Todd Pinkston joins Kansas City for his second season as running backs coach in 2024. Pinkston's 10 years in the NFL includes a seven-year playing career with the Philadelphia Eagles.
In 2023, Pinkston guided the running backs room to a standout season with RB Isiah Pacheco leading the charge. In his inaugural season leading the running backs, the offense leaned on the run game en route to the club's eventual overtime Super Bowl LVIII victory over the San Francisco 49ers. RB Isiah Pacheco returned for his second year on the team and led the rushing attack with 205 rushes for 935 yards and seven touchdowns, career highs in each category. Pacheco had three games with 100+ rushing yards (Weeks 4, 13 and 17). With Pinkston's guidance and background as a wide receiver, Pacheco added 44 receptions for 244 yards and two touchdowns. Pacheco added on three postseason rushing touchdowns on 81 rushes for 313 yards and had a postseason high of 97 rushing yards and a touchdown at Buffalo in the Divisional Round Game. RB Jerick McKinnon was also used as a weapon out of the backfield with 21 rushes for 60 yards and a touchdown. McKinnon added 25 catches for 192 yards and four touchdowns.
Pinkston arrives in Kansas City after spending time at Stockbridge High School as associate head coach, special teams coach and wide receivers coach (2019-22). He also had stints as the wide receivers coach at Austin Peay (2017-19) and Petal High School (2009-16). Under Pinkston's tutelage at Austin Peay WR Kyran Moore had a standout senior season, leading the team in catches (29) and yards (529), and tied for the team lead in receiving touchdowns with three. With Pinkston's direction, WR DJ Montgomery also emerged, catching 19 passes for 228 yards and three scores.
Following his playing career in the National Football League (2000-06, Eagles; 2006-07, Vikings/Commanders), Pinkston began his coaching career as a training camp assistant, working primarily with the Eagles wide receivers in 2009 under his former coach, Andy Reid. In 2010 he took a role as a training camp assistant for the Vikings where he also worked with the receivers.
Pinkston spent seven of his eight years playing professionally in Philadelphia under Reid as a second-round draft pick out of Southern Mississippi. Pinkston became a primary target during the Donovan McNabb era in Philadelphia, catching 184 passes for 2,816 yards and 14 touchdowns from 2000-04. Pinkston led the Eagles for the second year in a row in receiving yards (575) in 2003. In 2004 Pinkston hauled in 676 receiving yards on a career-best 18.8 yards per catch. In 2002, Pinkston set career highs in receptions (60), yards (798) and touchdowns (seven). As a rookie in 2000, Pinkston registered 10 catches for 181 yards before breaking out in his second season with 42 catches, 586 yards and four touchdowns through his 15 games. During his time in Philadelphia, Pinkston appeared in the playoffs five times, reached the NFC Championship Game four times and reached the 2004 Super Bowl (XXXIX) in Jacksonville, Florida, after defeating Atlanta in the 2004 NFC Conference Championship Game. Pinkston had four catches for 82 yards in Super Bowl XXXIX against the Patriots, but the Eagles fell 24-21 to New England.
After an injury cost him all of the 2005 season, Pinkston went to training camp with Philadelphia, Minnesota and Washington over the next two seasons.
Pinkston received his bachelor's degree in coaching and sports administration from Southern Mississippi in 1999. A second-team All-Conference USA choice in 1999, Pinkston was elected to the M-Club Hall of Fame in 2011 and at the time was second in Golden Eagle history in receiving yards (2,366) and third in both receptions (149) and touchdown receptions (22).
In addition to coaching at Stockbridge High School, Pinkston served as a co-teacher for the special education department teaching primarily science and math. Pinkston remains an active member of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, which he became a member of while at Southern Mississippi. Since 2013, Pinkston has also spent time as a USA Heads Up Youth Football Ambassador for the State of Mississippi.
Education: Southern Mississippi (B.S. 1999) Born: Forest, Miss. Family: Wife – Tamara Children: Aaden, Bryce, Chase, Jonathan and Lauren.
