2023 SEASON: 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 interception. 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 QB Jalen 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 a 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 career-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 (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 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 interception 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 The Associated Press…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…Led the team with nine tackles (five solo) and added an INT at South Carolina (Sept. 14)…Posted a career-high 13 tackles (10 solo) vs. Ole Miss (Sept. 28)…Matched his career high with 13 tackles (nine solo), including 2½ tackles for a loss and a career-high two sacks, vs. eventual national champion LSU (Nov. 9)…Forced three turnovers vs. Western Carolina (Nov. 23), forcing a fumble and intercepting two passes, highlighted by an 81-yard TD return…Tied for the team lead with 10 tackles (four solo) and added a sack in his career finale vs. Michigan (Jan. 1) in the Citrus Bowl…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)…Posted seven tackles (five solo) and a sack vs. Texas A&M (Sept. 22)…Registered five tackles (four solo), a sack and his first career forced fumble at Tennessee (Oct. 20)…Earned Defensive MVP honors vs. Oklahoma (Dec. 29) in the Orange Bowl after posting five tackles (three solo) and a career-high four passes defensed…Led the team with seven tackles (six solo) vs. Clemson (Jan. 7) in the College Football Playoff National Championship…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)…Saw time in the secondary for the first time and posted two tackles (one solo) vs. Fresno State (Sept. 9)…Played on special teams in the win over Georgia (Jan. 8) in the national title game.
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.
