Maxx Crosby is loving life under Pete Carroll. The energy, the vibe, everything feels fresh. After playing in the Josh McDaniels era, which many described as tense and overly rigid, Crosby’s finally getting to breathe.
Speaking recently, he didn’t hold back, saying Carroll and McDaniels are “polar opposites” in how they run the team.
It’s not just about play-calling, it’s the whole culture. From meetings to practices, everything’s been flipped on its head. And for a guy like Crosby, who thrives on passion and accountability, the difference is night and day. This new era might be exactly what he and the Raiders needed.
Inside the Patriot Way Coaching Mentality
Josh McDaniels comes straight from Bill Belichick’s coaching tree, and with that comes the famous/infamous ‘Patriot Way‘. It’s all about structure, discipline, and sticking to your assignment. No excuses, and definitely no freelancing.
McDaniels adopted the same mindset, drilling players on execution and demanding total buy-in. The approach is intense, and for some players, stifling.
Speaking from first-hand experience, Chris Long, a former Patriot, recounted, “Bill ran that [-] like the military… I was with McDaniels. It was similar to that.”
That military-style culture shaped how McDaniels led in Las Vegas; tight ship, little room for personality. Every practice, meeting, and rep was rooted in precision and doing your job, just like in New England.
And while it works for some, it doesn’t work for everyone. Especially not on a team that needed a different kind of leadership.
Maxx Crosby Compares Pete Carroll and Josh McDaniels
When it comes to coaching styles, Maxx Crosby has seen both ends of the spectrum. After spending time under Josh McDaniels, who followed the strict, disciplined “Patriot Way”, Crosby now finds himself playing for Pete Carroll, and the difference is very big.
“I’ve been with Pete. I’ve been with McDaniels. They’re totally polar opposites,” Crosby said, making it clear that their approaches couldn’t be more different.
While McDaniels ran a tight, almost military-style program in the mold of Belichick, Carroll brings something completely different to the table; energy, positivity, and a player-first mentality. And for Crosby, it’s a much better fit.
“I love Pete dude,” he said. “Pete is the one coach that I used to cuz we played Seattle twice a year, and they’d always get us. I always used to secretly want to play for him.”
Crosby went on to explain that Carroll had a certain pull, even from a distance. “He always seemed like that kind of guy that you want to play for. 100%.”
That kind of praise doesn’t come lightly, especially from a player who thrives on toughness and grit like Crosby. His words reflect what many players have said about Carroll for years: he knows how to win with a touch of fun.
It’s clear Crosby’s thriving under Carroll’s leadership, and he’s not shy about saying it’s a refreshing change from the Belichick-inspired system he left behind.
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