Xavier McKinney doesn’t want credit for playing every defensive snap this season, even though just three other NFL players can make that same claim.
“I’m not most guys. That’s the thing people have to understand about me,” the Giants’ safety said. “That’s what I’m supposed to do. It’s not something I need a trophy for.”
Defensive coordinator Wink Martindale and defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson both highlighted McKinney this week for reaching another level over the past three games, which coincides with after he criticized Martindale for not making adjustments based on player feedback against the Raiders. He has 33 tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery during the 2-1 stretch, climbing to the No. 9-ranked safety in the NFL by Pro Football Focus.
“You’ve seen him really lock in and his production has been through the roof for us,” Henderson said. “He’s starting to find the ball, which is something he did early in his career. I expect him to continue to play that way just because of how hard he is working and how important it is to him.”
It is easy to assume that McKinney’s recent surge is the product of a soon-to-be free agent trying to pad his next contract. But that would be insulting to the impact the two-time co-captain has made when healthy during the first three-plus years of his career and how personally consumed he is by wins and losses.
Patriots. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“Money doesn’t mean much to me,” McKinney told The Post. “Playing this game, I came in and my objective was to get a [Hall of Fame] gold jacket. It wasn’t to make the most money. I want to be a great player. The money part is going to come. I’m not worried about contracts. I’m worried about playing the best I can play so when my time is done I’m remembered as one of the best to ever do it. That’s what I want to accomplish.”
The Giants have used McKinney and first-year starter Jason Pinnock interchangeably in the two safety roles. McKinney aligning in four different spots for at least 50 snaps each on his way to 796 total has added a level of disguise to Martindale’s defense.
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“When I’m in the right places, I can make a lot of plays,” McKinney said. “When I’m able to move around and utilize all my abilities — being able to play nickel, play safety, play in the box, play deep, it gets me going and gets what I consider in that mode. That’s what I’ve always loved doing, so I don’t think it’s going to change any time soon.”
Henderson, a former NFL cornerback, believes in the “ebbs and flows” of a season more than off-field factors creating a sense of urgency.
“It’s just knowing that I have to be consistent, and sometimes the ball doesn’t come my way or I’m not in the position to make the plays,” Henderson said when putting himself in the players’ mindset. “But I have to keep fighting and giving myself the best chance to be ready to go when the ball comes my way or I get an opportunity. I think he’s doing an excellent job of that.”
With 10 tackles Monday against the Packers, McKinney will become the first NFL defensive back with five straight double-digit tackle games since 2000.
“My preparation has been the same,” McKinney said. “I pride myself on being consistent — it’s not always perfect — with how I go about my work and how I go about my business regardless of outside factors or whatever is being said. I have my ups and downs. I just try to be me.”
McKinney’s iron-man streak is matched by Giants teammate Bobby Okereke and two others. But it is an important narrative for McKinney after two previous seasons were cut short by injury, including one in a freak off-field ATV accident.
“I’m just trying to be here to help my team win and be here to help us play well on defense,” McKinney said. “If in order to do that, I have to play every down, we have to go to overtime, whatever it is, I’ll be there.”
