Bryant McKinnie facts for kids
McKinnie with the Minnesota Vikings in 2009
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| Position: | Offensive tackle | ||||||
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| Born: | September 23, 1979 Woodbury, New Jersey, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 352 lb (160 kg) | ||||||
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| High school: | Woodbury | ||||||
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| NFL Draft: | 2002 / Round: 1 / Pick: 7 | ||||||
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College Football Hall of Fame
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Bryant Douglas McKinnie, born on September 23, 1979, is a former American professional football player. He played as an offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). McKinnie was a star player for the Miami Hurricanes in college football, where he was named an All-American twice.
He was chosen by the Minnesota Vikings as the seventh overall pick in the 2002 NFL draft. Besides the Vikings, McKinnie also played for the Baltimore Ravens and the Miami Dolphins.
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Early Life and High School Football
Bryant McKinnie was born in Woodbury, New Jersey. He went to Woodbury High School in Woodbury, New Jersey. There, he played high school football.
Before his final year of high school, Bryant was very tall, standing at 6 feet 8 inches. He weighed about 255 pounds. He was expected to be a key player on both the offensive and defensive lines for his team.
College Football Career
Playing at Lackawanna College
McKinnie started his college football journey at Lackawanna College in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He played there for two years. During this time, he gained about 70 pounds. He also changed his position from a defensive lineman to an offensive tackle.
Becoming a Star at the University of Miami
After playing at Lackawanna College, McKinnie earned a scholarship. He transferred to the University of Miami to play for the famous Miami Hurricanes football team.
McKinnie spent his first year at Miami as a "redshirt" player in 1999. This meant he practiced with the team but did not play in games. Then, in his junior and senior years, he became the starting left tackle for the Hurricanes. He was known for being an amazing blocker. He never allowed an opponent to sack his quarterback during his college career.
In 2001, McKinnie was recognized as a unanimous first-team All-American. This means all major selectors agreed he was one of the best players in the country. Also in 2001, he won the Outland Trophy, which goes to the best interior lineman in college football. He was a very important part of the Hurricanes' team that won the National Championship in 2001. At the University of Miami, he shared a room with Jeremy Shockey, who later became an NFL tight end.
In 2012, Bryant McKinnie was honored by being inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame.
Professional Football Career
Time with the Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings chose McKinnie as the seventh overall pick in the first round of the 2002 NFL draft. He joined the team just two days before their ninth game of the season. This was after a long holdout of 98 days. McKinnie played his first professional game in the Vikings' tenth game against the New York Giants.
From 2003 to 2007, McKinnie started every game for Minnesota. He had an impressive streak of 88 games started in a row.
In 2010, McKinnie allowed a sack that injured quarterback Brett Favre. This injury ended Favre's amazing streak of 297 consecutive regular season starts.
McKinnie was chosen for his first NFL Pro Bowl after the 2009 season. However, he could not play in the game due to injuries to his feet and left ankle, and an illness.
In the summer of 2011, McKinnie was placed on the Vikings' non-football injury list. Reports said he showed up to training camp out of shape. He had weighed 360 pounds at the end of the previous season. He was released by the Vikings on August 2, 2011.
Playing for the Baltimore Ravens
After his former University of Miami teammate Ed Reed spoke highly of him, McKinnie signed with the Baltimore Ravens on August 24, 2011.
McKinnie did not play much during the 2012 regular season. However, he became the starting left tackle for every play during the Ravens' 2012–13 NFL Playoffs run. This journey ended with a 34–31 Super Bowl victory over the San Francisco 49ers.
After the 2012 season, McKinnie was a free agent for over a month. The Ravens then signed him again on May 2, 2013. On October 21, 2013, the Ravens traded McKinnie to the Miami Dolphins.
Joining the Miami Dolphins
McKinnie was signed to immediately become the left tackle for the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins had been struggling with protecting their quarterback. In his first game on October 27 against the New England Patriots, he played slowly. He ended the year as one of the lowest-ranked offensive tackles by Pro Football Focus.
Post-Football Career
In 2022, McKinnie joined a choir made up of current and former NFL players. This group, called the Players Choir, competed on America's Got Talent. This is a popular TV talent show with celebrity judges.
