knows Green Bay has a potentially valuable secret weapon against . McKinney, though, certainly isn’t giving Minnesota any hints. As the Packers prepare for a pivotal NFC North showdown opener with the Vikings, familiarity with Murray could provide Green Bay with an important edge.
Gannon spent significant time coaching Murray in Arizona before joining the Packers. That gives him firsthand knowledge of the quarterback’s tendencies, pocket habits, and improvisational instincts. Asked whether Gannon had passed along that information, . However, he immediately shut down any hopes of getting the details.
Has Jonathan Gannon given the Packers’ defense special insight into defending Kyler Murray?
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Xavier McKinney: “Yeah he has, but I ain’t gonna display what he’s told us.”
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman)
“Yeah he has, but I ain’t gonna display what he’s told us,” McKinney said with a grin.
Murray, of course, is capable of turning broken plays into explosive gains. As such, Green Bay will need disciplined rush lanes, sound coverage communication, and McKinney’s instincts to keep the Vikings quarterback from escaping structure.
McKinney now enters his seventh NFL season. He has established himself as of Green Bay’s defense. Since joining the Packers in 2024, the 27-year-old safety has delivered elite production. He has intercepted 10 passes in his first two seasons with the team before posting 107 tackles in 2025. His range, tackling ability, and pre-snap awareness have made him one of the league’s most trusted defensive backs. Meanwhile, his versatility allows Green Bay to disguise coverages and create uncertainty for opposing quarterbacks.
Now a team captain, McKinney carries an even greater leadership role as the Packers chase their championship ambitions. Against Minnesota, his ability to diagnose Murray’s movement and organize the secondary could be decisive. Gannon may have supplied the blueprint. McKinney and Green Bay’s defense, though, will have to execute it without revealing the answers first.
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