Briley Moore Mckinney Bio
Briley Moore-Mckinney is an American professional football tight end for the DC Defenders of the United Football League (UFL). Born on January 13, 1998, in Blue Springs, Missouri, he has built his career through persistence after going undrafted in 2021. He is recognized for his production at both Northern Iowa and Kansas State before reaching the professional ranks.
Moore-Mckinney measures 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) and has played at approximately 258 lb (117 kg). He wears jersey number 88 with the DC Defenders and continues to be listed as active on the team roster.
Early Life and Background
Briley Moore-Mckinney grew up in Blue Springs, Missouri, a community east of Kansas City with a strong high school football tradition. He attended Blue Springs South High School, where he competed in both football and basketball during his teenage years.
His first three years of high school were marked by injuries in both sports, limiting his on-field development. As a senior, he broke through with a standout season, catching 37 passes for 653 yards and 15 touchdowns. That performance earned him first-team All-State honors and helped Blue Springs South capture a state championship.
That senior campaign established Moore-Mckinney as a reliable pass-catching target and laid the foundation for his recruitment to NCAA football.
Path to American Football
Moore-Mckinney began his college career at Northern Iowa, where the Panthers compete in the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC). He transitioned from wide receiver to tight end during his freshman season, finishing the year with four receptions for 60 yards and one touchdown.
As a sophomore, he was named honorable mention All-MVFC after recording 38 receptions for 494 yards. His junior season brought first-team All-MVFC recognition, leading Northern Iowa with 39 receptions, 536 yards, and four touchdowns. A season-ending shoulder injury in the first game of his senior year against Iowa State cut short his final season with the Panthers.
Moore-Mckinney then entered the transfer portal and chose Kansas State as a graduate transfer, weighing offers from Baylor and Missouri. In his lone season with the Wildcats, he earned second-team All-Big 12 Conference honors, finishing with 22 receptions for 338 yards and three touchdowns.
Briley Moore Mckinney Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
Moore-Mckinney signed with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent shortly after the 2021 NFL Draft concluded. The opportunity marked his entry into professional football and reflected his college production at tight end.
During training camp with the Titans, he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and was placed on season-ending injured reserve on August 1, 2021. He was waived by Tennessee on August 17, 2022, closing his NFL tenure with the franchise.
XFL/UFL Breakthrough (2023–2025)
On November 17, 2022, Moore-Mckinney was drafted by the DC Defenders of the XFL, launching his spring football career. He joined a growing list of skilled pass-catching tight ends making the jump to the alternative professional league.
In 2024, he was placed on injured reserve on April 16 before being activated on May 21. He re-signed with the Defenders on October 25, 2024, signaling the organization’s continued belief in his role within the offense.
Moore-Mckinney helped the DC Defenders capture the UFL championship in 2025, his first professional title at the top level of spring football.
DC Defenders Era (2026–Present)
On January 13, 2026, Moore-Mckinney was selected by the Columbus Aviators in the 2026 UFL Draft, briefly shifting his spring football home. The move lasted only weeks before the next transaction reshaped his season.
On February 11, 2026, he was traded back to the DC Defenders in exchange for Patrick Jenkins, returning him to the franchise where he had won the 2025 UFL title. He remains active on the DC Defenders roster heading into the 2026 UFL season.
Notable Events and Milestones
Moore-Mckinney’s career is anchored by the 2025 UFL championship with the DC Defenders, a milestone that validated his persistence after going undrafted in 2021. His college recognition includes first-team All-MVFC honors in 2018 and second-team All-Big 12 recognition in 2020, both earned at tight end.
Briley Moore Mckinney Career Wins
Briley Moore-Mckinney’s verified championship success centers on the 2025 UFL title with the DC Defenders, the centerpiece of his professional résumé. He has also earned individual postseason recognition at the collegiate level, including first-team All-MVFC in 2018 and second-team All-Big 12 in 2020.
UFL Highlights
Moore-Mckinney joined the DC Defenders through the XFL Draft on November 17, 2022, and remained with the organization across multiple seasons. He navigated an injured reserve stint in 2024 before re-signing with the Defenders on October 25, 2024.
His perseverance paid off in 2025 when the DC Defenders won the UFL championship. After a brief selection by the Columbus Aviators in the 2026 UFL Draft, he was traded back to the Defenders on February 11, 2026, reinforcing his standing within the franchise.
Other Wins & Performances
At the high school level, Moore-Mckinney was part of Blue Springs South’s state championship-winning team during his senior season, a defining early accomplishment. His college production included 38 receptions for 494 yards as a sophomore and a team-leading 39 receptions for 536 yards and four touchdowns as a junior at Northern Iowa. His lone Kansas State season produced 22 receptions for 338 yards and three touchdowns.
Briley Moore Mckinney Family
Personal Life
Briley Moore-Mckinney was raised in Blue Springs, Missouri, and is a United States national. Public records confirm his birthplace and hometown, while details about parents, spouse, and children are not publicly documented in available sources.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 UFL season marked Moore-Mckinney’s first professional championship, as the DC Defenders captured the league title. He contributed as a tight end within the DC offense, complementing the team’s passing attack with his 6 ft 4 in frame and reliable hands developed during his college years at Northern Iowa and Kansas State.
Following the championship, the Defenders re-signed Moore-Mckinney on October 25, 2024, a move that reflected the franchise’s confidence in his continued production. The 2025 title run added a defining chapter to a career that had already featured multiple injury setbacks, including an ACL tear during his 2021 Titans training camp.
Looking beyond 2025, Moore-Mckinney’s outlook centers on his return to the DC Defenders after the February 11, 2026 trade from the Columbus Aviators. His familiarity with the DC system and prior championship experience position him as a veteran presence in the locker room for the 2026 UFL season.