Bryant Douglas McKinnie (born September 23, 1979) is an American former professional
football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...
player who was an
offensive tackle
Offensive may refer to:
* Offensive (military), type of military operation
* Offensive, the former name of the Dutch political party Socialist Alternative
* Fighting words, spoken words which would have a tendency to cause acts of violence by the ...
in the
National Football League
The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...
(NFL). He played
college football
College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...
for the
Miami Hurricanes
The Miami Hurricanes, known informally as The U, UM, or The 'Canes, are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. The Hurricanes compete in NCAA Division I, Division I of the National Coll ...
, twice earning
All-American
The All-America designation is an annual honor bestowed on outstanding athletes in the United States who are considered to be among the best athletes in their respective sport. Individuals receiving this distinction are typically added to an Al ...
honors.
He was selected by the
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis. The Vikings compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. Founded in 1960 as ...
with the seventh overall selection in the
2002 NFL draft
The 2002 NFL draft was the 67th annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible professional football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted ...
. In addition to the Vikings, McKinnie also played for the
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional American football team based in Baltimore. The Ravens compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. The team plays its home g ...
and the
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a professional American football team based in the Miami metropolitan area. The Dolphins compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East division. The team ...
.
Early life
McKinnie was born in
Woodbury, New Jersey
Woodbury is a city in and the county seat of Gloucester County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. . He attended and played
high school football
High school football, also known as prep football, is gridiron football played by High school (North America), high school teams in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular high school sports, interscholastic sports in both c ...
at
Woodbury High School in
Woodbury, New Jersey
Woodbury is a city in and the county seat of Gloucester County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. .
Going into his senior year of high school, Bryant was listed as tall and and projected to start on both the offensive and defensive lines.
College career
Lackawanna College
McKinnie played college football for two years at
Lackawanna College
Lackawanna College (Lackawanna or LC) is a private college in Scranton, Pennsylvania, United States. It also has satellite centers in Hawley, Hazleton, Sunbury, Towanda, and Tunkhannock, and an Environmental Education Center in Covington ...
in
Scranton, Pennsylvania
Scranton is a city in and the county seat of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, United States. With a population of 76,328 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, Scranton is the most populous city in Northeastern Pennsylvania and the ...
. There, he gained 70 pounds and switched from his high school position as a defensive lineman to offensive tackle.
University of Miami
After junior college, he received a scholarship to transfer to the
University of Miami
The University of Miami (UM, UMiami, Miami, U of M, and The U) is a private university, private research university in Coral Gables, Florida, United States. , the university enrolled 19,852 students in two colleges and ten schools across over ...
and play for the
Miami Hurricanes football
The Miami Hurricanes football team represents the University of Miami in college football. The Hurricanes compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association, NCAA's NCAA Division I, Division I NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, Foot ...
team.
After
redshirting in 1999, McKinnie started his junior and senior years at left tackle for the Hurricanes. During his college career, he was an extraordinary blocking tackle, not allowing a sack on a quarterback against opposition. McKinnie was recognized as a unanimous first-team
All-American
The All-America designation is an annual honor bestowed on outstanding athletes in the United States who are considered to be among the best athletes in their respective sport. Individuals receiving this distinction are typically added to an Al ...
in 2001. Also in 2001, McKinnie was the winner of the
Outland Trophy
The Outland Trophy is awarded to the best college football
College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that g ...
, finished eighth overall in voting for the
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy ( ; also known simply as the Heisman) is awarded annually since 1935 to the top player in college football. It is considered the most prestigious award in the sport and is presented by the Heisman Trophy Trust followin ...
, was the ''
CNN Sports Illustrated
CNN/Sports Illustrated (CNN/SI) was a 24-hour sports news Television network, network. Created when Time Warner merged its CNN and ''Sports Illustrated'' brands, it launched on December 12, 1996.
Other news networks like ESPNews provided 30-mi ...
'' "Player of the Year," and was a key part of the
Hurricanes' 2001 National Championship. At the University of Miami, he was roommates with future
NFL
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The N ...
tight end
The tight end (TE) is an offense (sports), offensive position in American football, arena football, and Canadian football. It is a hybrid that combines the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a receiver (football), receiv ...
