When the Green Bay Packers claimed cornerback Trevon Diggs off waivers on January 1, 2026, it wasn't just another roster move for a playoff-bound team desperate for secondary help. It was a reunion years in the making—one forged in the intensity of Alabama football and now reunited at the most critical moment of the NFL season.
Diggs joins safety Xavier McKinney, his former college teammate, in Green Bay's secondary just as the Packers prepare for their playoff push. The two defensive backs shared a backfield in Tuscaloosa from 2017 to 2019, won a national championship together, and both earned first-team All-SEC honors in 2019. Now, five years after being drafted 15 picks apart in the 2020 NFL Draft, they're back together—this time tasked with salvaging Green Bay's injury-ravaged secondary and keeping the Packers' Super Bowl hopes alive.
The Alabama Brotherhood
The connection between Diggs and McKinney runs deep. Both arrived at Alabama in 2016, part of Nick Saban's relentless recruiting machine. Diggs, originally a highly-touted wide receiver from Maryland, made the transition to cornerback during his time with the Crimson Tide—a move that would define his professional career. McKinney established himself as a versatile safety with exceptional ball skills and football IQ.
Together, they were key contributors to Alabama's 2017 national championship team that defeated Georgia in overtime. By 2019, both had emerged as elite defensive backs in college football, earning first-team All-SEC recognition and helping anchor one of the nation's top secondaries.
Their chemistry was evident on the field. In a 2019 game against Tennessee, both Diggs and McKinney were flagged for pass interference as Alabama's defense struggled with penalties—a moment that illustrated their aggressive, ball-hawking style that sometimes crossed the line. But it was plays like Diggs' legendary 100-yard fumble return for a touchdown against the Volunteers that showcased why Alabama's secondary was so feared.
McKinney spoke about the reunion with palpable enthusiasm: "He can help us tremendously. He can get the ball, and I think that's one thing that we're missing, obviously, is getting the ball at a high rate. And I think he can be the guy that comes in and really helps us with that."
Parallel Paths to Green Bay
The 2020 NFL Draft saw both Alabama defensive backs selected in the second round, just 15 picks apart. The New York Giants took McKinney at No. 36, while the Dallas Cowboys grabbed Diggs at No. 51. Both were seen as value picks with Pro Bowl potential.
| Player | Draft Position | Team | College Stats (2019) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xavier McKinney | No. 36 (2nd round) | New York Giants | 95 tackles, 3 INT, 5 PBU |
| Trevon Diggs | No. 51 (2nd round) | Dallas Cowboys | 37 tackles, 3 INT, 8 PBU |
Their NFL careers took dramatically different trajectories. McKinney established himself as a consistent, reliable safety for the Giants before signing a lucrative four-year, $68 million contract with Green Bay in 2024 free agency. His impact was immediate—the Packers' defense improved significantly with his ball skills and leadership in the secondary.
Diggs, meanwhile, experienced the highest of highs and lowest of lows. His 2021 season stands as one of the greatest single-season performances by a cornerback in recent NFL history. He led the league with 11 interceptions—tying a Dallas Cowboys franchise record—and earned first-team All-Pro honors. Two of those interceptions went for touchdowns, and Diggs became a household name as one of the NFL's premier ballhawks.
But the fall was precipitous. Since that magical 2021 campaign, Diggs has battled a devastating series of injuries. He tore his ACL in September 2023, missing most of that season. In 2024, he played just 11 games before undergoing season-ending knee surgery. This season brought more misfortune—eight games missed due to a concussion (sustained in a bizarre home accident involving a TV mounting pole) and lingering knee issues.
His on-field production cratered. Through eight games in 2025, Diggs registered zero interceptions and zero pass breakups—a stunning decline for a player who once led the NFL in takeaways. Pro Football Focus ranked him 80th among 113 qualifying cornerbacks, and opposing quarterbacks posted a near-perfect 157.2 passer rating when targeting receivers in his coverage.
The Dallas Exit
Diggs' departure from Dallas was messy and multifaceted. After the Cowboys' Christmas Day victory over Washington, Diggs—a Maryland native—asked head coach Brian Schottenheimer if he could stay with family rather than fly back to Dallas with the team. Schottenheimer denied the request. Diggs went home anyway, skipping the team flight.
That incident proved to be the final straw in a deteriorating relationship. Schottenheimer later acknowledged it was "one of many factors" in the decision to release Diggs, though not the only one. Reports indicated friction over Diggs' approach to rehabilitation from his 2023 ACL tear, disagreements about his readiness to return from the concussion, and questions about his fit in defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus' scheme.
