McCoy was the starting quarterback for the University of Texas Longhorns from 2006-2009 and won the 2008 Walter Camp Award, was the 2008 Heisman Trophy runner-up, was named the 2009 NCAA Quarterback of the Year, and was named the 2009 AT&T ESPN All-America Player of the Year. 

He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft, and later traded in 2013 to the San Francisco 49ers. In 2014 he signed with the Washington Redskins.