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 9, 1998) is an American professional football safety. He plays for the Green Bay Packers in the National Football League (NFL). Before joining the NFL, he played college football at Alabama. The New York Giants picked 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 a highly rated safety recruit. McKinney chose to play college football at the University of Alabama.

College Football Career at Alabama

McKinney started his college career at Alabama in 2017. He played in 13 games, mostly as a backup and 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 decided to leave college early. He chose to enter the 2020 NFL draft.

Professional Football Journey

Playing for the New York Giants

2020 Season: Rookie Year Challenges

The New York Giants chose McKinney in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He was the very first safety picked that year. On July 27, 2020, the Giants signed him to a four-year contract.

During practice on August 25, 2020, McKinney broke his foot. He had surgery the next day. This injury meant he had to miss the first ten games of the season. He was placed on the team's injured reserve list. McKinney was able to return to play on November 28.

He played his first professional game on November 29, 2020. He made one tackle in a win against the Cincinnati Bengals. In Week 14, he started his first NFL game. On January 3, 2021, McKinney 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. He played in six games and started four. The Giants did not make the playoffs that year.

2021 Season: A Breakout Year

McKinney began the 2021 season as a backup safety. On October 17, 2021, he had a great game. He made two interceptions against the Los Angeles Rams. On November 3, he had to follow COVID-19 rules.

On November 7, 2021, McKinney had an amazing game against the Las Vegas Raiders. He made two more interceptions and scored his first career touchdown. He returned an interception 41 yards for the score. His performance earned him the NFC Defensive Player of the Week award. He played in all 17 games that season. He finished with 93 tackles, ten pass deflections, and five interceptions.

2022 Season: Injury Setback

After the 2021 season, the Giants changed their head coach. McKinney was expected to be a starting safety. During the team's break in Week 9, McKinney broke his hand in an ATV accident. This injury kept him from playing for seven games. He was placed on a special injury list. McKinney was able to return to play on December 31, 2022.

2023 Season: Always on the Field

In the 2023 season, McKinney showed how tough he was. He and his teammate Bobby Okereke were the only two defensive players in the NFL who played every single snap of the season. This means they were on the field for every play their team's defense was out there.

Joining the Green Bay Packers

2024 Season: Making History

On March 11, 2024, the Green Bay Packers signed McKinney. He joined the team with a four-year contract.

In his first regular season game with the Packers, he caught an interception against the Philadelphia Eagles. He got another interception the next week in his first game at Lambeau Field. The week after, he caught a third interception against the Tennessee Titans. The following week, McKinney made history. He became the first Packers player ever to get an interception in each of his first four games with the team. He was also only the fourth player in NFL history to do this. He then recorded his fifth straight interception in Week 5 against the Los Angeles Rams. This made him the first player since 1970 to have five interceptions in his first five games with a new team. In January 2025, he was chosen for the 2025 Pro Bowl Games. He was also named a first-team All-Pro.

NFL Career Statistics

This section shows Xavier McKinney's statistics from his time playing in the NFL.

Regular Season Games

Playoff Games