Jerick McKinnon is now known to most of the league as one of the best-receiving backs in the NFL. McKinnon had 512 receiving yards and 9 TDs for the Kansas City Chiefs this season to help them win the Lombardi Trophy. However, only a few people actually know how Jerick McKinnon got to this point in his career.
Vikings fans know him as a consistent and trustworthy backup running back that was huge for them in big moments.
McKinnon was a 3rd round draft pick by the Minnesota Vikings in 2014. McKinnon spent 4 seasons with the Vikings, putting up above-average numbers for a backup running back. McKinnon averaged 479.5 yards in his time with Minnesota and consistently scored 2-3 touchdowns per year.
Jerick McKinnon was up there as one of the best backup running backs in the league, backing up Adrian Peterson, Latavius Murry, and Dalvin Cook in that span.
After departing from the Vikings organization in 2018, McKinnon signed a 4-year, $30 million contract with the San Francisco 49ers.
At the time it looked like McKinnon had finally gotten the starting job he deserved, but tragedy struck. Just a couple weeks before the beginning of the 2018 NFL season, Jerick McKinnon would tear his ACL, later announcing that it was a grade 3 tear. This injury kept him out for the entire season. In the 2019 offseason, McKinnon would tear his LCL, also a grade 3 tear, leaving him out for the entire 2019 NFL season.
He would play for the 49ers in 2020, mostly used as a receiving back, but was not used too often. The 49ers would release McKinnon in the offseason, leading to the Chiefs picking him up.
The Chiefs picking up McKinnon could not have been a better choice for him. Over the 2 seasons he’s been with the organization, McKinnon has put up career numbers in receiving yards and TDs. McKinnon is properly utilized in Kansas City and is the perfect fit alongside Isiah Pacheco.
McKinnon has had his ups and downs. He shined in Minnesota, which landed him a starting job in San Francisco, but injury kept him out of playing there. That landed McKinnon in Kansas City where he has shown that he has not been affected by his past injuries and that he still deserves to be a starter. Jerick McKinnon is a Super Bowl Champion.
