 McKenzie with the Buffalo Bills in 2021 | |||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born: | (1995-04-09)April 9, 1995 (age 29) Miami, Florida, U.S. | ||||||||||||
| Height: | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 173 lb (78 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | American Heritage School (Plantation, Florida) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Georgia (2014–2016) | ||||||||||||
| Position: | Wide receiver, return specialist | ||||||||||||
| NFL draft: | 2017: 5th round, 172nd pick | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics as of 2023 | |||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
Isaiah McKenzie (born April 9, 1995) is an American professionalfootballwide receiver andreturn specialist. He playedcollege football atGeorgia,[1] and was selected by theDenver Broncos in the fifth round of the2017 NFL draft.
McKenzie plays primarily atwide receiver andpunt returner but has also seen playing time at the NFL level as arunning back andcornerback.
McKenzie's first two years with the Georgia Bulldogs saw him accumulate 190 receiving yards and 195 rushing yards,[2] as he was primarily used as akick returner. AfterKirby Smart replacedMark Richt as head coach, McKenzie was more prominently featured in the Georgia passing game. He caught 44 receptions for 633 yards and 7 touchdowns as a junior, becoming the Bulldogs' top receiver. Leading into the2017 NFL draft, draft analystMel Kiper Jr. compared McKenzie toAntonio Brown due to similarities in their kick-return abilities and athleticism.[3]
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft7+1⁄2 in (1.71 m) | 173 lb (78 kg) | 28+7⁄8 in (0.73 m) | 8+7⁄8 in (0.23 m) | 4.42 s | 1.52 s | 2.57 s | 4.15 s | 6.64 s | 36.0 in (0.91 m) | 10 ft 3 in (3.12 m) | 11 reps | |
| All values fromNFL Combine[4][5][6] | ||||||||||||
McKenzie was selected by theDenver Broncos in the fifth round, 172nd overall, in the2017 NFL draft.[7]
On September 11, 2017, in the season opener against theLos Angeles Chargers onMonday Night Football, McKenzie returned three punt returns for 48 net yards in his NFL debut.[8] On September 24, against theBuffalo Bills, McKenzie recorded his first career rushing attempt, a four-yard carry.[9] He totaled four receptions for 29 yards on the season.[10]
On September 10, 2018, McKenzie was waived by the Broncos and was re-signed to the practice squad.[11] He was promoted to the active roster on October 25, 2018.[12] He was waived again on November 2, 2018.[13]
On November 5, 2018, McKenzie was claimed off waivers by the Bills.[14]
McKenzie was used as the primary kick returner, but also saw significant time on offense. He scored his first NFL touchdown, rushing 6 yards on ajet sweep, against theJacksonville Jaguars on November 25.[15] Against theNew York Jets, he was used in the run game afterLeSean McCoy andChris Ivory suffered injuries, rushing for 22 yards on four carries with another touchdown to go with 47 receiving yards in the 27–23 loss.[16] He had 18 receptions for 179 receiving yards to go along with 66 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns on the season.[17]
McKenzie's kick return role decreased after the Bills added free agent kick returnerAndre Roberts, but he still found decent playing time on special teams and as a gadget player on offense. He caught 27 passes for 254 yards and a touchdown, in addition to rushing 8 times for 49 yards. McKenzie played a big role in helping the Bills defeat theTennessee Titans in week 5, as his 46-yard reception helped set up the game-winning touchdown.[18]
For the Bills' final game of the 2019 season, against the Jets, he was pressed into service as a reservecornerback, as the Bills wereresting the starters and the backups suffered injuries.[19]
On March 30, 2020, McKenzie re-signed with the Bills.[20]
On November 15, 2020, in a Week 10 game against theArizona Cardinals, McKenzie threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to quarterbackJosh Allen on a trick play during the 32–30 loss. This was McKenzie's first career touchdown pass.[21][22] In the Bills' final game of the 2020 season against theMiami Dolphins, McKenzie had arguably his best game as a professional, catching six passes for 65 yards and two touchdowns.[23] He also returned a punt 84 yards for a touchdown, his first career special teams score on his only punt return of the season.[24]
