Xavier McKinney didn’t back down from his criticism of the officials after Green Bay’s loss to Detroit, and the NFL backed him into a fine for it.
Before Thursday night’s game against Carolina, McKinney said he had been fined for the comments he made after the Packers’ 20-17 defeat to the Lions in Week 7. The issue centered on several calls he believed went against Green Bay, including a key late penalty in the fourth quarter.
ESPN’s Rob Demovsky reported that the fine came in at no less than the league’s minimum for criticizing officials. “The minimum fine for criticizing officials is $25,000.
He wouldn’t say exactly how much but said it wasn’t less than that. But he also said it was worth it to support his team,” wrote the NFL insider.
McKinney’s own reaction was blunt. “I make enough money, so I’ll be OK,” he commented.
The timing didn’t slow him down on the field. Green Bay answered its Detroit setback with a 27-19 win over Carolina at Lambeau Field, improving to 5-3 while the Panthers dropped to 3-4. McKinney was a big part of that response, finishing Thursday night with three total sacks and one pass defended.
The veteran safety arrived in Green Bay in 2024 on a four-year, $67 million deal, and he again showed why the Packers wanted him. He took the fine, stood by what he said, and then delivered a strong night when it mattered.
Green Bay’s next game comes in Week 9 against the New England Patriots.
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