Xavier McKinney sends perfect message to Josh Jacobs after signing with Packers
The Green Bay Packers aggressively addressed two areas of need in the opening week of free agency, signing running back Josh Jacobs and safety Xavier McKinney.
Both players are among the best in the league at their respective positions and can be game-changing additions for the Packers.
Despite spending their entire NFL careers in different conferences, Jacobs and McKinney know each other well. They were teammates for two seasons at Alabama and won a national championship together in 2017.
The Las Vegas Raiders drafted Jacobs in the first round in 2019, and McKinney joined him in the NFL a year later. Now, they are reunited in Green Bay.
Xavier McKinney is fired up about Packers signing Josh Jacobs
McKinney is as excited as all of us after Jacobs' arrival in Green Bay. After the Packers officially announced the Jacobs signing, McKinney sent him a message via his Instagram story.
"My brother ! Let's go bruh.. back like we at BAMA! Know what that mean," McKinney wrote.
Both players have enjoyed a ton of success since their time together in Alabama. Jacobs is a two-time Pro Bowler and led the NFL in rushing in 2022. McKinney has quickly become one of the best young safeties in the league, having made 26 pass defenses and eight interceptions in 43 games over the past three seasons.
Jacobs will lead a new-look backfield. His numbers declined last season, but poor run-blocking meant he regularly had to fight off defenders behind the line of scrimmage. He is only one year removed from rushing for 1,653 yards and 12 touchdowns. Jacobs is also a capable receiver and should thrive in Matt LaFleur's offense.
McKinney is the post-safety Jeff Hafley was looking for. His consistent tackling and coverage ability make him a natural fit for Hafley's single-high coverages, but he can play just about anywhere the Packers need him.
Jacobs and McKinney enjoyed success together in Alabama. Now, they get the chance to reunite in Green Bay.