A Biletnikoff Award finalist in 2024, wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan was one of the most dominant pass catchers in college football. A three-year contributor for the Wildcats, McMillan was selected with the eighth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
As is the case with many elite athletes, McMillan’s rise to the top of the draft boards likely wouldn’t have happened without the support of his parents. Let’s get to know them.
Who Are Tetairoa McMillan’s Parents?
McMillan was born to Wyatt Sr. and Shawny McMillan on April 5, 2003, in Waimānalo, Hawaii. He is the youngest of four children. He has a brother named Wyatt McMillan and two sisters, Alexis and Kiana. Kiana is reportedly married with three children of her own.
McMillan is known for being private and introverted, and there isn’t much public information available about his parents. However, his mother, Shawny, has been a familiar face at his games and was especially proud when he declared for the 2025 NFL Draft.
“What a journey it has been. So many things to be grateful for and to say, I am proud is an understatement. No words can describe only tears… tears of joy,” she wrote on X.
McMillan was one of the top-ranked players in his recruiting class and finished as a high four-star recruit. He had offers from nearly every major program in the country, but ultimately chose Arizona, partly because his high school quarterback, Noah Fifita, was also headed there.
It didn’t take long for McMillan to make an impact in Tucson. As a true freshman, he became one of the team’s top targets and set the school record for most receiving yards by a true freshman with 702.
McMillan broke out as a sophomore, earning All-American honors with 1,402 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. He followed that up with another strong campaign in 2024, recording 84 receptions for 1,319 yards and eight scores, earning Biletnikoff Award finalist honors.
McMillan’s Performance in Rookie Season
McMillan was selected with the 8th overall pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Panthers, after three excellent seasons with the University of Arizona Wildcats.
His college career ended with 213 receptions, 3423 receiving yards, and 26 touchdowns. In his junior season, he was named an All-American. He was also the 2024 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year and a top-three finalist for the 2024 Biletnikoff Award, placing behind the winner and fellow 2025 draftee, Travis Hunter.
McMillan finished the regular season with 70 receptions for 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns in 17 games. In PFSN’s Wide Receiver Impact Metric, the rookie ranked 44th with a C grade and an impact score of 75.5. Furthermore, he’s one of the top candidates to win the 2025 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award.
McMillan has proven to be a top-tier wide receiver for quarterback Bryce Young in only his rookie year. Being the lead receiver in the Panthers’ expansive receiver room, he should be a staple on the offense for years to come.
