Raekwon McMillan

BIOGRAPHY

Born on November 17, 1995, in Midway, Georgia, Raekwon McMillan is an accomplished American professional footballer known for his prowess as a linebacker. He currently plays for the New England Patriots under the National Football League (NFL). His football journey has spanned several teams, previously transitioning from the Miami Dolphins to the Las Vegas Raiders, before his current stint with the Patriots.

Inspired by the rapper Raekwon from the Wu-Tang Clan, Raekwon’s parents chose this iconic name for their son. McMillan spent his youthful years in Georgia attending Liberty County High School in Hinesville. His love for football became apparent early on, winning him the coveted High School Butkus Award in 2013. The star athlete, rated as a five-star recruit by Rivals.com, emerged as the top-ranked inside linebacker in his class, speaking volumes about his talent on the field.

McMillan’s college career at Ohio State University further exhibits his growth and dominance in the sport. Steadily gaining momentum each year, his freshman year saw him participate in 13 games, tackling 54 opponents, amassing 2.5 sacks, one interception returned for 24 yards, and a pass defended. As a sophomore, he manifested a more prominent role in his 13 appearances, accumulating 119 tackles, 1.5 sacks, four passes defended, and a fumble recovery. By his junior year, he participated in 13 games, making 102 tackles, two sacks, five pass deflections, and two forced fumbles. Deciding to further his career, McMillan declared for the 2017 NFL draft after his junior year.

The NFL Combine invited McMillan, where he efficiently completed all combine and positional drills. His display at Ohio State’s much-hyped pro day further underscored his potential, attracting seven general managers and nine head coaches to evaluate his talent. McMillan had personal workouts and visits with 11 teams, such as the Cincinnati Bengals, New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Redskins, Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions, New York Jets, Oakland Raiders, and New Orleans Saints. Draft experts and analysts predicted McMillan would likely be a second or third-round pick.

Indeed, McMillan joined Miami Dolphins in the second round (54th overall) of the 2017 NFL draft. On May 5, 2017, The Dolphins signed him on a four-year contract worth $4.69 million with $3.16 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $1.55 million. However, an unfortunate injury during his first preseason game with the Dolphins against the Atlanta Falcons led to a torn ACL, ending his rookie season before it started.

During the subsequent year, McMillan recovered his starting position as the middle linebacker and debut his professional regular season against the Tennessee Titans. In 2018, in what arguably became his breakout season, McMillan started all 16 games and made 105 combined tackles (69 solo), two forced fumbles, and one pass deflection. By 2019, McMillan had claimed his starting position once more before a hamstring injury ended his season prematurely.

August 29, 2020, saw McMillan moving to the Las Vegas Raiders but his stay was short-lived, joining the New England Patriots on March 19, 2021. A recurring ACL problem once again blighted his career and he was placed on injured reserve in August 2021. His determination to play led to a one-year contract extension through 2022 despite this injury.

McMillan returned in the 2022 season as a starting linebacker, but as the season progressed, he was assigned to special teams and a backup player. Nevertheless, his talent shone through as he ended the season with 35 tackles, one sack, and a fumble recovery touchdown. Despite suffering a partially torn Achilles tendon in May 2023, he re-signed with the Patriots on a one-year, $2.25 million contract extension in August, further cementing his commitment to his football career.