Reggie McKenzie (linebacker)

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This article is about the American linebacker (1985-1992) and NFL general manager. For American football guard (1972-1984), see Reggie McKenzie (guard).

Reggie McKenzie
Miami Dolphins
Position:Senior personnel executive
Personal information
Born: (1963-02-08) February 8, 1963 (age 61)
Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:240 lb (109 kg)
Career information
High school:Knoxville (TN) Austin-East
College:Tennessee
NFL draft:1985 / Round: 10 / Pick: 275
Career history
As a player:
As an executive:
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Reginald McKenzie (born February 8, 1963) is an

general manager of the Oakland Raiders of the NFL from January 5, 2012, until his firing on December 10, 2018. Previously, McKenzie was a linebacker for the Raiders and was later the director of player personnel for the Green Bay Packers. He played college football at Tennessee
.

Playing career

Austin-East High School

McKenzie played high school football at Austin-East High School. He was a consensus All-State linebacker during his senior year, and was considered the 22nd best player in the state by the Knoxville News Sentinel.[1] He was a teammate of Raiders Director of Player Personnel, Joey Clinkscales.[2] McKenzie was valedictorian of his 1981 graduating class.[3]

University of Tennessee

McKenzie played collegiate football at the University of Tennessee from 1981 through the 1984 season. In 1981, he played in 11 games, tallying 20 tackles (nine solo). During his sophomore season in 1982, he picked up 33 tackles (18 solo). Playing in 11 games as a junior in 1983, he tallied 32 tackles (18 solo), including three sacks. During his senior year, he registered 89 tackles (63 solo), including a sack, as well as an interception and two fumble recoveries, as part of a linebacker corps that included Carl Zander, Alvin Toles, and Dale Jones.[4][5]

Los Angeles Raiders

The then-Los Angeles Raiders drafted McKenzie in the tenth round of the 1985 NFL Draft with the 275th overall selection.

inside linebacker in a 3–4–4 defensive scheme during the 1987 NFL season
, the strike year, but started only five games, sharing time with Jerry Robinson next to Matt Millen, then only three the following year, his final one as a Raider.

Time out of the NFL

While out of football in 1991, McKenzie spent a season as a defensive coach for

World League of American Football in the spring of 1992.[3]

San Francisco 49ers

After sitting out three years, McKenzie came back in 1992 as a member of the San Francisco 49ers, but played in only two games.

Coaching and administrative career

University of Tennessee

In 1993, McKenzie returned to Tennessee and served as an assistant under head coach Phillip Fulmer. That year, the Volunteers appeared in the Florida Citrus Bowl and landed one of the nation’s top recruiting classes, highlighted by QB Peyton Manning.[3]

Green Bay Packers

McKenzie was employed by the Green Bay Packers from 1994 to 2012. He began as a scout, and gradually rose through the ranks to become the Packers' director of player personnel and eventually the team's director of football operations, while reporting to general managers Ron Wolf and Ted Thompson.[9]

Oakland Raiders

McKenzie was hired as general manager of the Oakland Raiders on January 5, 2012.[10] Longtime owner Al Davis had been general manager since 1966, and retained control over football operations after becoming principal owner in 1972. Both Wolf (who had worked in the Raiders front office prior to his Green Bay tenure) and former Raiders coach John Madden recommended McKenzie to new owner Mark Davis, who hired McKenzie after an interview conducted jointly by Davis and Madden.

McKenzie promptly fired head coach

2012 NFL Draft, he signed four free agents to help the defense: outside linebacker Philip Wheeler and cornerbacks Shawntae Spencer, Ron Bartell, and Pat Lee
.

McKenzie inherited a roster full of high-priced and underperforming players, with more than $154 million committed toward the $120.6 million salary cap.

2012 NFL Draft prior to his arrival, leaving McKenzie with his first pick at No. 95 overall with offensive lineman Tony Bergstrom
. The Raiders struggled to a 4-12 record during his first season with the Raiders.

