
Xavier McKinney
S
#29
Experience: 7 years
Height: 6-0
Age: 27
Weight: 201 lbs
College: Alabama
Preseason
| WK | Game Date | OPP | RESULT | Total | Solo | AST | SCK | SFTY | PDEF | INT | YDS | AVG | LNG | TDS | FF | FR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 08/28/2026 | Cardinals | W 42 - 38 | |||||||||||||
| 2 | 08/21/2026 | @Broncos | W 33 - 13 | |||||||||||||
| 1 | 08/13/2026 | @Steelers | L 9 - 28 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Biography
- First name is pronounced ZAY-vier.
- Earned All-Pro honors from The Associated Press in each of his first two seasons with the Packers (second team in 2025 and first team in 2024), becoming the first Green Bay defensive player since CB Charles Woodson (2008-11) to earn All-Pro recognition in consecutive seasons.
- Was the only NFL player to register 425-plus tackles (440), 15-plus interceptions (18) and 45-plus passes defensed (47) over the past five seasons (2021-25).
- Was selected to his first career Pro Bowl in 2024 and was named All-Pro by the NFL Players Association following a leaguewide vote.
- Is tied for No. 2 in the NFL in both INTs (18) and takeaways (21) since 2021.
- Played in 49 games with 46 starts for the N.Y. Giants (2020-23), leading the team with 277 tackles (179 solo) and nine INTs over that span while ranking No. 2 on the club with 27 passes defensed.
- As a junior at Alabama in 2019, earned first-team All-Southeastern Conference honors from the coaches and media and was named a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, presented annually to the nation's top defensive back.
Pro Highlights:
- Earned All-Pro honors from The Associated Press in each of his first two seasons with the Packers (second team in 2025 and first team in 2024), becoming the first Green Bay defensive player since CB Charles Woodson (2008-11) to earn All-Pro recognition in consecutive seasons.
- Is tied for No. 2 in the NFL in both interceptions (18) and takeaways (21) since 2021.
- In 2024, became the first Green Bay safety to be named first-team All-Pro since 2000 and the first Packers DB to earn first-team honors since Woodson in 2009.
- Was also selected to his first career Pro Bowl in 2024 and was named All-Pro by the NFL Players Association following a leaguewide vote.
- Was one of six safeties in the NFL to record multiple INTs in each of the past three seasons (2023-25).
- Was one of seven NFL players to post 10-plus passes defensed in at least four of the last five seasons (2021, 2023-25).
- Ranked No. 2 in the NFL with a career-high eight INTs in 2024, the most by a Packer since Woodson registered nine in 2009.
- Ranked No. 2 in the NFL in INT return yards with 128 in 2024, the most by a Packer since S Charlie Peprah (147) in 2011.
- Became the first player in team history to register an INT in each of his first five games in a Green Bay uniform and tied for the longest streak in franchise history (Irv Comp in 1943).
- Played in 49 games with 46 starts for the N.Y. Giants (2020-23), leading the team with 277 tackles (179 solo) and nine INTs over that span while ranking No. 2 on the club with 27 passes defensed.
- In 2023, was one of only four players in the league (Antoine Winfield Jr., Julian Love, Quincy Williams) to post 100-plus tackles (116), 10-plus passes defensed (11), a forced fumble (one) and a fumble recovery (two). Became the first Giant to hit those marks in a season since DB Terrell Thomas in 2010.
- Was tied for the league lead among safeties with a team-high five INTs in 2021.
- Was selected by the Giants in the second round (No. 36 overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft, joining S Landon Collins (second round, 2015) as the only defensive backs drafted in the first two rounds by New York out of the University of Alabama.
