Xavier McKinney’s arrival was a watershed moment for the Packers’ defense in 2024, but the All-Pro safety has sights set on an even more prolific 2025.
“It’s time to go,” McKinney told reporters, when asked what his goals are for the upcoming season. “I’m focused. I’m laser-focused. Even more than I was last year, so, for me, it’s continuing to grind, continuing to figure out ways where I can improve.”
Packers’ Xavier McKinney Has Big Individual, Team Goals
Shifting into another gear from posting 88 total tackles with a career-high eight interceptions and 11 pass breakups would certainly not just elevate McKinney higher up the rankings of the top safeties in the sport, but also towards the Packers’ defense building on its momentum from a strong 2024.
McKinney taking yet another leap in his second season in Lambeau would go a long way towards bolstering a secondary in coordinator Jeff Hafley’s defense that suddenly has plenty of question marks.
“It’s not just for me,” McKinney says. “But, continuing to elevate these guys around me. That’s going to be the main thing. I’m trying to have the best safety in the league. So, I think we’ve done a great job building that. We’ve got a special group.”
Beyond the talent that McKinney believes is already in the Packers’ secondary, the 25-year-old says Green Bay’s dominance on the back-end is a testament to coordinator Jeff Hafley.
“We have a really good [defensive coordinator],” McKinney explained. “I think he teaches the scheme the right way, and allows us to play with that freedom to make these plays.”
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