Reginald McKenzie Sr. was an all-state linebacker, a four-sport letterman and 1981 class valedictorian of Knoxville’s Austin-East High School. McKenzie was recruited as a linebacker for the University of Tennessee. He was a member of a fearsome linebacker corps that also included Carl Zander, Alvin Toles and Dale Jones.
McKenzie finished his career at Tennessee with 174 tackles (108 solo) and 4.0 sacks and was selected to play in the Hula Bowl in 1985. He also played in the Japan Bowl that same year. In September 2011, McKenzie was honored as UT‘s “Legends of the Game”.
McKenzie earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management and was drafted by the Los Angeles Raiders in the 10th round of the 1985 NFL Draft. He started as a rookie and played for the Raiders from 1985-88 and the Phoenix Cardinals from 1989-90. In 1991, McKenzie spent one season as a defensive coach for Dorsey High School in Los Angeles. In the spring of 1992, he played with the Montreal Machine of the World League.
McKenzie returned to the University of Tennessee in 1993 as a graduate assistant under head coach Phillip Fulmer, while pursuing a Master’s Degree in Education and Administration. He is the Co-founder and President of The McKenzie Foundation that has awarded college scholarships to several Austin-East Seniors and organized The McKenzie Football Camp for hundreds of Knoxville and Chattanooga youth for over 15 years.
He worked for the Green Bay Packers from 1994-2011; rising through the organization’s ranks as a scout, director of player personnel and director of football operations and helped Green Bay capture eight division titles, three conference championships, and two Super Bowl victories.
In 2012, Raiders’ Owner Mark Davis, named McKenzie as the team’s General Manager, making him the first person to assume that role since Al Davis was hired as Head Coach and General Manager in 1963. Over the past six years, he has overseen significant changes in the organization’s scouting, player personnel and football operations departments, while bringing refined football acumen to the Silver and Black. He was recognized as the NFL’s 2016 Executive of the Year by Sports Illustrated, the Sporting News and the Pro Football Writers of America, becoming the first Raider since Al Davis (2002) to earn the award.
Reggie and June, his wife of 29 years, are the proud parents of Jasmin Dolores, Mahkayla Mariah, Reginald Kahlil, Jr. and Jalen Elijah.