2025 SEASON: Started all 16 contests he was active for, registering 102 tackles (51 solo), two INTs (No. 2 on the team), two QB hits, a sack, a forced fumble, 10 passes defensed (No. 2 on the team and tied for No. 6 among NFL safeties, Stathead.com) and two Next Gen Stat QB pressures...Also posted a career-high five tackles on special teams…Recorded the second-most tackles of his career (116 in 2023)...Posted five-plus tackles in 14 games on the season, tied for No. 4 among NFL safeties (Stathead.com)…At Cleveland (Sept. 21): Registered six tackles (two solo) and an INT when he leaped in the air to intercept a deep pass down the sideline right before the half…At Arizona (Oct. 19): Finished No. 2 on the team with eight tackles (two solo) and a pass defensed when he leaped up and knocked the pass out of the back of the end zone on fourth-and-11 with six seconds to go in the game…Vs. Carolina (Nov. 2): Posted a team-high nine tackles (three solo), a sack, a QB hit, a pass defensed, a forced fumble and an INT when he picked off a pass in the back of the end zone early in the second quarter. Two plays before the INT, blitzed off the edge to record a sack/forced fumble on QB Bryce Young. It was the first time in his career he recorded a sack and an INT in the same game and he became the first Green Bay defensive back to register a sack, an INT and a forced fumble in a game since S Morgan Burnett (Week 2 at Carolina in 2011)…At Detroit (Nov. 27): Recorded five tackles (three solo), a pass defensed, a QB hit and a QB pressure…Vs. Baltimore (Dec. 27): Led the team with a career-high-tying 13 tackles and tied for No. 1 on the team with six solo tackles…At Chicago (NFC Wild Card, Jan. 10): Finished with five tackles (three solo) and tied for the team lead with two passes defensed. With just over five minutes to play in the second quarter, closed in and stripped the ball out of the hands of TE Cole Kmet for an incompletion on a third-and-5 where the Bears went for it on fourth down and didn't convert.
2024: Started all 17 contests and posted 85 tackles (58 solo), a sack, two tackles for a loss, a team-high 11 passes defensed (tied career high), a career-high eight INTs, a QB hit, a fumble recovery and four QB pressures…Ranked No. 2 in the NFL in INTs and in INT return yards (128), the most by a Packer since Peprah (147) in 2011…Recorded the most INTs by a Packer since Woodson (nine in 2009)...His eight games with an INT on the season tied for the league lead and for the most ever by a Packer in a season…Became the first player in team history to register an INT in each of his first five games in a Green Bay uniform and became the first NFL player since the 1970 merger with an INT in each of his first five games with a team...His streak of five straight games with an INT is tied for the longest streak in franchise history (Comp in 1943)...Earned first-team AP All-Pro honors, made the Pro Bowl, was named All-Pro by the NFL Players Association and was selected to the All-NFL and All-NFC teams by the Pro Football Writers of America…At Philadelphia (Sept. 6): Posted four tackles (three solo) and a pass defensed, and intercepted QB Jalen Hurts when he undercut a deep pass early in the first quarter, returning it 17 yards to the Philadelphia 19-yard line in his Green Bay debut…Vs. Indianapolis (Sept. 15): Registered four tackles (three solo) and a tackle for a loss, and picked off QB Anthony Richardson on an overthrow deep over the middle, returning it 18 yards to the Green Bay 31. On third-and-1 on the first play of the fourth quarter, tracked down RB Trey Sermon on an option play for a loss of 4 yards, forcing a 50-yard FG that missed wide left...At Tennessee (Sept. 22): Recorded four tackles (three solo) and a pass defensed, and leaped into the air on a deep ball down the sideline to intercept QB Will Levis at the Green Bay 18-yard line with just over two minutes to play in the game...Vs. Minnesota (Sept. 29): Posted four tackles (two solo) and an INT, picking off a pass to the sideline in the third quarter at the Green Bay 2 when he jumped to cut in front of RB Aaron Jones...At L.A. Rams (Oct. 6): Recorded three tackles (two solo), an INT, two passes defensed and a fumble recovery. Tied the franchise record (since 1940) for the most consecutive games with an INT with five. Both takeaways came in the third quarter on back-to-back drives and each led to a TD on the Packers' ensuing drive. Became the first Packer to have an INT and an opponent fumble recovery in a quarter since Woodson (third quarter) at Carolina in Week 2 of 2011...Vs. Houston (Oct. 20): Registered six tackles (five solo), a tackle for a loss and a QB hit, and posted his first sack as a Packer (second of his career) when he blitzed off the edge to blindside QB C.J. Stroud for a loss of 8 yards on third-and-6…At Jacksonville (Oct. 27): Recorded six tackles (four solo), a pass defensed and an INT of QB Trevor Lawrence on a deep pass that set up Green Bay at the Jacksonville 28...Vs. San Francisco (Nov. 24): Posted three tackles (all solo), two passes defensed and an INT when he caught a pass off the hands of WR Deebo Samuel Sr. and returned it a career-long 48 yards to the 49ers' 26, setting up a TD four plays later that put Green Bay up, 24-7, in the third quarter...Vs. Chicago (Jan. 5): Recorded four tackles (three solo) and with the Bears on the Green Bay 40, picked off a pass from WR Keenan Allen on a reverse, returning it 17 yards early in the third quarter.
