Raekwon McMillan Bio
Raekwon McMillan is an American professional football linebacker who currently plays in the National Football League. Born on November 17, 1995, in Midway, Georgia, McMillan emerged as one of the top linebacker prospects in the 2017 NFL Draft class after a standout college career at Ohio State University. The Miami Dolphins selected him in the second round with the 54th overall pick in 2017. Throughout his professional career, McMillan has demonstrated resilience in overcoming significant injuries while contributing as a starting linebacker and special teams player for multiple franchises including the Miami Dolphins, Las Vegas Raiders, New England Patriots, and most recently the Tennessee Titans.
Early Life and Background
McMillan was born in Midway, Georgia, and grew up in Hinesville. His parents named him after the acclaimed rapper Raekwon of the Wu-Tang Clan. He attended Liberty County High School in Hinesville, where he developed into an elite linebacker prospect. During his senior year in 2013, McMillan won the High School Butkus Award, which is presented annually to the nation’s top high school linebacker. His performance at the high school level established him as one of the most promising defensive prospects in Georgia.
McMillan was rated as a five-star recruit by Rivals.com and earned the distinction of being the top-ranked inside linebacker in his class. His exceptional athleticism and football instincts attracted attention from major college programs across the country. The combination of his size, speed, and production made him a priority recruiting target for several Power Five conference schools seeking to strengthen their defensive units.
Path to the NFL
McMillan chose to continue his football career at Ohio State University, joining the Buckeyes program in 2014. As a true freshman, he made an immediate impact by appearing in 13 games and recording 54 tackles, 2.5 sacks, an interception returned for 24 yards, and one pass defended. His contributions helped Ohio State capture the College Football Playoff national championship that season, marking the beginning of his legacy with the program.
During his sophomore season in 2015, McMillan’s production increased dramatically as he tallied 119 tackles, 1.5 sacks, four passes defended, and a fumble recovery across 13 games. His outstanding performance earned him Second-team All-American honors and First-team All-Big Ten recognition. He continued his strong play as a junior in 2016, compiling 102 tackles, two sacks, five passes defended, and two forced fumbles in 13 games. Following his junior campaign, McMillan declared for the 2017 NFL Draft after three consecutive productive seasons with the Buckeyes.
Raekwon McMillan Career
Miami Dolphins (2017-2019)
The Miami Dolphins selected McMillan in the second round (54th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft. He signed a four-year contract worth $4.69 million with $3.16 million guaranteed and a $1.55 million signing bonus in May 2017. Entering training camp, McMillan was projected as the starting strongside linebacker after Koa Misi retired due to a neck injury. He impressed coaching staff by learning all three linebacker positions and emerged as the front-runner for the starting job.
McMillan’s rookie season took a devastating turn during his professional debut in the Dolphins’ first preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons on August 10, 2017. He suffered an apparent knee injury and testing later confirmed a torn ACL, abruptly ending his rookie campaign before the regular season began. The Dolphins placed him on injured reserve on September 2, 2017. After missing his entire first professional season to recovery, McMillan returned to competition in 2018.
In 2018, head coach Adam Gase named McMillan the starting middle linebacker alongside Kiko Alonso and Jerome Baker. He made his regular season debut and first career start in the season-opener against the Tennessee Titans, recording six combined tackles in a 27-20 victory. McMillan started all 16 games that season, accumulating 105 combined tackles (69 solo), two forced fumbles, and one pass deflection. His 2019 season ended prematurely when he suffered a hamstring injury in Week 15, resulting in placement on injured reserve on December 17, 2019, after playing 13 games.
Las Vegas Raiders (2020)
On August 29, 2020, the Dolphins traded McMillan to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for a 2021 fourth-round draft pick. During his lone season with the Raiders, he appeared in 16 games primarily on special teams, finishing with 27 total tackles. The transition marked a shift in his role, as he moved from a starting linebacker position to a more specialized contributing role on the Raiders roster.
