Giants Safety Xavier McKinney: Born to be a Leader
Feature - August 31st, 2022
New York Giants safety Xavier McKinney should be a shining example to young defensive backs of how hard work, resilience, and dedication can work marvels in elevating their NFL careers.
Just two years prior, the Giants’ 2020 second-round pick out of Alabama joined the organization as a physically versatile player with a bunch of expectations. After an impressive collegiate career in Tuscaloosa that featured a First-Team All-SEC nod and national championship, a fractured foot quickly marred the rookie’s inaugural season and put those expectations on hold.
In 2021, the Roswell, Georgia native worked his way back from the lingering injury to put on one of the more impressive individual defensive performances of the Giants season. Playing in all 17 games, McKinney notched 93 tackles (third-best on the team) while more than tripling his interception count (5 total), adding on a touchdown and earning an NFC Defensive Player of the Week acknowledgment.
Now, as he prepares to enter his third professional season with New York, the 23-year-old’s effort hasn’t gone unnoticed, and he is about to assume a well-deserved responsibility handed down to him by his teammates–serving as a team captain.