During the 2013 offseason, McKenzie released several starting players such as

Derek Carr and Amari Cooper
led to a 7-9 resurgence.

On July 29, 2016, Mark Davis announced a four-year contract extension for McKenzie, keeping him with the Raiders through 2020.[13]

On January 19, 2017, following the Raiders' 12-4 regular season featuring strong performances by Carr, Mack, Cooper, and others, McKenzie was named the 2016 NFL Executive of the Year by the Pro Football Writers of America.[14]

However, the Raiders' success under McKenzie would prove short-lived. 2017 saw the Raiders produce a disappointing 6-10 record, leading to Del Rio's dismissal and replacement by returning head coach Jon Gruden. Gruden was given near-total authority over the team by Davis, which led to the trades of Mack and Cooper and the departures of a number of McKenzie's draft selections.

On December 10, 2018, McKenzie was fired by the Raiders.[15]

Miami Dolphins

On February 16, 2019, McKenzie was hired by the Miami Dolphins as a senior personnel executive.[16]

Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame

McKenzie and his twin brother

Isabelle Daniels Holston, Allan Houston, Johnnie Jones, Tim Mack, Glenn McCadams, Jackie Pope, and George Quarles
.

Personal life

McKenzie was born in

2022 NFL Draft on December 6, 2021.[19]

McKenzie's Super Bowl ring was stolen on May 3, 2009.[20]

McKenzie's identical twin brother

Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles, San Diego Chargers and Green Bay Packers
, and served as a Raiders scout during his brother's GM tenure.

References

  1. ^ 1981 Tennessee Volunteers Football Program Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine (University of Tennessee, 1981), p. 58.
  2. ^ "Joey Clinkscales Named Personnel Director for Raiders," Knoxville News Sentinel, May 16, 2012. Retrieved: August 2, 2013.
  3. ^ a b c d "McKenzie Introduced as General Manager". www.raiders.com. Archived from the original on January 13, 2012.
  4. ^ Tennessee Career Football Statistics Archived April 2, 2015, at the Wayback Machine. UTSports.com. Retrieved: May 6, 2013.
  5. ^ 1985 Tennessee Volunteers Football Program Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine (University of Tennessee, 1985), p. 102.
  6. ^ "1985 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  7. ^ "Reggie McKenzie Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  8. ^ "1985 Los Angeles Raiders Starters, Roster, & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  9. ^ "Reggie McKenzie". lostlettermen.com. Archived from the original on January 16, 2015. Retrieved September 18, 2010.
  10. ^ "Raiders Reach Agreement with McKenzie to be GM". Raiders.com. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
  11. ^ "2011 Oakland Raiders Starters, Roster, & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  12. ^ "Agent's take: Examining what went wrong with the Oakland Raiders - CBSSports.com". www.cbssports.com. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014.
  13. ^ Durkin, Jimmy (July 29, 2016). "Raiders give general manager Reggie McKenzie four-year extension". Inside the Oakland Raiders.
  14. ^ McDonald, Jerry (January 19, 2017). "Raiders' Reggie McKenzie is NFL Executive of the Year". San Jose Mercury-News.
  15. ^ Masher, Marcus (December 10, 2018). "REPORT: Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie fired". Raiders Wire. USA Today. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  16. ^ "Miami Dolphins Name Reggie McKenzie Senior Personnel Executive". MiamiDolphins.com. February 22, 2019. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  17. ^ Straub, Luke (June 17, 2018). "Raiders' Reggie McKenzie inducted into Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame". Raiders Wire.
  18. ^ Scott Venci, "McKenzie Headed West Soon, Hoping to Further Family Legacy Archived January 10, 2014, at the Wayback Machine," USA Today, May 4, 2013. Retrieved: January 10, 2014.
  19. ^ @pcBjaypeez_ (December 7, 2021). "FIGHT ON Forever 🖤✌🏾Thank you God🙏🏾" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  20. ^ "McKenzie's rings stolen from car". ESPN.com. Associated Press. May 4, 2009. Retrieved September 18, 2010.

External links

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