Todd Pinkston facts for kids

Todd Pinkston was born on April 23, 1977. He is an American football coach and a former professional player. He currently works as the running backs coach for the Kansas City Chiefs in the National Football League (NFL).

Before becoming a coach, Todd played five seasons as a wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles. During his time with the Eagles, he caught 184 passes for 2,816 yards and scored 14 touchdowns. The Eagles made it to the playoffs every year he was a starter, even reaching Super Bowl XXXIX. Todd was honored by being added to the Southern Miss Sports Hall of Fame in 2011. In 2015, he was also inducted into the Scott County Sports Hall of Fame in his hometown of Forest, Mississippi.

Todd Pinkston's Football Journey

College Years

Todd Pinkston played college football at the University of Southern Mississippi. He was a very successful receiver there. By the time he finished, he was the school's second-best receiver ever. He had 149 catches for 2,366 yards and 22 touchdowns. In his senior year alone, he caught 48 passes for 977 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Playing in the NFL

Philadelphia Eagles

In the 2000 NFL draft, the Philadelphia Eagles picked Todd Pinkston in the second round. Some people were surprised because he was quite tall (6 feet 3 inches) but very light, weighing only about 167 pounds.

In his first year, 2000, Todd didn't play much. But in 2001, he became a starter. He worked with teammate James Thrash and caught 42 passes for 586 yards and four touchdowns. The year 2002 was his best. He caught 60 passes for 798 yards and seven touchdowns. Because of his great performance, the Eagles gave him a new five-year contract.

In 2003, Todd's numbers were a bit lower. However, he made an important touchdown catch in a playoff game against the Green Bay Packers. The next week, the Eagles lost the NFC Championship game.

In 2004, Todd Pinkston was known for making big plays. He averaged 18.8 yards per catch, which was one of the best in the NFL. He also had six catches that gained 40 yards or more. In Super Bowl XXXIX, he caught four passes for 82 yards before leaving the game due to leg cramps.

Unfortunately, in August 2005, Todd tore his Achilles tendon during practice. This injury meant he couldn't play in the 2005 season. He was still recovering in 2006 and was later released by the Eagles.

Other Teams

After leaving the Eagles, Todd Pinkston signed a one-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings in September 2006. Their coach, Brad Childress, used to be a coach for the Eagles. However, Todd was released by the Vikings just six days later.

In August 2007, Todd signed with the Washington Redskins. He had recovered from his Achilles injury by then. But he did not make the team's final roster.

Coaching Career

After his playing career, Todd Pinkston started coaching. In 2009, he worked as a coaching intern for his old team, the Philadelphia Eagles. He helped the wide receivers coach. He also coached wide receivers at Petal High School in Mississippi.

From 2016 to 2021, he was the wide receivers coach for Austin Peay State University in Tennessee.

On March 17, 2023, Todd Pinkston was hired as the running backs coach for the Kansas City Chiefs. He became a Super Bowl champion when the Chiefs won Super Bowl LVIII by defeating the San Francisco 49ers 25–22.