He accepted a football scholarship from Elizabeth City State University, starting at defensive end his first 3 seasons.
McIver was signed as an undrafted free agent by the San Diego Chargers after the 1993 NFL draft on April 27.
In 1995, he received his first NFL start at left tackle in place of an injured Matt Willig against the Buffalo Bills.
McIver was allocated to the World League of American Football (WLAF) for seasoning in 1996, where he was named starter at left tackle for the London Monarchs.
[8] He was named the starter at right guard against the Pittsburgh Steelers, replacing an injured Chris Gray, and he started the last 5 games.
[9] During the 1998 offseason, the Dolphins focused on signing free agent Kevin Donnalley and McIver eventually decided to change teams.
On February 24, 1998, the Dallas Cowboys signed McIver as a free agent, because they saw a player coming into his own and with the potential for taking over Nate Newton's guard position.
[10] In training camp, he was involved in one of the most controversial episodes in Cowboys franchise history, when future Hall of Fame receiver Michael Irvin stabbed him in the neck, leaving him with a potentially fatal two-inch gash.
He missed the next five contests and returned against the Seattle Seahawks, only to suffer an MCL tear in his left knee and being placed on the injured reserve list on November 24.