New England Patriots (2021-2024)
McMillan signed with the New England Patriots on March 19, 2021. His tenure with the Patriots began with another significant injury setback when he suffered a torn ACL during practice in August 2021. The injury placed him on injured reserve, causing him to miss the entire 2021 season. Despite the injury, the Patriots signed him to a one-year contract extension through 2022 on September 27, 2021. He entered the 2022 season as a starting linebacker alongside Ja’Whaun Bentley but transitioned to special teams and backup duties as the year progressed, finishing with 35 tackles, one sack, and a fumble recovery touchdown.
The Patriots signed McMillan to another contract extension on March 10, 2023. However, his 2023 season ended before it truly began when he suffered a partially torn Achilles tendon during organized team activities in May. Despite this latest injury, the Patriots rewarded his resilience with a one-year, $2.25 million contract extension in August 2023. McMillan appeared in nine games during the 2024 season, recording 45 total tackles before the Patriots waived him on November 8, 2024.
Tennessee Titans (2024-Present)
The Tennessee Titans signed McMillan to their practice squad on December 24, 2024, and promoted him to the active roster four days later. He contributed in the final two games of the Titans’ 2024 season, recording one tackle. This move represented a fresh opportunity for McMillan to continue his professional career with a new organization.
Playing Style and Strengths
McMillan is known for his physicality and ability to diagnose plays quickly from the middle linebacker position. His experience at Ohio State prepared him to handle complex defensive schemes, and his time in the NFL has shown his versatility across different defensive packages. He has demonstrated the capacity to play all three linebacker positions, which provides value to defensive coordinators seeking flexible pieces for their rosters.
Notable Events and Milestones
Throughout his career, McMillan has faced significant adversity in the form of multiple season-ending injuries, including ACL tears in 2017 and 2021, and a partially torn Achilles in 2023. Despite these setbacks, he has continued to work toward returning to the field. His 2018 season with the Dolphins, where he started all 16 games and recorded over 100 tackles, stands as one of his most productive professional campaigns. His fumble recovery touchdown with the Patriots in 2022 represents one of his notable defensive contributions.
Raekwon McMillan Career Statistics
McMillan has compiled career statistics across seven NFL seasons despite multiple injury interruptions. His defensive contributions include tackles, sacks, forced fumbles, and pass deflections accumulated while playing for four different franchises.
NFL Career Highlights
Throughout his professional career spanning 2017 to 2024, McMillan has recorded 285 total tackles, one sack, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, four pass deflections, and one defensive touchdown. His most productive season came in 2018 with the Miami Dolphins, where he started all 16 games and recorded 105 tackles. He has appeared in 61 career games with 37 starts, demonstrating his ability to contribute when healthy.
College Achievements
During his three seasons at Ohio State from 2014 to 2016, McMillan established himself as one of the premier linebackers in college football. He helped the Buckeyes win the College Football Playoff national championship as a freshman in 2014. His career college statistics included 275 total tackles, 6.0 sacks, one interception, and multiple passes defended and forced fumbles across 39 games played.
| Level | Tackles | Sacks | Forced Fumbles | Games Played |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NFL Career | 285 | 1 | 3 | 61 |
| Ohio State (2014-2016) | 275 | 6 | 2 | 39 |
Raekwon McMillan Family
Family Background
McMillan was born in Midway, Georgia, and attended Liberty County High School in Hinesville. His first name honors the famous rapper Raekwon of the Wu-Tang Clan, reflecting his parents’ appreciation for hip-hop music. Beyond this naming inspiration, detailed information about his immediate family members remains private.
Personal Life
McMillan maintains a presence on social media platforms including Instagram. He has demonstrated perseverance throughout his football career by working through significant injury setbacks that have interrupted multiple seasons. Details regarding his marital status, spouse, or children are not publicly available information.
2025 Season Performance
McMillan joined the Tennessee Titans organization in late December 2024 and will look to establish himself within their defensive scheme during the 2025 season. His experience playing multiple linebacker positions provides the Titans with defensive flexibility. The 2025 season represents an opportunity for McMillan to demonstrate his durability and contribute meaningfully after appearing in just nine games during the 2024 season with New England.
The Titans’ coaching staff will evaluate McMillan’s progress during offseason workouts and training camp to determine his role within the defensive lineup. His ability to stay healthy throughout an entire season will be a key factor in his success with his new team. McMillan’s veteran experience from playing for four NFL franchises could prove valuable in mentoring younger linebackers within the Titans’ defensive room.