The Cowboys withheld a workout bonus from Diggs' contract after he rehabbed last offseason with his own medical personnel rather than the team's. He was also mysteriously benched early in the season for reasons Schottenheimer never fully explained. When Diggs was finally activated from injured reserve in Week 16, he'd been away from the active roster for nearly two months.
With no guaranteed money remaining on his contract after 2025 and a $14.5 million base salary due in 2026, the writing was on the wall. Dallas decided not to wait until the offseason, waiving Diggs on December 30.
Green Bay's Desperate Need
The timing couldn't have been better for the Packers. Green Bay's secondary has been decimated by injuries at the worst possible time. Cornerbacks Kamal Hadden (ankle) and Nate Hobbs (knee) were both placed on injured reserve in the final week of the regular season. Safety Zayne Anderson is also expected to miss the rest of the season.
The losses left Green Bay dangerously thin at cornerback behind Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine. For a team locked into the No. 7 seed in the NFC playoffs, the prospect of facing elite quarterbacks with a patchwork secondary was untenable.
Enter Diggs—and the familiarity with McKinney that could accelerate his integration. The Packers were the only team to submit a waiver claim, taking on approximately $472,000 in base salary plus a $58,823 roster bonus for Week 18. There's no long-term financial commitment; Diggs can be released in the offseason with no cap penalty.
More importantly, the Packers have a secret weapon in defensive pass-game coordinator Derrick Ansley. Ansley coached Diggs at Alabama, overseeing his transformation from wide receiver to cornerback. That existing relationship—combined with the McKinney connection—gives Green Bay a built-in support system to help Diggs rediscover his form.
"It feels good, you know?" Diggs said after his first practice in Green Bay. "I want to be comfortable with being uncomfortable being somewhere that I've never been before. Just starting over, starting fresh, a clean slate, and just working, and keeping my head down, and just working."
The Micah Parsons Factor
Diggs isn't just reuniting with McKinney in Green Bay. He's also joining his close friend and former Cowboys teammate Micah Parsons, the All-Pro edge rusher the Packers acquired in a blockbuster trade earlier this season. Though Parsons is out for the season after tearing his ACL in December, his presence influenced Diggs' mindset about the move.
Diggs and Parsons became close during their four seasons together in Dallas, a bond formed during the 2021 campaign when Parsons won Defensive Rookie of the Year while Diggs earned All-Pro honors. When news broke of Diggs' claim by Green Bay, Parsons took to social media: "We're back …" with a saluting emoji.
Diggs revealed that Parsons had given him insight into the Packers' culture: "He told me, you know, it's work. It's a lot different. He said I'm going to like it a lot and I'm going to enjoy it. So far, I've been enjoying it a lot. My first day was out there today, and I had a lot of fun. And it's a great, great thing to be here."
The Packers also feature running back Josh Jacobs, another Alabama alumnus who overlapped with Diggs in Tuscaloosa in 2017-2018. The growing contingent of former Crimson Tide players creates a familiar environment for Diggs as he attempts to reboot his career.
Can Lightning Strike Twice?
The central question facing the Packers is whether Diggs can recapture even a fraction of his 2021 magic. That season wasn't just statistically impressive—it was historic. His 11 interceptions were the most by any player since 2007. He became only the fifth player since 1970 to record double-digit interceptions and multiple pick-sixes in a single season.
Diggs' ballhawking style was both his greatest strength and his Achilles' heel. He took risks, gambling on routes and occasionally getting burned in man coverage. But when he guessed right, the results were spectacular. His 6-foot-2 frame and receiver background gave him an edge in contested catch situations, allowing him to high-point footballs like a wideout.
The question is whether injuries have robbed him of the athleticism required for that aggressive style. At 27, Diggs is entering what should be his physical prime, but two knee surgeries and an ACL tear in the past two years raise serious durability concerns.
McKinney believes the ballhawk mentality is exactly what Green Bay needs. The Packers have generated pressure with Parsons and a solid defensive front, but they've struggled to convert that pressure into turnovers. Through 16 games, Green Bay ranks in the middle of the pack in interceptions—a stark contrast to McKinney's Giants teams, which consistently ranked among the league leaders in takeaways.
The Low-Risk Gamble
From a financial perspective, claiming Diggs is essentially a free roll for the Packers. The remaining salary obligation is minimal, and there's no commitment beyond this season. If Diggs can provide even competent coverage in the playoffs, he'll have paid dividends. If he struggles, Green Bay can move on with no consequences.
Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley made clear his intentions: "With the playoffs right around the corner, we've got to get him up to speed fast." Hafley indicated he'd like Diggs to play against Minnesota in Week 18, giving him live reps before the postseason begins.
The coaching staff's comfort level with Diggs is enhanced by Ansley's presence. Having coached Diggs through his position change at Alabama, Ansley understands both Diggs' strengths and his developmental needs. That institutional knowledge could prove invaluable in maximizing Diggs' impact in a compressed timeframe.
The Alabama Effect
The reunion of Diggs and McKinney speaks to Alabama's remarkable pipeline to the NFL. Since Nick Saban's arrival in Tuscaloosa in 2007, the Crimson Tide have become the gold standard for producing NFL-ready defensive backs. The program's emphasis on technique, film study, and competing against elite talent in practice creates players who transition seamlessly to the professional level.
Both Diggs and McKinney credit their Alabama experience with preparing them for NFL success. The SEC's physical style of play, the pressure of competing for national championships, and Saban's demanding coaching all contributed to their development.
"We kind of like talk about the things we do wrong," Diggs said during his Alabama days, describing how he and his defensive back teammates would critique each other's performances. "We look at each other's games and say he drops a pass or something. We talk about things like that, we try and not talk about good things."
That mindset—focusing on mistakes rather than celebrating success—embodies Alabama's culture and explains why so many Crimson Tide players thrive in the NFL. For Diggs, returning to that mentality could be exactly what he needs to rediscover his form.
The Playoff Picture
The Packers enter the postseason as a dangerous seventh seed with weapons on both sides of the ball. Quarterback Jordan Love has emerged as an elite passer, and the offense features dynamic playmakers like receiver Christian Watson and tight end Tucker Kraft. The defense, anchored by McKinney and former Parsons (before his injury), has been stout against the run and capable of generating pressure.
But in the NFL playoffs, one weak link can be exploited mercilessly. Opposing coordinators will undoubtedly test Diggs early, targeting him with their best receivers to see if he's still the liability he was in Dallas. If he struggles, the Packers' playoff run could be short-lived.
If Diggs can hold his own, however—providing competent coverage and perhaps even generating a timely turnover—he'll have given Green Bay exactly what it needs. The Packers don't need him to be the 2021 All-Pro. They just need him to be reliable enough to prevent opposing offenses from attacking the secondary at will.
The Redemption Narrative
Beyond the X's and O's, Diggs' story offers a compelling redemption arc. Just weeks ago, he was a cast-off from a dysfunctional Cowboys team, his reputation tarnished by injuries and off-field controversies. Now he has a chance to contribute to a playoff contender, reunite with college teammates, and prove he still belongs at the NFL's highest level.
"I still feel like I'm the best," Diggs declared after his first practice with the Packers. That confidence—some might call it delusion given his recent performance—could be exactly what the moment requires. The NFL playoffs reward players who believe in themselves, who play without fear of failure.
Diggs has everything to gain and nothing to lose. If he fails, he'll simply be another veteran whose career ended on a down note. But if he succeeds—if he makes a crucial play in a playoff game, if he helps Green Bay advance—he'll have authored one of the season's most unlikely comeback stories.
Looking Ahead
As the Packers prepare for their Week 18 finale against Minnesota and then the playoffs, all eyes will be on how quickly Diggs can acclimate to his new surroundings. The McKinney connection should help, as should the presence of Jacobs and the recovering Parsons. The Alabama brotherhood in Green Bay creates a support system that extends beyond football.
For McKinney, getting his old college teammate back represents both an opportunity and a responsibility. He's become a leader in Green Bay's locker room, a vocal presence who sets the tone for the secondary. Bringing Diggs along, helping him navigate the playbook and regain his confidence, falls squarely within McKinney's purview.
The stakes couldn't be higher. The Packers' Super Bowl aspirations hinge on their ability to overcome injuries and execute in high-pressure moments. Diggs, despite his recent struggles, brings playoff experience and big-game pedigree. His two interceptions in Dallas' postseason appearances may seem like ancient history, but muscle memory doesn't disappear.
Whether the Alabama reunion can save the Packers' secondary remains to be seen. But in Green Bay's win-now situation, with injuries mounting and the playoffs looming, reuniting two former Crimson Tide stars might be exactly the kind of move that separates pretenders from contenders.
Diggs summed up his mindset succinctly: "I'm not chasing accolades. I'm not chasing anything. I'm chasing being a better me, being better every day ... helping this team win."
For the Packers—and for Diggs himself—nothing else matters.
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