Takk McKinley Bio
Takkarist Jaune McKinley, known professionally as Takk McKinley, is an American professional football defensive end. Born on November 2, 1995, in Oakland, California, he rose through junior college and UCLA before being selected in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft. Over the course of his career, McKinley has played for multiple organizations and continues to compete at the professional level.
McKinley attended Kennedy High School in Richmond, California, where he starred for the Eagles football team and also competed in track and field. After high school, he initially committed to the University of California, Berkeley, but academic eligibility issues prevented him from enrolling, leading him to attend Contra Costa College, where he developed into a top pass-rushing prospect before transferring to UCLA.
Early Life and Background
Takkarist Jaune McKinley was born and raised in Oakland, California, before later attending John F. Kennedy High School in nearby Richmond. At Kennedy, he played for the Eagles football team and quickly emerged as one of the area’s most disruptive defensive players. As a junior, he posted 50 tackles and 15 sacks, and as a senior, he added 60 tackles and 11 sacks, numbers that drew attention from college scouts despite his non-qualifier status out of high school.
Beyond football, McKinley also ran track during his high school years, an experience that helped build the speed and explosiveness that later became trademarks of his game. The combination of size, quickness, and relentless effort made him a priority recruit once his academic standing was resolved.
Path to American Football
After being ruled a non-qualifier by the NCAA, McKinley took the junior college route at Contra Costa College. During his lone season in 2013, he was dominant, recording 33 tackles and 10 sacks, performances that earned him a second chance at the Division I level. In September 2014, he transferred to the University of California, Los Angeles, joining the UCLA Bruins and beginning the next phase of his development.
McKinley saw limited action in his first season with UCLA in 2014, playing in 10 games with one start and finishing with 2.5 sacks. He broke out as a junior in 2015, starting 12 of 13 games and tallying 35 tackles and 3.5 sacks. As a senior in 2016, he posted 10 sacks, a total that earned him First-team All-Pac-12 honors and established him as one of the premier pass rushers available in the 2017 NFL draft class.
Takk McKinley Career
Early Career (2017)
Takkarist Jaune McKinley entered the NFL after a strong senior season at UCLA and an impressive showing at the NFL Combine, where he completed all drills except the short shuttle and three-cone drill. He underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum and a shoulder socket fracture after the combine, which prevented him from working out at UCLA’s Pro Day, but draft analysts still projected him as a first or second-round selection.
The Atlanta Falcons selected McKinley with the 26th overall pick in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft. On May 11, he signed a four-year, $10.21 million contract that included $7.89 million in guarantees and a $5.57 million signing bonus. He played in all 16 games as a rookie, finishing with 20 tackles and six sacks, totals that ranked fourth in the league among rookies and second on the Falcons behind Adrian Clayborn.
Atlanta Falcons Breakthrough (2018–2019)
In his second season with the Atlanta Falcons, McKinley delivered his most productive year to date. In Week 4 of the 2018 campaign, he recorded a career-high three sacks against the Cincinnati Bengals in a narrow 37–36 loss, a performance that highlighted his ability to disrupt opposing passing attacks. He finished 2018 with 22 combined tackles and a team-high seven sacks, anchoring the Falcons’ edge rush.
The 2019 season brought both opportunity and adversity. McKinley started 13 of 14 games and recorded 29 tackles and 3.5 sacks before suffering a shoulder injury in Week 15 that sent him to injured reserve on December 17. In April 2020, the Falcons declined the fifth-year option on his rookie contract, and later that year, after publicly requesting a trade, he was waived by the team in November 2020.
Las Vegas Raiders (2020)
Shortly after being waived by Atlanta, McKinley was claimed off waivers by the Las Vegas Raiders on November 23, 2020. He was placed on injured reserve on November 27 with a groin injury but was designated to return on December 15. Although he returned to practice, Raiders head coach Jon Gruden announced on December 30 that McKinley would not be activated for the remainder of the season, limiting his on-field impact during his brief Raiders tenure.
