Mike McKenzie
Encyclopedia
Michael Terrance McKenzie (born April 26, 1976) is an American football
cornerback
who is currently a free agent
. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers
in the third round of the 1999 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Memphis
.
McKenzie has also played for the New Orleans Saints
.
, and was an all-Dade county selection at free safety as a senior.
, and majored in business management. He played in 32 consecutive games for the Tigers, with 26 straight starts. McKenzie was named First-Team All-Conference USA
as a sophomore and junior, and finished his career with 234 tackles, six interceptions, and two fumble recoveries.
and immediately made the starting lineup. In 2002 McKenzie signed a 5-year extension with the Packers. Following a contract holdout that lasted until mid-September, on October 4, 2004 he was traded along with a future draft choice to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for third-string Quarterback
J. T. O'Sullivan and a second round draft pick. He spent four full seasons with the Packers.
. He led the club in interceptions from 2004-2008 with 12.
McKenzie was placed on injured reserve
for the final game of 2007
after tearing his ACL
the week before. McKenzie came back from the injury to start in 6 games in 2008
, but once again suffered a major knee injury in early November. He was again placed on injured reserve, this time with a fractured right kneecap.
McKenzie was released by the Saints on March 19, 2009. He reportedly tried out with the Seattle Seahawks
during summer 2009 but did not sign. The Saints re-signed McKenzie on November 23 after he called head coach Sean Payton
to ask for his job back.
McKenzie appeared in five games (two starts) for the Saints in 2009, recording 11 tackles and an interception. He was waived prior to the regular season finale on January 2, 2010 when the team promoted quarterback
Chase Daniel
to the active roster. Although McKenzie was no longer on the roster when the Saints won Super Bowl XLIV
, the team awarded him a Super Bowl ring
in recognition of his contributions.
and splits his offseason residence between Miami, Florida
and Memphis, Tennessee
. McKenzie established a non-profit organization, the 34 Ways Foundation to help underprivileged youth. The Foundation serves various regions including Miami, Florida, New Orleans, Louisiana
, and Memphis, Tennessee. He was awarded the 2007 New Orleans Saints Man of the Year Award for this work.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
in the third round of the 1999 NFL Draft
1999 NFL Draft
The 1999 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 17-18, 1999...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Memphis
Memphis Tigers football
The Memphis Tigers football team represents the University of Memphis in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. The Tigers compete in Conference USA...
.
McKenzie has also played for the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
.
Early years
McKenzie graduated from Miami Norland High School in Miami Gardens, FloridaMiami Gardens, Florida
Miami Gardens is a Miami suburban city located in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The city name comes from one of the major roadways through the area, Miami Gardens Drive. According to the 2010 U.S...
, and was an all-Dade county selection at free safety as a senior.
College career
McKenzie was a three-year letterman at the University of MemphisUniversity of Memphis
The University of Memphis is an American public research university located in the Normal Station neighborhood of Memphis, Tennessee and is the flagship public research university of the Tennessee Board of Regents system....
, and majored in business management. He played in 32 consecutive games for the Tigers, with 26 straight starts. McKenzie was named First-Team All-Conference USA
Conference USA
Conference USA, officially abbreviated C-USA, is a college athletic conference whose member institutions are located within the Southern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I in all sports...
as a sophomore and junior, and finished his career with 234 tackles, six interceptions, and two fumble recoveries.
Green Bay Packers
McKenzie was drafted by the Packers in the third round of the 1999 NFL Draft1999 NFL Draft
The 1999 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 17-18, 1999...
and immediately made the starting lineup. In 2002 McKenzie signed a 5-year extension with the Packers. Following a contract holdout that lasted until mid-September, on October 4, 2004 he was traded along with a future draft choice to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for third-string Quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
J. T. O'Sullivan and a second round draft pick. He spent four full seasons with the Packers.
New Orleans Saints
Immediately following the trade, McKenzie became the Saints starting right cornerback for the final 10 games of the 2004 NFL Season2004 NFL season
The 2004 NFL season was the 85th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 9, 2004 to January 2, 2005...
. He led the club in interceptions from 2004-2008 with 12.
McKenzie was placed on injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
for the final game of 2007
2007 New Orleans Saints season
-Game summary:The 2007 New Orleans Saints began their regular season in the annual Thursday night Kickoff game against the defending Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts. In the first quarter, New Orleans trailed early as Super Bowl XLI MVP Peyton Manning completed a 27-yard TD pass to WR Marvin...
after tearing his ACL
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
the week before. McKenzie came back from the injury to start in 6 games in 2008
2008 New Orleans Saints season
The 2008 New Orleans Saints season is the 42nd season for the team in the National Football League . The Saints entered the season in an attempt improve their 7-9 record from the 2007 season.-Pre-season:-Regular season:...
, but once again suffered a major knee injury in early November. He was again placed on injured reserve, this time with a fractured right kneecap.
McKenzie was released by the Saints on March 19, 2009. He reportedly tried out with the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
during summer 2009 but did not sign. The Saints re-signed McKenzie on November 23 after he called head coach Sean Payton
Sean Payton
Patrick Sean Payton is the current head coach of the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. Payton was a quarterback at Naperville Central High School and Eastern Illinois University and played professionally in 1987 and 1988...
to ask for his job back.
McKenzie appeared in five games (two starts) for the Saints in 2009, recording 11 tackles and an interception. He was waived prior to the regular season finale on January 2, 2010 when the team promoted quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Chase Daniel
Chase Daniel
William Chase Daniel is an American football quarterback for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was signed by the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent in 2009...
to the active roster. Although McKenzie was no longer on the roster when the Saints won Super Bowl XLIV
Super Bowl XLIV
Super Bowl XLIV was an American football game between the American Football Conference champion Indianapolis Colts and the National Football Conference champion New Orleans Saints to decide the National Football League champion for the 2009 season. The Saints defeated the Colts by a score of...
, the team awarded him a Super Bowl ring
Super Bowl ring
The Super Bowl ring is an award in the National Football League given to the winners of the league's annual championship game, the Super Bowl...
in recognition of his contributions.
Personal
McKenzie currently owns a home in New Orleans, LouisianaNew Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
and splits his offseason residence between Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
and Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
. McKenzie established a non-profit organization, the 34 Ways Foundation to help underprivileged youth. The Foundation serves various regions including Miami, Florida, New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, and Memphis, Tennessee. He was awarded the 2007 New Orleans Saints Man of the Year Award for this work.