Jeremy Shockey.
In the September 2006 issue of ''
FHM'' magazine, McKinnie was one of five University of Miami alumni prominently featured in an article titled, "University of Miami Hit Squad: The Hurricanes are Taking Over the NFL. Deal with it." In the article, McKinnie said, "If you put together a team made up of guys playing in the NFL who come from the University of Miami, we'd be playing in the Super Bowl this season. And I think we'd win."
In 2012, Bryant was inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame.
Professional career
Minnesota Vikings
McKinnie was selected seventh overall in the first round by the
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis. The Vikings compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. Founded in 1960 as ...
in the
2002 NFL draft
The 2002 NFL draft was the 67th annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible professional football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted ...
. Following a 98-day holdout, he joined the team just two days before the Viking's Week 9 game against the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (colloquially known as the Bucs) are a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC S ...
. McKinnie made his professional debut during the second possession of the Viking's Week 10 game against the
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Giants compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. The ...
, a 27–20 loss.
McKinnie started every game for Minnesota from 2003 to 2007 and had a streak of 88 consecutive games started.
After a 2009 loss against the
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The Cardinals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC West, West division. The ...
,
Tony Boselli
Don Bosco Anthony Boselli Jr. (born April 17, 1972) is an American professional football executive and former player who is the executive vice president of football operations for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). ...
reported on the
Dan Patrick show that McKinnie accidentally tipped off the Vikings offensive game plan to the Cardinals. He said that the Cardinals knew when the Vikings were going to pass because of his leg. "He would have one of his legs back a little bit further" when getting in stance before the play. In 2010, McKinnie allowed a sack that injured
Brett Favre
Brett Lorenzo Favre ( ; born October 10, 1969) is an American former professional American football, football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 20 seasons, primarily with the Green Bay Packers. Favre had 321 cons ...
and stopped his consecutive regular season start streak at 297 games.
McKinnie was selected to his first NFL
Pro Bowl
The National Football League All-Star Game (1939–1942), Pro Bowl (1951–2022), or Pro Bowl Games (since 2023) is an annual event held by the National Football League (NFL) featuring the league's All-star, star players.
The format has changed ...
following the 2009 season, but didn't play in the game due to injuries in his feet and left ankle, as well as an illness he was enduring at the time. Because he was not quickly up-front with the league about these issues, the NFL front office forced him to forfeit his $22,500 check and re-pay $4,285 for other expenses.
In the summer of 2011, McKinnie was placed on the Vikings' non-football injury list for reportedly showing up to camp out of shape, according to The ''
Star Tribune
''The Minnesota Star Tribune'', formerly the ''Minneapolis Star Tribune'', is an American daily newspaper based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. As of 2023, it is Minnesota's largest newspaper and the List of newspapers in the United States, seventh- ...
''. He had finished the prior season at 360 pounds and claimed he was going to hire a trainer in the offseason to help him lose some weight.
He had also been taking tennis lessons from
Venus Williams
Venus Ebony Starr Williams (born June 17, 1980) is an American inactive tennis player. She has been ranked as the List of WTA number 1 ranked singles tennis players, world No. 1 in women's singles by the Women's Tennis Association, WTA for 11 wee ...
during that time and claimed that the lessons were long and tired him out. He was eventually released on August 2, 2011.
Baltimore Ravens
After former University of Miami teammate
Ed Reed
Edward Earl Reed Jr. (born September 11, 1978) is an American former professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL), spending the majority of his career with the Baltimore Ravens. He played college footbal ...
vouched for him as a strong player, McKinnie signed with the
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional American football team based in Baltimore. The Ravens compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. The team plays its home g ...
on August 24, 2011.
McKinnie saw limited playing time during the 2012 regular season, but he would go on to start at left tackle every play during the Ravens'
2012–13 NFL Playoffs run that culminated with a 34–31
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the annual History of the NFL championship, league championship game of the National Football League (NFL) of the United States. It has served as the final game of every NFL season since 1966 NFL season, 1966 (with the excep ...
victory over the
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers (also written as the San Francisco Forty-Niners and nicknamed the Niners) are a professional American football team based in the San Francisco Bay Area. The 49ers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member ...
