Reginald McKenzie (born February 8, 1963) is an American football executive and former player, and is currently a senior personnel executive for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the general manager of the Oakland Raiders of the NFL from January 5, 2012, until his firing on December 10, 2018. Previously, McKenzie was a linebacker for the Raiders and was later the director of player personnel for the Green Bay Packers. He played college football at Tennessee.
Playing career
Austin-East High School
McKenzie played high school football at Austin-East High School. He was a consensus All-State linebacker during his senior year, and was considered the 22nd best player in the state by the Knoxville News Sentinel. He was a teammate of Raiders Director of Player Personnel, Joey Clinkscales. McKenzie was valedictorian of his 1981 graduating class.
University of Tennessee
McKenzie played collegiate football at the University of Tennessee from 1981 through the 1984 season. In 1981, he played in 11 games, tallying 20 tackles (nine solo). During his sophomore season in 1982, he picked up 33 tackles (18 solo). Playing in 11 games as a junior in 1983, he tallied 32 tackles (18 solo), including three sacks. During his senior year, he registered 89 tackles (63 solo), including a sack, as well as an interception and two fumble recoveries, as part of a linebacker corps that included Carl Zander, Alvin Toles, and Dale Jones.
Los Angeles Raiders
The then-Los Angeles Raiders drafted McKenzie in the tenth round of the 1985 NFL Draft with the 275th overall selection. From 1985 to 1988, McKenzie played as a linebacker for the Los Angeles Raiders. He became a starter as a rookie at inside linebacker next to Matt Millen in a 3–4–4 defensive scheme, playing in all 16 games for a team ending the year with a won–loss record of 12–4, allowing 308 points (19.2 points/game), ninth of 28 teams, and winning the AFC Western Division. Los Angeles lost their divisional round to the 1985 New England Patriots, having difficulty stopping a running game which amassed 156 yards against them, led by Craig James' 104 yards behind an offensive line which featured John Hannah at left guard and Brian Holloway at left tackle. It was McKenzie's only playoff appearance. McKenzie also started all 16 games the following year, but at outside linebacker in a 4–3–4 scheme, with Matt Millen inside and Jerry Robinson on the other side. The Raiders ended with a record of 8–8 and allowed 346 points (21.6 points/game), 19th among 28 teams. He returned as an inside linebacker in a 3–4–4 defensive scheme during the 1987 NFL season, the strike year, but started only five games, sharing time with Jerry Robinson next to Matt Millen, then only three the following year, his final one as a Raider.
Time out of the NFL
While out of football in 1991, McKenzie spent a season as a defensive coach for Dorsey High School in Los Angeles. He then played with the Montreal Machine of the World League of American Football in the spring of 1992.
San Francisco 49ers
After sitting out three years, McKenzie came back in 1992 as a member of the San Francisco 49ers, but played in only two games.
Coaching and administrative career
University of Tennessee
In 1993, McKenzie returned to Tennessee and served as an assistant under head coach Phillip Fulmer. That year, the Volunteers appeared in the Florida Citrus Bowl and landed one of the nation’s top recruiting classes, highlighted by QB Peyton Manning.
Green Bay Packers
McKenzie was employed by the Green Bay Packers from 1994 to 2012. He began as a scout, and gradually rose through the ranks to become the Packers' director of player personnel and eventually the team's director of football operations, while reporting to general managers Ron Wolf and Ted Thompson.
Oakland Raiders
McKenzie was hired as general manager of the Oakland Raiders on January 5, 2012. Longtime owner Al Davis had been general manager since 1966, and retained control over football operations after becoming principal owner in 1972. Both Wolf (who had worked in the Raiders front office prior to his Green Bay tenure) and former Raiders coach John Madden recommended McKenzie to new owner Mark Davis, who hired McKenzie after an interview conducted jointly by Davis and Madden.