Going into his senior year of high school, Bryant was listed as 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) tall and 255 pounds (116 kg) and projected to start on both the offensive and defensive lines.

There, he gained 70 pounds and switched from his high school position as a defensive lineman to offensive tackle.

[6][7] McKinnie made his professional debut during the second possession of the Viking's Week 10 game against the New York Giants, a 27–20 loss.

[10] In 2010, McKinnie allowed a sack that injured Brett Favre and stopped his consecutive regular season start streak at 297 games.

[11] McKinnie was selected to his first NFL Pro Bowl following the 2009 season, but didn't play in the game due to injuries in his feet and left ankle, as well as an illness he was enduring at the time.

Because he was not quickly up-front with the league about these issues, the NFL front office forced him to forfeit his $22,500 check and re-pay $4,285 for other expenses.

[12][13] In the summer of 2011, McKinnie was placed on the Vikings' non-football injury list for reportedly showing up to camp out of shape, according to The Star Tribune.

After former University of Miami teammate Ed Reed vouched for him as a strong player, McKinnie signed with the Baltimore Ravens on August 24, 2011.

[19] McKinnie tested free agency for a little over a month following the 2012 season, but the Ravens ultimately signed him on May 2, 2013, to a two-year deal valued at up to $7 million.

[22] On May 26, 2006, McKinnie pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and being a public nuisance on a watercraft in connection with the boat scandal.

On September 9, 2006, the National Football League announced that it was fining McKinnie and fellow Viking Fred Smoot one game check for the incident.