.
McKinnie tested free agency for a little over a month following the 2012 season, but the Ravens ultimately signed him on May 2, 2013, to a two-year deal valued at up to $7 million.
On October 21, 2013, The Ravens traded McKinnie to the
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a professional American football team based in the Miami metropolitan area. The Dolphins compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East division. The team ...
for a conditional late-round draft pick for the
2015 NFL draft
The 2015 NFL draft was the 80th annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible American football, football players. It took place in Chicago at the Auditorium Theatre and in Grant Park (Chicago), Grant Park ...
.
Miami Dolphins
McKinnie was signed to take over immediately at left tackle for the
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a professional American football team based in the Miami metropolitan area. The Dolphins compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East division. The team ...
, who had problems with pass protection all season at the tackle positions. In his first game on October 27 against the
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots are a professional American football team based in the Greater Boston area. The Patriots compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East division. The Pa ...
, he played sluggishly as he had in his final games with the Baltimore Ravens. McKinnie ended the year as one of the worst offensive tackles, as ranked by ''
Pro Football Focus''.
Post Football Career
In 2022, McKinnie, as a member of a choir consisting of past and present NFL players called the Players Choir competed on
America's Got Talent
''America's Got Talent'' (often abbreviated as ''AGT'') is an American talent show competition, and is part of the global ''Got Talent'' franchise created by Simon Cowell. The program is produced by Fremantle (as well as distributed by) and ...
, a televised talent show with celebrity judges.
Controversies
Boat cruise scandal
In October 2005, McKinnie was charged with a misdemeanor for his involvement in the
Minnesota Vikings boat party scandal.
On May 26, 2006, McKinnie pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and being a public nuisance on a watercraft in connection with the boat scandal. He agreed to pay a $1,000 fine and perform 48 hours of community service. Vikings owner
Zygi Wilf said, in addition to community service, McKinnie would participate in numerous service events. On September 9, 2006, the
National Football League
The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...
announced that it was fining McKinnie and fellow Viking
Fred Smoot one game check for the incident. For McKinnie, it amounted to approximately $41,000. A day after the fine was levied, the Vikings raised McKinnie's compensation and extended his contract for seven years, amounting to a contract worth $48 million.
2008 night club incident
In February 2008, McKinnie was arrested and charged with
aggravated battery
Battery is a criminal offense involving unlawful physical contact, distinct from assault, which is the act of creating reasonable fear or apprehension of such contact.
Battery is a specific common law offense, although the term is used more gen ...
,
disorderly conduct
Disorderly conduct is a crime in most jurisdictions, such as the United States and China. Typically, "disorderly conduct" is a term used to refer to any behavior that is considered unacceptable in a formal, civilized or controlled environment. ...
and
resisting arrest
An arrest is the act of apprehending and taking a person into custody (legal protection or control), usually because the person has been suspected of or observed committing a crime. After being taken into custody, the person can be Interroga ...
without violence after a street brawl outside Club Space in
Miami
Miami is a East Coast of the United States, coastal city in the U.S. state of Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade County in South Florida. It is the core of the Miami metropolitan area, which, with a populat ...
.
Miami police said McKinnie spit in the face of a bouncer when he was removed from the club. Then, after heading across the street to another establishment, he allegedly returned to Club Space and argued with the bouncer. McKinnie then allegedly shoved his phone in the bouncer's face before picking up a heavy pole and hitting him. A judge ordered McKinnie to complete 25 hours of community service and anger management classes. He also served a four-game suspension during the 2008 NFL season following the incident.
References
External links
Miami Hurricanes bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mckinnie, Bryant
1979 births
Living people
All-American college football players
American football offensive tackles
Baltimore Ravens players
Lackawanna Falcons football players
Miami Dolphins players
Miami Hurricanes football players
Minnesota Vikings players
National Conference Pro Bowl players
Sportspeople from Woodbury, New Jersey
Players of American football from Gloucester County, New Jersey
Woodbury Junior-Senior High School alumni
21st-century American sportsmen
21st-century African-American sportsmen
20th-century American sportsmen
20th-century African-American sportsmen
College Football Hall of Fame inductees