Jerick McKinnon is returning to Kansas City; a source told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Monday.
McKinnon, 30, joins veteran running backs Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Ronald Jones II, Derrick Gore, and rookie Isaiah Pacheco.
McKinnon originally signed a one-year contract on April 30, 2021, and saw limited action in thirteen games, rushing for 62 yards on twelve carries. However, he emerged as a fan favorite during the postseason, rushing for a combined 150 yards on 34 touches. He also made fourteen catches for 165 yards and a score.
Until today, it seemed as though the Chiefs were moving on from their 2021 running back crew, allowing McKinnon and Darrel Williams to walk into free agency. They also drafted Isaiah Pacheco out of Rutgers, which appeared to top off the running back position going into OTAs and mini camp.
That’s clearly not the case as Brett Veach and Co. decide to bring back a player that had a noticeable impact on the team during their last postseason run.
McKinnon spent his first four seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, where he rushed for 1,918 yards and seven touchdowns on 457 carries.
In 2018, he signed a three-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers but missed the first two seasons due to injuries. In 2020, he returned to the NFL by appearing in all 16 regular season games, making four starts, and ran for 319 yards and five scores on 81 rushing attempts. He also caught 33 passes for 253 yards and a score.
