At Fort Payne, he made a 60-yard field goal and an 84-yard punt, both kicks being one yard short of the Alabama high school record.

[8] McPherson went on to play college football for the Florida Gators from 2018–2020 before choosing to forgo his senior season and enter the NFL draft.

At the end of the pre-season, the Bengals released their only other kicker on the roster, Austin Seibert, and named McPherson the starter for the 2021 regular season.

During overtime, McPherson kicked a 33-yard game-winning field goal to secure a 27–24 win, earning AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.

[24] In the Bengals' Wild Card game against the Raiders, McPherson was 4-of-4 on field goals, assisting the team to a 26–19 victory that gave them their first postseason win in 31 years.

His 52-yard field goal as time expired gave the Bengals a 19–16 win over the Tennessee Titans to send them to their first AFC Championship Game since 1988.

[28] In the Bengals season opening game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, McPherson set a franchise record for longest field goal with 59 yards.

[29] However, after an injury to long snapper Clark Harris, McPherson had a potential game-winning extra point blocked and missed a 29-yard field goal in overtime, leading to a 23–20 loss.

[36] In McPherson's Week 1 appearance, he successfully kicked a 51 yard field goal as the Bengals lost to the New England Patriots.

[38] During Week 11 on Sunday Night Football against the Chargers, McPherson missed two field goal attempts, one for 48 yards and the other for 51 as the Bengals would lose 27-34.

[41] McPherson's older brother Logan was also an all-state kicker for Fort Payne High School and went on to play as a punter for Louisiana Tech University.