# Xavier McKinney

Xavier Avis McKinney (born August 8, 1998) is an American professional football safety for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama, and was selected by the New York Giants in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft.

## Early life

McKinney attended Roswell High School in Roswell, Georgia. As a senior, he recorded 82 tackles and seven interceptions. A 4-star safety recruit, McKinney committed to the University of Alabama to play college football.

## College career

As a true freshman at Alabama in 2017, McKinney played in 13 games as a backup and special teams player. As a starter in 2018, he had 73 tackles, two interceptions and three sacks. He was named the defensive MVP of the 2018 Orange Bowl. On January 4, 2020, McKinney announced he would skip his senior season and would declare for the 2020 NFL draft.

## Professional career
### Pre-draft

NFL draft analysts projected McKinney as a first or mid second round pick. Lance Zierlein and Daniel Jeremiah from NFL.com ranked him as the top safety in the 2020 NFL Draft and the 18th player overall. Former NFL executive Gil Brandt considered him as the second best safety and the 32nd best overall prospect in the entire draft. NFL draft analysts from Pro Football Focus, Sports Illustrated, and USA Today ranked him as the second best safety prospect in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Pre-draft measurables :
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | Wonderlic |
| 6 ft 0+3⁄8 in (1.84 m) | 201 lb (91 kg) | 30+7⁄8 in (0.78 m) | 8+5⁄8 in (0.22 m) | 4.63 s | 1.65 s | 2.72 s | 36.0 in (0.91 m) | 10 ft 2 in (3.10 m) | 19 reps | 11 |
| All values from NFL Combine |||||||||||

### New York Giants

The New York Giants selected McKinney in the second round (36th overall) of the 2020 NFL draft. He was the first safety drafted in 2020.
   "We had made up our mind that if Xavier fell to us we were taking him. We did have something if Xavier had been gone we did have a team willing to move up and we would have moved back. But, we felt the value of getting Xavier there was just too good to pass up. We had a first-round value on him, and we’re absolutely thrilled to get him. He’s a great kid. He’s smart, he plays smart, he lines up the back end for us, he’s versatile, you can put him down low, he can cover tight ends, he’s got ball skills, and he’s a good tackler. He certainly is versatile, but one of the important things for us this year was getting a safety that could play the deep part of the field. Xavier has certainly played back there enough that we feel very comfortable about that part of his game.”

#### 2020 season

On July 27, 2020, the New York Giants signed McKinney to a four–year, $8.39 million rookie contract that includes $6.02 million guaranteed and an initial signing bonus of $3.22 million. Throughout training camp, McKinney competed against Julian Love to be the starting free safety.
On August 25, 2020, it was reported that McKinney had fractured his foot during practice. The following day, the New York Giants announced that McKinney had undergone surgery after fracturing the fifth metatarsal in his left foot. On September 6, 2020, the New York Giants placed McKinney on injured reserve. He was activated on November 28. He missed the first ten games of the season (Weeks 1–10). On November 23, 2020, the Giants officially listed McKinney as designated to return from injured-reserve.
On November 29, 2020, McKinney made his long-awaited professional regular season debut and made one solo tackle in a 19–17 victory at the Cincinnati Bengals. In Week 14, McKinney earned his first career start, recording four combined tackles (one solo) during a 7–26 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. On December 27, 2020, McKinney collected a season-high seven solo tackles (8 combined) in the Giants' 13–27 loss at the Baltimore Ravens. On January 3, 2021, McKinney recorded a season-high eight combined tackles (four solo) and made his first career interception off a pass by quarterback Andy Dalton that was intended for tight end Dalton Schultz in the end zone with 1:24 remaining in the fourth quarter, clinching a 23–19 victory against the Dallas Cowboys.
He finished his rookie season with a total of 25 combined tackles (14 solo), one tackle for-a-loss, a pass deflection, and an interception in six games and four starts. The New York Giants finished the 2020 NFL season second in the NFC East with a 6–10 record and did not qualify for the playoffs.

#### 2021 season

McKinney entered training camp as a backup safety as Logan Ryan and Jabrill Peppers were entrenched as the starters. Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham listed McKinney as the backup strong safety to begin the season. On October 17, 2021, McKinney made three solo tackles, a season-high two pass deflections, and tied his career-high with two interceptions thrown by Matthew Stafford and John Wolford as the Giants were defeated by the Los Angeles Rams 38-11. On November 3, 2021, the Giants announced that McKinney was in COVID protocol.
On November 7, 2021, McKinney recorded seven combined tackles (four solo), two pass deflections, two interceptions, and a touchdown in a 23–16 victory at the Las Vegas Raiders. During the third quarter, Derek Carr attempted a pass to wide receiver Hunter Renfrow, but it was picked off by McKinney and returned 41+yards to score the first touchdown of his career. His performance against the Las Vegas Raiders earned him NFC Defensive player of the Week. He finished the 2021 NFL season with a total of 93 combined tackles (59 solo), ten pass deflections, five interceptions, and a touchdown while appearing in all 17 games and starting 16.

