Packers' Xavier McKinney sets huge goals as Week 1 approaches

Last offseason, the Green Bay Packers signed veteran safety Xavier McKinney to a four-year deal, and he quickly proved to be an exceptional signing. McKinney was already good, and that’s why the Packers gave him a $68 million contract, but the safety took things to a new level with his new team. In 2024, McKinney was named First-Team All-Pro and also made the Pro Bowl — both career firsts.

Now, entering his sixth season and just 26 years old, McKinney is making it clear he’s just getting started.

The productive safety spoke with media members and re-emphasized the lofty goal he has for his career. McKinney explained that he’s striving to be able to put on a gold jacket at the end of his career.

Xavier McKinney makes it clear his goal is to be a Pro Football Hall of Famer

McKinney doesn’t say that lightly, and he’s not naive about what he needs to do to achieve this goal. That was evident as he expressed how he knows making the Hall of Fame isn’t easy, and isn’t a short road.

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However, he’s aware of that, and is locked in on the goal. McKinney knows that achieving a mountainous goal like that starts with attacking each day, and that’s what he’s doing.

His career-best year last season saw him record 88 tackles, one sack, 11 pass deflections, and eight interceptions that he returned for a total of 128 yards. To make the Hall of Fame, he needs to stack several more seasons like that. The Packers are certainly hoping he can do that.

If Green Bay continues to get the kind of play from McKinney it got last year, he’ll elevate the entire defense for years to come and keep the Packers contending for a Super Bowl. If McKinney can help the franchise bring home another Lombardi, it would certainly help his chances of making it in the Hall of Fame.