In the AFC Championship against theKansas City Chiefs, McKenzie recorded one catch for a six-yard touchdown during the 38–24 loss.[25]
On March 29, 2021, McKenzie signed a one-year, $1.15 million contract with the Bills.[26][27]
On August 26, 2021, McKenzie was fined $14,650 for violating the NFL'sCOVID-19 protocol.[28]
McKenzie became the primary kick returner in 2021, but was benched after fumbling a kickoff in a loss to theIndianapolis Colts.[29] Due to starting slot receiverCole Beasley being diagnosed with COVID-19, McKenzie was utilized more in a week 16 game against theNew England Patriots. He caught 11 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown as the Bills beat the Patriots 33–21.[30]
On March 13, 2022, McKenzie signed a two-year extension with the Buffalo Bills.[31] McKenzie had a hot start to the season as the Bills' primary slot receiver with Beasley's departure from the team, catching 17 passes for 162 yards and three touchdowns within the first six games.[32] He was also the leading receiver for the Bills during a Thanksgiving game against theDetroit Lions.[33] He finished the season with a career high of 42 receptions, 423 yards, and four touchdowns.[34]
On March 17, 2023, McKenzie was released by the Bills.[35]
On March 22, 2023, McKenzie signed with the Colts.[36] The Colts suspended him for three games for conduct detrimental to the team on December 19.[37]
On March 12, 2024, McKenzie signed with theNew York Giants[38] He was released on August 27.[39]
On December 17, 2024, McKenzie was signed to theMiami Dolphins practice squad.[40]
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Led the league | |
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Rushing | Returning | Fumbles | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Y/R | Lng | TD | Att | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | Ret | Yds | Y/R | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2017 | DEN | 11 | 0 | 4 | 29 | 7.3 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4.0 | 4 | 0 | 24 | 233 | 9.7 | 44 | 0 | 6 | 3 |
| 2018 | DEN | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 2 | 13 | 6.5 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| BUF | 7 | 1 | 18 | 179 | 9.9 | 23 | 0 | 10 | 66 | 6.6 | 15 | 2 | 26 | 324 | 12.5 | 33 | 0 | 2 | 1 | |
| 2019 | BUF | 15 | 8 | 27 | 254 | 9.4 | 46 | 1 | 8 | 49 | 6.1 | 16 | 0 | 4 | 69 | 17.3 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | BUF | 16 | 7 | 30 | 282 | 9.4 | 46 | 5 | 10 | 9 | 0.9 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 116 | 38.7 | 84 | 1[a] | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | BUF | 15 | 2 | 20 | 178 | 8.9 | 28 | 1 | 9 | 47 | 5.2 | 10 | 1 | 43 | 731 | 17.0 | 75 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 2022 | BUF | 15 | 8 | 42 | 423 | 10.1 | 30 | 4 | 9 | 55 | 6.1 | 18 | 1 | 6 | 144 | 24.0 | 42 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | IND | 10 | 0 | 11 | 82 | 7.5 | 30 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 5.5 | 7 | 0 | 22 | 265 | 12.0 | 42 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Career | 90 | 26 | 152 | 1,427 | 9.4 | 46 | 11 | 49 | 241 | 4.9 | 18 | 4 | 108 | 1,630 | 15.1 | 84 | 1 | 12 | 5 | |
| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Rushing | Returning | Fumbles | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Y/R | Lng | TD | Att | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | Ret | Yds | Y/R | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2019 | BUF | 1 | 0 | 4 | 23 | 5.8 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | BUF | 3 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 4.7 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 4.5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | BUF | 2 | 1 | 4 | 48 | 12.0 | 19 | 0 | 6 | 44 | 7.3 | 15 | 0 | 5 | 57 | 11.4 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | BUF | 1 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 5.0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 7 | 2 | 13 | 95 | 7.3 | 19 | 1 | 8 | 53 | 6.6 | 15 | 0 | 5 | 57 | 11.4 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
In 2020, McKenzie and his friends Mel Rodriguez and Chase McKenzie opened LaTraila Barbecue, a restaurant inMiami Lakes, Florida.[42]
