Justin McCray

Justin McCray's Biography

Justin Dominique McCray, born on May 31, 1992, is a reputable player in the American football scenario. He has primarily played his professional career as a guard. Throughout his career, McCray has floated in and out of free agency, making his mark on multiple teams across the NFL.

Before his professional journey, Justin devotedly played college football at the University of Central Florida (UCF) from 2010 to 2013. His days at UCF marked his dedication, discipline, perseverance, which was vital in shaping his football career.

Soon after graduating from college, McCray’s professional journey took its first leap as he signed with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent on May 12, 2014. However, the experience ended quickly as he was waived by the Titans in August of the same year. Despite this setback, he did not allow this to deter his aspirations and was swiftly signed to the practice squad the subsequent day, which led him to spend his entire rookie season honing his skills.

After spending a considerable time on the practice squad, he signed a futures contract with the Titans on December 29, 2014. Nevertheless, the following year brought another hurdle as, much to his dismay, he was again waived by the Titans on August 30, 2015.

Though twice waived by the Titans, McCray’s spirit remained undefeated. Seeking a fresh start, he joined the Arena Football League’s Orlando Predators. It was a unique moment as he played alongside his brother, Jordan, sharing the same love for the sport. Later, on October 14, 2016, he got assigned to the Tampa Bay Storm during the dispersal draft.

McCray’s perseverance eventually paid off when on March 29, 2017, he was signed by the esteemed Green Bay Packers. This marked a significant chapter in his career. After making the Packers’ 53-man roster, McCray earned his initial career start in the crucial tackle position, replacing an injured Bryan Bulaga. McCray’s consistent performance led to his eighth start in the final game of the season on December 31, 2017. His impressive performance garnered positivity, and he was re-signed on March 12, 2018.

In an unexpected turn of events, McCray was traded to the Cleveland Browns on August 31, 2019.

On March 27, 2020, he signed a one-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons, marking another stage in his career. His journey with the Falcons was short-lived as he then signed a two-year contract with the Houston Texans on March 22, 2021.

In an intriguing move, McCray signed with the Carolina Panthers on March 17, 2023. However, on August 29, 2023, the Panthers waived McCray for the last roster cuts, but quickly signed him to the practice squad the subsequent day. An unfortunate twist led him to be released in October, only to be re-signed in November, and then finally signed to the active roster on December 5.

In an unfortunate turn of events, the journey took a pause when he suffered a calf injury in week 14, forcing him to be placed on injured reserve on December 15.

Regardless of the challenges faced, McCray’s journey in American football is a testament to his tenacity, capability, and compelling willingness to strive for the better, making him a dynamic and resilient player in the NFL.