Xavier McKinney facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Xavier McKinney

McKinney with the New York Giants in 2022
No. 29 – Green Bay Packers
Position:	Safety
Personal information
Born:	(1998-08-08) August 8, 1998 (age 26) Roswell, Georgia, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:	201 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school:	Roswell
College:	Alabama (2017–2019)
NFL Draft:	2020 / Round: 2 / Pick: 36
Career history
New York Giants (2020) Green Bay Packers (2024–present)
Roster status:	Active
Career highlights and awards
First-team All-Pro (2024) Pro Bowl (2024) CFP national champion (2017) First-team All-SEC (2019)
Career NFL statistics as of 2024
Total tackles: 367 Sacks: 2.5 Forced fumbles: 2 Fumble recoveries: 3 Pass deflections: 38 Interceptions: 17 Defensive touchdowns: 1
Player stats at PFR

Xavier Avis McKinney (born August 8, 1998) is an American professional football safety who plays for the Green Bay Packers in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide. The New York Giants chose him in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft.

Early Life and High School Football

Xavier McKinney grew up in Roswell, Georgia. He went to Roswell High School. In his final year of high school, he made 82 tackles and caught seven interceptions. He was considered a top safety player. McKinney decided to play college football at the University of Alabama.

College Football Career

McKinney started his college career at Alabama in 2017. As a freshman, he played in 13 games. He was a backup player and also played on special teams. In 2018, he became a starter. He had 73 tackles, two interceptions, and three sacks. He was named the best defensive player in the 2018 Orange Bowl game. On January 4, 2020, McKinney announced he would leave college early. He decided to enter the 2020 NFL draft.

Professional Football Career

Before the NFL Draft

Before the 2020 NFL Draft, many football experts thought McKinney would be picked early. They saw him as one of the best safeties available. Some experts even ranked him as the top safety in the draft.

Playing for the New York Giants

The New York Giants picked Xavier McKinney in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft. He was the first safety chosen in that draft.

2020 Season with the Giants

The Giants signed McKinney to a four-year contract in July 2020. During training camp, he was competing for a starting spot. However, in August 2020, McKinney broke his foot during practice. He had surgery and was placed on the injured reserve list. He missed the first ten games of the season.

McKinney returned to play on November 28, 2020. He made his first professional start in Week 14. On January 3, 2021, he made his first career interception. This play helped the Giants win against the Dallas Cowboys. He finished his first season with 25 tackles and one interception in six games.

2021 Season with the Giants

In 2021, McKinney became a key player for the Giants. On October 17, 2021, he had two interceptions in a game against the Los Angeles Rams. On November 7, 2021, he had another great game against the Las Vegas Raiders. He recorded two more interceptions and scored his first career touchdown. He was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week for this performance. He played in all 17 games that season. He finished with 93 tackles, ten pass deflections, and five interceptions.

2022 Season with the Giants

Before the 2022 season, the Giants changed their head coach. McKinney became a definite starter at safety. In Week 6, he had nine tackles against the Baltimore Ravens. During the Giants' bye week, McKinney broke his hand in an accident. He missed seven games because of this injury. He returned to play in December 2022. He finished the season with 45 tackles in nine games.

2023 Season with the Giants

McKinney was the starting free safety for the 2023 season. In Week 11, he had a season-high 13 tackles against the Washington Commanders. On January 7, 2024, he made two interceptions against the Philadelphia Eagles. He started all 17 games in 2023. He recorded 116 tackles, 11 pass deflections, and three interceptions. He was one of only two defensive players in the NFL who played every single snap that season.

Playing for the Green Bay Packers

2024 Season with the Packers

On March 11, 2024, the Green Bay Packers signed McKinney to a four-year contract. He became the starting strong safety for the Packers.

McKinney made his debut with the Packers on September 6, 2024. He had an interception against the Philadelphia Eagles. The next week, he had another interception against the Indianapolis Colts. He continued his interception streak in Week 3 and Week 4. This made him the first Packers player ever to have an interception in his first four games with the team. He was also only the fourth player in NFL history to do this. In Week 5, he got his fifth straight interception. This made him the first player since 1970 to have five consecutive interceptions in the first five weeks with a new team.

In Week 18, McKinney had his eighth interception of the season. He started all 17 games in 2024. He finished the season with 88 tackles, 11 pass deflections, and a career-high eight interceptions. His eight interceptions were the second most in the NFL in 2024. In January 2025, McKinney was chosen for the 2025 Pro Bowl Games. He was also named a first-team All-Pro player.

NFL Career Statistics

Regular Season Stats

Playoff Stats