Cleveland Browns (2021)
On March 17, 2021, McKinley signed a one-year contract with the Cleveland Browns in search of a fresh start. He played in 11 games, finishing with 18 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and a forced fumble. A highlight came in Week 14 against the Baltimore Ravens, when he recorded two tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble on Tyler Huntley in a 24–22 win. Unfortunately, he tore his Achilles in that same game and was placed on season-ending injured reserve on December 21, 2021.
Tennessee Titans and Los Angeles Rams (2022)
After recovering from his Achilles injury, McKinley signed with the Tennessee Titans practice squad on September 16, 2022. Less than a week later, on September 21, he was signed by the Los Angeles Rams off the Titans’ practice squad. His stint with the Rams was short, as the team terminated his contract on October 18, 2022.
Dallas Cowboys Era (2022–2023)
On November 16, 2022, McKinley signed with the Dallas Cowboys practice squad, reuniting with defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who had been his head coach with the Atlanta Falcons. The Cowboys re-signed him on March 22, 2023, to a one-year deal, signaling continued confidence in his pass-rushing ability. However, Dallas released him on June 9, 2023, ending his second stint with the organization.
New York Jets Era (2024)
On June 13, 2024, McKinley signed with the New York Jets, looking to contribute as a rotational pass rusher. He was released on October 23 before being signed to the Jets’ practice squad on October 31. McKinley was released again by the Jets on December 13, 2024, closing out a turbulent season that included movement between the active roster and practice squad.
Notable Events and Milestones
McKinley’s defining early milestone was his first-round selection by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2017 NFL draft, the 26th overall pick. He set a career high with three sacks against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 4 of the 2018 season, a performance that cemented his reputation as a disruptive edge rusher. He also earned First-team All-Pac-12 honors at UCLA in 2016, the collegiate accolade that helped launch his professional career.
Takk McKinley Career Wins
Takkarist Jaune McKinley has built a professional résumé defined more by pressure and pass-rushing production than by championship hardware. Across stints with the Atlanta Falcons, Las Vegas Raiders, Cleveland Browns, Tennessee Titans, Los Angeles Rams, Dallas Cowboys, and New York Jets, he has produced regular-season sack totals that have kept him in demand as a situational pass rusher.
NFL Career Highlights
McKinley’s most productive regular season came in 2018, when he led the Atlanta Falcons with seven sacks and added 22 combined tackles. As a rookie in 2017, he posted six sacks, a total that ranked fourth among all NFL rookies and second on his team. He added 3.5 sacks in 2019, 2.5 sacks in 2021 with the Cleveland Browns, and continued to produce in rotational roles thereafter, though a torn Achilles in late 2021 interrupted his momentum.
Takk McKinley Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public details about Takkarist Jaune McKinley’s immediate family remain limited. He grew up in Oakland, California, and attended Kennedy High School in nearby Richmond, where his football development took shape under local coaches and family support.
Personal Life
McKinley has largely kept his personal life private, and no public information regarding a spouse or children has been confirmed in available sources. His professional journey, including frequent team changes across the league, has been the primary focus of his public profile.
2025 Season Performance
Looking ahead to the 2025 season, Takkarist Jaune McKinley enters the year as a veteran defensive end seeking a stable roster opportunity. After being released by the New York Jets on December 13, 2024, he is currently a free agent, and his next team will likely shape his role for the upcoming campaign. Given his track record of producing sacks when healthy, including a career-high three-sack game in 2018, he remains an intriguing option for clubs in need of edge-rushing depth.
Health will be a key factor in McKinley’s 2025 outlook, as he continues to manage the long-term effects of the torn Achilles he suffered in 2021 and the various shoulder and groin injuries that have interrupted recent seasons. A productive offseason and full participation in training camp would help him re-establish himself as a consistent contributor on passing downs.
If McKinley lands with a team that employs a creative defensive coordinator, he could return to the form that once made him a first-round pick and the Falcons’ leader in sacks in 2018. His blend of length, first-step quickness, and motor continues to intrigue evaluators, and a bounce-back 2025 campaign would mark an important chapter in a career still defined by resilience.