Packers’ Xavier McKinney Named to NFLPA All-Pro Team

GREEN BAY – Packers safety Xavier McKinney has been named to the NFLPA All-Pro team, as voted on by active players. The fifth-year safety recorded 85 tackles (58 solo) with a career-high eight interceptions, the most by a Packers player since Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback Charles Woodson‘s nine during his NFL Defensive Player of the Year season in 2009.

Signed in March as an unrestricted free agent, McKinney became the first player in team history to register an interception in each of his first five games in a Green Bay uniform. He’s also the first NFL player since the 1970 merger with an interception in each of his first five games with a team.

The 25-year-old safety’s streak of five straight games with an interception tied for the longest streak in franchise history (Irv Comp in 1943). McKinney is just the fourth NFL player since 1970 with a takeaway in each of his team’s first five games of a season, joining Trevon Diggs (2021), Brian Russell (2003), and Lemar Parrish (1979).

Per the NFLPA, only active NFL players can vote, and they get only one vote. If a player missed five or more games as of Week 15, then he is ineligible to be selected. This is to ensure that the union is choosing the best players who had the most impact this season. Players cannot vote for themselves or for their own teammates. Players vote for the position group they play in and line up against.

McKinney’s dedication to his craft is evident in his daily routine. He arrives early for meetings, often before any other player, to review game plans with coaches. His meticulous approach to preparation has earned him praise from teammates and coaches alike. “He’s always wanting to be on top of his stuff,” said Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. “The details, the execution, the competitor. That’s who he is and that’s why he’s a really good player.”

McKinney’s journey to the NFL has been shaped by his disciplined upbringing. His mother, Eboni Merriwether, instilled in him the importance of structure and hard work from a young age. “I needed him to do well in school, on the field, off the field, just be a good kid and a respectful kid,” Merriwether said. “That’s something that my parents instilled in me and my brother, and it’s something that I definitely had to surround him with during his upbringing.”

McKinney’s commitment to excellence extends beyond the football field. He is known for his professionalism and cooperation with the media, earning him the Tom Mulhern Stand-Up Guy Award. His dedication to his craft and his team has made him a key player for the Packers and a deserving member of the NFLPA All-Pro team.