Despite their flaws, the Green Bay Packers are 6-3 going into Week 10. Jordan Love's impressive play has most definitely played a massive role in his team's success, but the defense has been equally important.
The Packers rank 11th in points allowed and second in takeaways, with 19, nine games into the season.
That impressive ability to create turnovers at such a high rate wouldn't be possible without Evan Williams and Xavier McKinney, who are wasting no time proving that they're the best safety duo not just in the NFC North, but the whole NFL.
Evan Williams and Xavier McKinney give the Packers the top safety tandem in the NFL
Williams and McKinney combined for three interceptions in the Week 9 win over the New England Patriots, but their jaw-dropping showing is far from an outlier.
Before the 2026 season began, they were viewed by many as the best safety tandem in football, but only McKinney popped up on ESPN's survey of the top-10 safeties in the league. Based on how things are unfolding, and in light of the Packers' success, maybe it's time everyone adjusts their rankings.
McKinney is having one of the best seasons of his career, registering five interceptions (two of them came in the win over the Pats), six passes defensed, and one sack. His five picks are tied with Amani Hooker for the most in the NFL, and with eight games to go, he has a chance to tie or even surpass his career total of eight.
Meanwhile, Williams has already tied his career-best of three interceptions and should be able to post a new personal best by the end of the season. Heck, based on how he's playing, nobody will bat an eye if he earns his first All-Pro designation.
EVAN WILLIAMS OH MY
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When you look at their combined production, it's easy to see not only why Williams and McKinney are the best safety duo in the league, but also why the Packers have one of the best defenses despite the absences of linebacker Edgerrin Cooper and star pass rusher Micah Parsons, who's trending toward making his 2026 season debut after the bye.
Just how good have Evan Williams and Xavier McKinney been for the Packers this season?
Throughout the Packers' rich history of safeties, you'll find names like Bobby Dillon, Nick Collins, Adrian Amos, and Willie Brown. While Williams and McKinney have a long way to go before they can be discussed in the same breath, they're most definitely on the way.
McKinney was a second-round pick of the New York Giants in 2020, but it wasn't until he landed with the Green & Gold that he earned first-team All-Pro honors for the first time in 2024.
The former Alabama Crimson Tide was a second-team All-Pro selection the following year and has a favorable chance of earning his third All-Pro nod this season. Similarly, he could get his second Pro Bowl selection. Even better, Williams could join him.
Williams is PFF's No. 1-ranked safety entering Week 10. McKinney is No. 7.
They could become the first safety tandem in Packers history to both earn Pro Bowl or All-Pro honors in the same season. Butler and Eugene Robinson should've pulled it off in 1996 – Robinson was a snub.
The way they're playing, there's as good a chance as ever.
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