#### 2022 season

On January 11, 2022, the New York Giants announced their decision to fire head coach Joe Judge after they finished the 2021 NFL season with a 4-13 record. He entered training camp projected to be a starter after Logan Ryan and Jabril Peppers both departed during free agency. Defensive coordinator Don Martindale named McKinney the starting free safety to begin the regular season, along with strong safety Julian Love.
In Week 6, McKinney collected a season-high nine combined tackles (six solo) during a 24–20 victory against the Baltimore Ravens. During a Giants' Week 9 bye week, McKinney suffered a broken hand in an ATV accident. On November 7, 2022, the New York Giants placed McKinley on the reserve/non-football injury list, which sidelined him for the next seven consecutive games (Weeks 10–16). On December 31, 2022, the New York Giants activated McKinney from the . He finished with 45 combined tackles (29 solo), five pass deflections, one sack, and a forced fumble in nine games and nine starts.

#### 2023 season

He entered training camp slated to be the starting free safety. Head coach Brian Daboll named McKinney the starting free safety to begin the season, alongside strong safety Jason Pinnock.
In Week 11, McKinney collected a season-high 13 combined tackles (eight solo) and two pass deflections during a 31–19 victory at the Washington Commanders. On January 7, 2024, he made six combined tackles (two solo), a season-high three pass deflections, and a season-high two interceptions by passes thrown by Marcus Mariota during a 24–10 win against the Philadelphia Eagles. He started a 17 games during the 2023 NFL season and recorded a total of 116 combined tackles (78 solo), 11 pass deflections, three interceptions, two fumble recoveries one forced fumble, and was credited with half a sack. McKinney, along with teammate Bobby Okereke, were the only two defenders in the NFL to not miss a snap the entire season. He received an overall grade of 87.8 from Pro Football Focus in 2023, ranking fourth among all safeties, and also earned a coverage grade of 91.2 from PFF.

### Green Bay Packers
#### 2024 season

On March 11, 2024, the Green Bay Packers signed McKinney to a four–year, $67 million contract that includes an initial signing bonus of $23 million. He entered training camp as the 'de facto' starting strong safety under defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. Head coach Matt LaFleur named him the starting strong safety to kick off the regular season, alongside starting free safety, rookie Javon Bullard.
On September 6, 2024, McKinney made his debut with the Green Bay Packers and recorded four combined tackles (three solo), a pass deflection, and had his first interception with the Packers on a pass thrown by Jalen Hurts to wide receiver DeVonta Smith in the first quarter of a 34–29 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. The following week, McKinney had four combined tackles (three solo), deflected a pass, and had his second interception thrown by Anthony Richardson, while covering Alec Pierce during the Packers' Week 2 home-opening 16–10 win over the Indianapolis Colts. In Week 3, he continued his interception streak with a third pick off Will Levis, while also amassing five combined tackles (four solo) and a pass deflection during a 30–14 win at the Tennessee Titans. On September 29, 2024, McKinney had his fourth consecutive game with an interception, picking off a pass by Sam Darnold intended for running back Aaron Jones, and also had four combined tackles (one solo) and a pass deflection in a 29–31 loss against the Minnesota Vikings. McKinney became the first Packer in history to record a pick in each of his first four games with the team, and just the fourth in NFL history, joining Ken Lee, Terry Jackson, and Otis Smith. In Week 5, McKinney continued his interception streak, with an interception off of Matthew Stafford thrown to Tutu Atwell, while also making three combined tackles (two solo) and a pass deflection as the Packers won 24–19 at the Los Angeles Rams. He became the first player since 1970 to record five consecutive interceptions in the first five weeks on a new team. In Week 18, McKinney had four combined tackles (three solo), a pass deflection, and had his eighth interception of the season off a pass thrown by wide receiver Keenan Allen to running back D'Andre Swift as the Packers ended the season with a 22–24 loss to the Chicago Bears. He started all 17 games in 2024 and amassed a total of 88 combined tackles (60 solo), 11 pass deflections, a career-high eight interceptions, and a fumble recovery.
In January 2025, McKinney was named to the 2025 Pro Bowl Games and a first-team All-Pro. His eight interceptions were the second most in 2024, behind Detroit Lions' safety Kerby Joseph who finished with nine interceptions.

## NFL career statistics

Legend :
| Bold | Career high |

### Regular season

| Year | Team | Games | Games | Tackles | Tackles | Tackles | Tackles | Interceptions | Interceptions | Interceptions | Interceptions | Interceptions | Interceptions | Fumbles | Fumbles | Fumbles | Fumbles |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | PD | Int | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | FF | FR | Yds | TD |
| 2020 | NYG | 6 | 4 | 25 | 14 | 11 | 0.0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | NYG | 17 | 16 | 93 | 59 | 34 | 0.0 | 10 | 5 | 64 | 12.8 | 41 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | NYG | 9 | 9 | 45 | 29 | 16 | 1.0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | NYG | 17 | 17 | 116 | 78 | 38 | 0.5 | 11 | 3 | 22 | 7.3 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 0 |
| 2024 | GB | 17 | 17 | 88 | 60 | 28 | 1.0 | 11 | 8 | 128 | 16 | 48 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 |
| Career | Career | 66 | 63 | 367 | 240 | 127 | 2.5 | 38 | 17 | 214 | 12.6 | 48 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 14 | 0 |

### Postseason

| Year | Team | Games | Games | Tackles | Tackles | Tackles | Tackles | Interceptions | Interceptions | Interceptions | Interceptions | Interceptions | Interceptions | Fumbles | Fumbles | Fumbles | Fumbles |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | PD | Int | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | FF | FR | Yds | TD |
| 2022 | NYG | 2 | 2 | 16 | 8 | 8 | 1.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | GB | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | Career | 3 | 3 | 21 | 10 | 11 | 1.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Source: pro-football-reference.com ||||||||||||||||||