Jeff Hafley gives the ultimate compliment to Xavier McKinney

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Green Bay Packers safety Xavier McKinney was named NFC Defensive Player of the Month for October on Thursday.

With an NFL-leading six interceptions, McKinney is a big reason why the Packers (6-2) have a chance to take over first place in the NFC North when they host the Detroit Lions (6-1) on Sunday.

“It was great. I had no idea,” defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley said Thursday. “The photo went up during the team meeting, which was really cool. It’s an honor for him.”

Through eight games, McKinney has almost as many interceptions as the Packers had last season (seven). It is almost impossible to overstate the impact he has made on the defense and the rest of the team.

“He’s the best safety in the NFL in my opinion,” Hafley said. “And it’s starting to be seen by everyone. And I’m so proud of him and I’m not surprised. The growth he’s had, I mean, I can see it already. He’s become one of the best leaders on our team, he’s one of the best practice players on our team. He has an incredible attitude, he is always studying.

‘And he’s young. I don’t even think we’ve seen anywhere near how good this guy will be. It’s right now that everyone is starting to notice because he has a huge production.

The 26-year-old McKinney was drafted by the Giants in 2020. He had a career-high five interceptions in 2021 and nine interceptions in four seasons.

The Packers signed him to a four-year contract worth $67 million in free agency to provide the impact safety they have lacked since Nick Collins’ prime years.

McKinney is everything the Packers hoped for and more.

Collins’ best season was seven interceptions in 2008. When Charles Woodson won NFL Defensive Player of the Year with the Packers in 2009 – he collected three NFC Defensive Player of the Month awards that year – he had nine interceptions. Irv Comp holds the franchise record with 10 interceptions in 1943.

McKinney, by the way, is fifth in the Defensive Player of the Year odds at DraftKings.

So yes, there are bigger fish to fry for McKinney from an individual perspective. You also lead a young high school and are part of a team with Super Bowl aspirations.

“I went straight to defensive backs coach Ryan Downard.

‘Let’s be honest of course: he sees it, he hears it. That is a great honor, great, but that is not the goal we have set ourselves. That’s not the goal he set for himself. That sounds like a bit of coachespeak, but I really believe in it.”

It is impossible to ignore the external perspective. Even Downard can’t ignore it.

“My wife sent me the (Player of the Month) picture today,” Downard said, “so I’m going straight to X and saying, ‘Don’t listen to that stuff anymore.’ They don’t confirm who he is, and he has a lot more to accomplish. He probably thinks I’m a bit of a dick, but that’s the approach he should have. That won’t bother him, but he’s probably watching me I feel a bit crazy when I say those things to him.”

McKinney probably doesn’t need Downard in his ear. While talking about the award and Sunday’s showdown against the Lions, he reiterated what he had been saying in recent weeks.

“At the end of the day, it’s a great honor and I’m happy about it,” McKinney said. “But there’s more to do and there’s more I want to accomplish, and I’m just going to get back to work.”

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