If there’s one thing Xavier McKinney made clear during Wild Card Weekend, it’s that he hasn’t quite moved on from the New York Giants.
The former Giants safety, who bolted for Green Bay last offseason with a four-year, $67 million deal, found himself in a frustrating 22-10 NFC Wild Card playoff loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. However, before his Packers season unraveled, McKinney managed to take a swipe at Giants edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux quite literally out of nowhere.
Before Green Bay’s Wild Card matchup, McKinney posted a cryptic message on social media clearly aimed at Thibodeaux: “To think he ever thought he was better than me and for them to try to push that … lol. Oh and somebody tell buddy to hop off the Melo podcast gossiping and lock back in on his craft. Yeah it’s always smoke … remember that! Write it down take a picture IDGAF!”
Xavier McKinney’s IG story after making All Pro
— The Giant Topic (@TheGiantTopic) January 11, 2025
“To think he ever thought he was better than me & for them to try to push that”
“Somebody tell buddy to hop off the melo podcast gossiping & lock back in on his craft”
This was Kayvon Thibodeaux on Melos podcast 👀 #Giants100 pic.twitter.com/yuPtRp8QCa
This post, dripping with unnecessary drama, left fans scratching their heads. The Giants went 3-14 this year and haven’t exactly been in McKinney’s orbit since letting him walk last offseason. Yet here he is, digging up a year-old interview Thibodeaux did on Carmelo Anthony’s podcast and trying to make it a thing. Spoiler alert: it’s not a thing.
Xavier McKinney’s cheap shots at Thibodeaux age poorly after Packers’playoff flop
The oddity is the former Giant didn’t post his comments because of the loss—he made them a few days before—but the irony is rich. For all the success McKinney had this year (and let’s give him his flowers: All-Pro, eight interceptions, $67 million bag), a first-round exit doesn’t exactly scream “winner.”
Even funnier is how McKinney seemed more focused on taking shots at a player who wasn’t even on the field than preparing for the Eagles’ offense. While he was slamming his helmet in frustration on the sideline after Green Bay’s coverage breakdowns, Thibodeaux was likely chilling somewhere, unbothered.
And honestly, McKinney’s on-field performance in the loss didn't necessarily scream world-beater.
The Packers were outplayed in every phase of the game. All those regular-season accolades and a big contract mean little when your unit can’t hold up when it matters most. Meanwhile, the Giants—who didn’t even sniff the playoffs—still managed to avoid (not by choice) the indignity of a one-and-done postseason—if that's any consolation prize.
And let’s not forget: Green Bay’s big offseason splash in paying McKinney was supposed to shore up their secondary, not leave him embroiled in unsolicited beef with former teammates. If this is the leadership $67 million gets you, Packers fans might be rethinking their investment.
Look, Giants fans can admit McKinney had a stellar season. Letting him walk in free agency wasn’t exactly a highlight of Joe Schoen’s tenure by any stretch of the imagination. But when a guy who just got the bag and made the playoffs starts throwing shade at a struggling franchise and former teammate, it comes off as straight-up weird.
The Giants have moved on from McKinney, so maybe it’s time he moved on from them. Sure, Thibodeaux didn’t make an All-Pro team this year, but he’s also not the one looking over his shoulder, finding year-old interviews that have no relevance to anything, and making up grievances.
At the end of the day, McKinney’s first-round exit puts him right back in the same spot as New York: watching the rest of the playoffs from the couch. The only difference? The Giants aren’t the ones throwing a tantrum on Instagram.