Ex-Giants Star Shines for Packers, Hints at Dissatisfaction with Former Team

As of August 8th, 2025, Xavier McKinney is heading into his second season with the Green Bay Packers after leaving the New York Giants as a free agent in 2024. In an interview with CBS Sports, the 26-year-old safety detailed his decision to join the Packers, hinting at some dissatisfaction with his former team.

McKinney spent the first four years of his NFL career with the Giants, who drafted him in the second round in 2020. However, last year, he decided to sign a four-year, $68 million contract with the Packers. McKinney explained that the move allowed him to "get back to solely locking in on [his] craft" and that the Packers' "atmosphere is the best [he's] ever experienced."

The signing has proven to be a major success for the Packers. In his first season in Green Bay, McKinney had a career-high 8 interceptions, 11 passes defended, and 1 sack. He also registered 88 tackles, the second-highest total of his career, and earned his first Pro Bowl selection. This production has been a significant boost for a Packers team that needed safety help heading into the 2024 offseason.

As the Packers look to build on their success and make a deep playoff run in the upcoming season, McKinney will be a key part of their defensive efforts. It remains to be seen if he can replicate his Pro Bowl-caliber performance, but the early signs suggest the Packers have found a star in the former Giants standout.