Roger McCreary Bio
Roger Lee McCreary (born February 10, 2000) is an American professional football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). After playing college football for the Auburn Tigers, where he earned All-American honors in 2021, McCreary was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft. He has since played for the Los Angeles Rams before signing with the Detroit Lions in 2026.
Early Life and Background
Roger Lee McCreary was born on February 10, 2000, in Mobile, Alabama, United States. He grew up in the Mobile area and attended Williamson High School, where he developed into a competitive cornerback prospect. Coming out of high school, McCreary was rated as a three-star recruit and ranked as the 87th cornerback in his recruiting class.
Although he initially committed to the University of South Alabama, McCreary later de-committed and chose to play college football at Auburn University. The decision to join the Auburn Tigers set the foundation for his development as a starting cornerback at the Southeastern Conference (SEC) level.
Path to American Football
McCreary arrived at Auburn as a true freshman in 2018 and appeared in seven games during his first season. The experience allowed him to adjust to the speed and complexity of SEC football while learning from older members of the Tigers secondary.
In 2019, McCreary played in all 13 games and recorded 36 tackles along with one interception, showing steady improvement in coverage and tackling. By his junior year in 2020, he had earned a full-time starting role, finishing the shortened season with 45 tackles and three interceptions across 10 games. His growing production positioned him as one of the top cornerback prospects in the country heading into his senior season.
Roger McCreary Career
Early Career at Auburn (2018–2021)
McCreary spent four seasons with the Auburn Tigers from 2018 through 2021, gradually expanding his role on defense. After contributing as a freshman and a rotational defender as a sophomore, he became a full-time starter in 2020 and continued that role into his senior campaign.
Rather than enter the 2021 NFL draft, McCreary returned to Auburn for his senior season, a decision that paid off with his best collegiate year. He finished 2021 with 49 tackles, two interceptions, and an SEC-best 14 pass breakups, earning First-team All-American recognition from both the Associated Press and ESPN. He was also named consensus First-team All-SEC by the conference coaches and the Associated Press.
Tennessee Titans Era (2022–2025)
The Tennessee Titans selected Roger McCreary in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft with the 35th overall pick, making him the fifth cornerback taken in that draft. He stepped immediately into the Titans secondary, starting all 17 games during his rookie season.
As a rookie, McCreary posted 84 total tackles, one interception, and eight passes defensed. A signature moment came in Week 15 against the Los Angeles Chargers, when he jumped out of bounds to tip a pass thrown by Justin Herbert mid-air, helping teammate Joshua Kalu secure an assisted interception. In 2023, McCreary shifted into the starting nickelback role, playing 15 games with 11 starts and finishing with 86 tackles, two sacks, six passes defensed, one interception, and a forced fumble. During the 2024 season, he appeared in 15 games, recording 50 tackles, one pass deflection, three pressures, and one sack.
Los Angeles Rams Era (2025)
On October 27, 2025, McCreary was traded to the Los Angeles Rams along with a conditional 2026 sixth-round pick in exchange for a conditional fifth-round pick. The move gave him a fresh opportunity in a different defensive scheme and a contender environment.
His time in Los Angeles was interrupted when he was placed on injured reserve on November 26 after suffering a hip injury in Week 12 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. McCreary was activated on December 29, ahead of the Rams’ Week 17 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, allowing him to finish the regular season on the active roster.
Detroit Lions Era (2026–Present)
On March 13, 2026, McCreary signed with the Detroit Lions on a one-year contract, continuing his NFL career in the NFC North. The signing added experienced cornerback depth to the Lions secondary as the team prepared for the upcoming season.
Driving Style and Strengths
McCreary is a physical, technically sound cornerback whose strengths include tackling in the run game, press coverage on the perimeter, and the ability to play both outside and nickel. His ball production, including 14 pass breakups in his senior season, reflects strong route recognition and timing at the catch point, while his sack totals in 2023 show effectiveness as a blitzer.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among McCreary’s career highlights are his 2021 First-team All-American and consensus First-team All-SEC selections, his status as a top-35 pick in the 2022 NFL draft, and the 2023 season in which he posted two sacks while playing nickel. He also helped create a memorable turnover against the Los Angeles Chargers in his rookie year by tipping a Justin Herbert pass out of bounds.
Roger McCreary Career Wins
Roger McCreary has built his reputation on consistent coverage play, interception production, and reliable tackling rather than on weekly win-loss headlines. Across his college career at Auburn and his NFL tenure with the Tennessee Titans, Los Angeles Rams, and Detroit Lions, he has earned individual accolades that mark him as a dependable cornerback at every level.
College and NFL Highlights
At Auburn, McCreary recorded 130 tackles and six interceptions across his four seasons, including a 2021 senior campaign that featured 49 tackles, two interceptions, and an SEC-best 14 pass breakups. He was named First-team All-American by the Associated Press and ESPN, and consensus First-team All-SEC following that final college season.
In the NFL, McCreary started all 17 games as a rookie with the Tennessee Titans in 2022 and has continued to log heavy snap counts, with career regular-season totals of 257 tackles, four sacks, one forced fumble, 17 pass deflections, and three interceptions through the 2025 season.
Other Performances
McCreary’s postseason experience has been limited, and no individual postseason awards have been verified. His most recent move to the Detroit Lions on a one-year contract in 2026 represents the next chapter in his professional career.
Roger McCreary Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Detailed information about Roger McCreary’s parents and siblings has not been publicly verified beyond his Mobile, Alabama upbringing. He attended Williamson High School in Mobile before moving on to Auburn University.
Personal Life
McCreary is not publicly known to be married, and details about a spouse or children have not been verified. A frequently noted personal detail is that his pregame meal consists of two plates of baked beans with eight packets of sugar.
2025 Season Performance
McCreary’s 2025 season was split between the Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams after his late-October trade. With Tennessee, he continued to handle a starting role before the deal, contributing tackles and coverage snaps consistent with his previous seasons.
After arriving in Los Angeles, McCreary offered the Rams additional cornerback depth before a hip injury in Week 12 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sent him to injured reserve on November 26. He returned to the active roster on December 29 ahead of the Week 17 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, finishing the year in the Rams’ secondary.
Heading into 2026, McCreary’s outlook shifted again when he signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Lions on March 13, 2026. The deal positions him to compete for a starting role in Detroit and to build on career totals of 257 tackles, four sacks, one forced fumble, 17 pass deflections, and three interceptions.
