One thing about professional athletes from different sports is that they always seem to support one another. There is a respect held between professional athletes because they are in similar circumstances. That respect was evident between former MLB star CC Sabathia and Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby of the NFL.
CC Sabathia Celebrates Maxx Crosby’s Sobriety Milestone
Sabathia commented on Crosby’s recent post about his sobriety streak. Crosby is celebrating five years, and Sabathia has a similar accomplishment. Sabathia tweeted at Crosby: “Incredible. Coming up on my 10th year, life changing.”
Incredible. Coming up on my 10th year, life changing 🙏🏾 https://t.co/0cavtrPEjp
— CC Sabathia (@CC_Sabathia) March 11, 2025
Sabathia has been open about his battle with alcoholism and drugs. In October 2015, he left the Yankees to check himself into a rehab facility. Sabathia was in such a bad place that leaving his team during the season to seek help was his only option as he revealed to ESPN in a story on him and his journey during the 2015 season.
In the piece by Ryan Hockensmith, Sabathia said, “I never thought I could go five days without a drink. And yet, here I am.”
Professional athletes are seen as something more than non-athletes, but at the end of the day, they have issues just like everyone else. The players that are willing to seek help when needed should be celebrated.
Crosby Facing Similar Path
Like Sabathia, Crosby is going through his own journey with sobriety. Crosby entered a rehab facility on March 11, 2020, and that day changed his life forever. According to SI.com, Crosby said, “Putting yourself in a rehab alone is the hardest part. Admitting you have a problem but I was ready. I think it was 2 and a half months I end up staying there.”
Crosby knew his sobriety could help him reach his potential as a football player. He has been one of the best defensive players in football since 2021 and has four straight Pro Bowl appearances while making two All-Pro teams.
Crosby has 59.5 sacks in six NFL seasons and 105 tackles for loss and recently received a massive pay raise that made him the highest-paid non-quarterback at the time of the deal.
Crosby hopes to follow a career path similar to Sabathia’s — from the rehab facility to the Hall of Fame. Sabathia will be inducted into Cooperstown this summer as a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Crosby is only 27 years old and still has his prime years ahead of him, but if he stays on his current path, there might be a great case for his enshrinement into Canton.