Green Bay Packers safety Xavier McKinney talked about last June how they want to elevate the team’s defense and make it one of the best in the league.
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Green Bay Packers safety Xavier McKinney (29) intercepts a pass against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, January 5, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The Bears won the game, 24-22, on a 51-yard field goal as time expired.
Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
“That next step I think is to have one of the best defenses in the league,” McKinney said after their early OTAs over the summer.
“That’s what we’re aiming for. We’re trying to be a defense that always creates turnovers, that plays with a level of intensity where the offense can’t match us, and I think we got the guys to do that. It’s going to be fun.”
That’s the team goal but McKinney has his personal ambitions, too, after reaching a new level in his first year at the Lambeau Field.
He has been in the league since 2020 but he only won his first ever Pro Bowl honors in his debut season with the Packers. He also won the First Team All-Pro award for his play in the 2024 season.
Green Bay Packers, Micah Parsons
Green Bay Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons speaks during an introductory press conference on Friday, August 29, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The Packers made a trade with the Dallas Cowboys on Aug. 28 to acquire Parsons in exchange for defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two first round picks.
Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
This goal probably became more reachable with their signing of Micah Parsons from the Dallas Cowboys.
Xavier McKinney wants the gold jacket
He is not yet done achieving personal awards and he is very vocal about it. He doubled down on it with a week to go before the start of the new season.
He said he is going to use this season as a stepping stone to achieve his goal to wear the gold jacket which is bestowed to those who are inducted in the football Hall of Fame.
“Bigger picture is at the end of my career, I wanna be able to put on a gold jacket and I’ve said that for the longest time,” he said.
Xavier McKinney, Micah Parsons, Green Bay Packers
Jan 12, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Green Bay Packers safety Xavier McKinney (29) during warmups against the Philadelphia Eagles in an NFC wild card game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
He acknowledges that it is going to be hard and so, he is putting the work.
“Obviously, I know it’s not gonna be easy. It’s not gonna be a short road. It’s a long travel,” he continued.
“I understand that so this is me being locked in on that goal, knowing that it’s gonna take day-by-day. It’s not something that’s gonna happen “just like that” [snaps fingers]. You have to do that progressively, each day.”
“Just making sure that I take everything intentional and going about growing.”
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