Coach Ryan Day Hosts NFL Star Who Previously Wanted Him Fired

Ryan Day Extends an Olive Branch to Maxx Crosby—And Scores a Rare PR Win

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day may have one of the toughest public relations battles in college football, but he also appears to have one of the more forgiving hearts.

After NFL star Maxx Crosby publicly called for Day’s firing following Ohio State’s controversial Week 14 loss to Michigan last season, Day didn’t respond with hostility. Instead, he extended an invitation. The Las Vegas Raiders defensive end was welcomed to Columbus and given a full tour of the Buckeyes’ facilities.

According to Cleveland.com’s Stefan Krajisnik, Day was fully aware of Crosby’s comments prior to the visit.

“Despite the comments getting back to Day, according to Crosby, the standout defensive end was allowed in Ohio State’s facilities,” Krajisnik reported.

Crosby, for his part, didn’t hold back in praising the experience.

“Ohio State facilities welcomed me with open arms and rolled out the red carpet for me,” Crosby said on his podcast last week. “It was a great experience.

“Big shoutout to the Buckeyes. As everyone knows, I grew up a die-hard Ohio State fan. I know I had some comments about our guy, but he came through. What did I say? He’s got to win a natty—and look what they did.”

While Day’s resume includes multiple College Football Playoff appearances and finally breaking through in the 2024–25 season, his job security is far from guaranteed in the eyes of many OSU faithful. The decision to hire Matt Patricia as defensive coordinator raised more than a few eyebrows, and promoting Brian Hartline to offensive coordinator was viewed by some as a safe, if uninspired, move.

Despite those criticisms—and the fact that Day doesn’t get much credit for spearheading Ohio State’s successful NIL fundraising efforts—the coach may have earned a rare public perception win with Crosby’s comments.

No, this won’t erase the years of criticism or skepticism that have trailed Day’s tenure. But in a sport where optics matter as much as outcomes, it’s at least a step in the right direction.