2023: Started all 17 games for the first time in his career, ranking No. 2 on the team with a career-high 116 tackles (78 solo), three INTs, a career-high 11 passes defensed (tied for the team lead) and a career-best two fumble recoveries…Was one of only four players in the league (Winfield Jr., Love, Williams) to post 100-plus tackles, 10-plus passes defensed (11), a forced fumble and a fumble recovery…Was tied for No. 4 among NFL safeties in passes defensed…Vs. Dallas (Sept. 10): Registered four tackles (one solo) and two passes defensed…At Miami (Oct. 8): Recorded eight tackles (seven solo), a forced fumble and a pass defensed. Early in the second quarter, forced a fumble by RB Devon Achane that LB Kayvon Thibodeaux recovered at the New York 38…At Las Vegas (Nov. 5): Led the team with 10 tackles (seven solo)…At Dallas (Nov. 12): Registered 10 tackles (eight solo), marking the first time in his career that he posted a double-digit tackle total in back-to-back games…At Washington (Nov. 19): Led the secondary with a career-high 13 tackles (eight solo), a tackle for a loss and a fumble recovery. Midway through the first quarter, recovered a TE Logan Thomas fumble at the Washington 45 that set up a TD for the Giants four plays later…Vs. New England (Nov. 26): Recorded a double-digit tackle total for the fourth straight game, posting a team-high 10 tackles (four solo) while adding two passes defensed and an INT. Early in the fourth quarter, picked off QB Bailey Zappe and returned it 18 yards to the New England 32 to set up what would prove to be the game-winning 42-yard FG…Vs. Philadelphia (Jan. 7): Matched his career high with two INTs and posted a career-best three passes defensed along with six tackles (two solo). Posted the INTs late in the first half on back-to-back plays, first intercepting a Hurts deep pass at the New York 36 and then after the Giants went three-and-out, picking off QB Marcus Mariota's short pass at the Philadelphia 16 on the Eagles' next offensive play from scrimmage.
2022: Started all nine games he appeared in, recording 44 tackles (28 solo), two tackles for a loss, a sack, five passes defensed and a forced fumble…Was sidelined for seven games (reserve/non-football injury list in Weeks 10-16) due to a hand injury and dressed but did not play in Week 18 with the team having already clinched a playoff berth…Saw his NFL-long streak of 1,432 consecutive defensive snaps played end when he did not play vs. Houston in Week 10...Vs. Baltimore (Oct. 16): Posted a season-high nine tackles (five solo)…At Jacksonville (Oct. 23): Registered three tackles (all solo) and his first career forced fumble, forcing one on an RB Travis Etienne run at the Giants' 5-yard line that was recovered by Love in the end zone for a touchback. Later in the game, was credited with stopping WR Christian Kirk at the 1-yard line on the final play of the game to seal the 23-17 win…At Seattle (Oct. 30): Posted his first career sack when he brought down QB Geno Smith for an 8-yard loss on third down in the second quarter to force a punt…Vs. Indianapolis (Jan. 1): Made his return from injury after missing seven games and finished with seven tackles (four solo) and a pass defensed…At Minnesota (NFC Wild Card, Jan. 15): Led the team with eight tackles (four solo) and a pass defensed in his NFL playoff debut…At Philadelphia (NFC Divisional, Jan. 21): Posted eight tackles (four solo), including a 6-yard sack of Hurts in the third quarter, forcing a fumble that Hurts recovered. On the next play, stopped WR DeVonta Smith for a 1-yard loss on a short pass.
