Bryant McKinnie is a former American football offensive tackle who played in the National Football League (NFL) for over a decade. He was born on September 23, 1979, in Woodbury, New Jersey, and attended the University of Miami, where he played college football for the Miami Hurricanes.
McKinnie was selected seventh overall by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2002 NFL Draft. He quickly established himself as one of the best offensive tackles in the league, earning Pro Bowl honors in 2006 and 2009. He was also named to the All-Pro team in 2009.
In 2009, McKinnie was involved in a controversial incident during the Pro Bowl in Hawaii. He was reportedly kicked out of a nightclub for not paying his tab and then got into a physical altercation with a bouncer. The incident resulted in McKinnie being fined by the NFL and suspended for the first four games of the 2009 season.
McKinnie played for the Vikings for nine seasons before being traded to the Baltimore Ravens in 2011. He helped the Ravens win Super Bowl XLVII in 2013, starting all 16 regular-season games and all four playoff games at left tackle.
After the Super Bowl victory, McKinnie became a free agent and signed with the Miami Dolphins for the 2013 season. He played in 12 games for the Dolphins, starting 10 of them, before being released in March 2014.
McKinnie's NFL career was not without controversy. In addition to the Pro Bowl incident, he was also involved in a 2005 boat party scandal with several other Vikings players. The party reportedly involved sex, drugs, and alcohol, and resulted in McKinnie and several other players being fined by the NFL.
Despite the controversies, McKinnie was widely regarded as one of the best offensive tackles of his era. He was known for his size and strength, as well as his ability to protect the quarterback and open up running lanes for his team's running backs.
After retiring from the NFL, McKinnie has remained involved in football as a coach and mentor. He has also been involved in various business ventures, including a record label and a nightclub.
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