie season with the Raiders in Oakland, the final year the team was in the Bay Area.
Nov. 4: Crosby speaks to reporters about returning to the Bay Area.
Week 9: Raiders play the San Francisco 49ers on the road.
Season Trajectory
The Raiders' Week 9 road game returns the team to the Bay Area for the first time since its final season there in 2019, before the franchise relocated to Las Vegas. The 4-4 Raiders face a 49ers team coming off a bye and a loss to the Falcons, with the outcome shaping their position in the standings.
The Week 9 game against the 49ers affects Raiders fans and fantasy managers tracking Crosby's production in a team that is 4-4 entering the matchup. Its result will determine where the Raiders stand in the standings heading into the middle of the season.
The takeaway
Crosby's comments underscore how a return to a former home can carry emotional weight for players and fans alike. Readers following the Raiders can track the Week 9 result to see how the team's 4-4 start develops.
What happens next
The Raiders play the 49ers in Week 9, the next scheduled event tied to this story.
Further reading
For more on the league, see our Football coverage.