2021: Played in all 17 games with 16 starts and recorded 93 tackles (59 solo), a team-high five INTs, 10 passes defensed and a tackle for a loss…Was tied for No. 1 in the league among safeties and tied for No. 4 among all players in INTs…Was one of only two players in the NFL to register two multi-INT games (Patriots CB J.C. Jackson)…Vs. Denver (Sept. 12): Posted three tackles (all solo) and two passes defensed…Vs. L.A. Rams (Oct. 17): Recorded the first multi-INT game of his career, picking off QB Matthew Stafford on a deep pass on the final play of the first half and returning it 23 yards and then later intercepting QB John Wolford on a third-down pass in the fourth quarter…Vs. Las Vegas (Nov. 7): Earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors after registering seven tackles (four solo) and two INTs, including a pick early in the third quarter off of QB Derek Carr that he returned 41 yards for a TD…Vs. Philadelphia (Nov. 28): Led the team with a season-high eight tackles (four solo), an INT and two passes defensed. Midway through the third quarter, picked off a deep pass from Hurts at the New York 46…Vs. Washington (Jan. 9): Matched his season high with eight tackles (six solo).
2020: Appeared in six games with four starts as a rookie and registered 24 tackles (14 solo), a tackle for a loss, an INT and a pass defensed…Was on injured reserve for the first 10 games of the season after undergoing surgery to repair a fractured foot that he suffered in training camp…At Cincinnati (Nov. 29): Appeared on five snaps on defense and nine on special teams in his NFL debut…Vs. Arizona (Dec. 13): Made his first NFL start and posted four tackles (one solo) in 38 snaps of work…Vs. Cleveland (Dec. 20): With CB James Bradberry sidelined, started at LCB and registered four tackles (two solo)…At Baltimore (Dec. 27): Started and recorded a season-high eight tackles (season-best seven solo)…Vs. Dallas (Jan. 3): Started and matched his season high with eight tackles (four solo), including a tackle for a loss. Brought down WR CeeDee Lamb for a 3-yard loss on a completion from QB Andy Dalton in the third quarter. With just over a minute remaining in the game, posted his first INT in the NFL when he picked off Dalton on a deep pass intended for TE Dalton Schultz to seal the 23-19 win...2020 Draft: Was selected by the Giants in the second round (No. 36 overall), the first safety to be drafted in 2020.
COLLEGE: Played in 41 games with 28 starts during his three seasons at Alabama, posting 176 tackles (108 solo), 13 tackles for a loss, six sacks, five INTs (two returned for TDs), 20 passes defensed, five forced fumbles and one fumble recovery…Majored in financial planning…2019: Started all 13 games, earning All-SEC honors from the coaches and media after leading the team with a career-high 95 tackles (59 solo), 5½ tackles for a loss, three sacks, three INTs, five passes defensed and a conference-leading four forced fumbles…Earned second-team All-America recognition from the AFCA, Sporting News and Walter Camp and third-team honors from AP…Was named a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, presented annually to the nation's top defensive back…Was selected by the coaching staff as one of the team's defensive players of the week eight times on the season…2018: Started all 15 games and posted 73 tackles (44 solo), six tackles for a loss, three sacks, two INTs, 10 passes defensed and a forced fumble…Intercepted his first career pass, returning it 30 yards for a TD at Ole Miss (Sept. 15)…2017: Appeared in 13 of 14 games as a true freshman, seeing time primarily on special teams…Registered eight tackles (five solo), including 1½ tackles for a loss…Made his collegiate debut on special teams vs. Florida State (Sept. 2).
PERSONAL: Given name Xavier Avis McKinney…First name is pronounced ZAY-vier…Born in East St. Louis, Ill. …High school: Was selected as the Georgia Class 7A Defensive Player of the Year by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution as a senior in 2016 at Roswell (Ga.) High School after recording 82 tackles, seven INTs, nine passes defensed, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries…Was a four-year letterwinner, playing numerous positions in the secondary as well as wide receiver…Participated in the Under Armour All-America Game and Nike's 2016 "The Opening"…Registered 111 tackles, four tackles for a loss, two sacks, 13 passes defensed and nine INTs as a junior, including two that he returned for TDs...Also played basketball…Community involvement: Hosted the Xavier McKinney All-Star Bowling event to benefit the United Way of New York City's ReadNYC Campaign…Attended the Father-Son Breakfast at Iona Prep to speak with students about his NFL journey…Participated in a virtual conversation for Mental Health Awareness Month with students across New York City to share the importance of mental health…Partnered with Stop and Shop to distribute meals and to meet members of the Bronx community…Met with members from the Wounded Warriors Project during their visit at the team facility to watch practice and enjoy a day with the Giants.