Jared Pinkney

Jared Pinkney's Biography

Jared Pinkney, born on August 21, 1997, in Norcross, Georgia, has pursued his passion for football through various high-profile positions and experiences across different NFL teams. Currently known as an accomplished American tight end, Pinkney’s journey began at Norcross High School where he showcased his raw talent by catching 32 passes for 480 yards and three touchdowns during his senior season. Recognized for his performance, Pinkney was named first-team All-region and honorable mention All-State. He was a consensus three-star recruit who was coveted by several prestigious colleges including Nebraska, Miami, Florida, and Missouri. However, he committed to Vanderbilt, where he began a journey that would shape his successful career in football.

At Vanderbilt, his freshman year was impacted by an injury during the initial game, leading him to take a medical redshirt. Despite this setback, he made a strong comeback, securing a position on Athlon Sports’ Southeastern Conference (SEC) All-Freshman team. During his redshirt sophomore year, Pinkney amassed 22 receptions, 273 receiving yards, and three touchdowns. This steady upward trajectory in his game performance continued, and as a redshirt junior, he was placed on the coveted watchlist for the John Mackey Award. His junior season witnessed an impressive run, wrapping up the year with 50 receptions for 774 yards and seven touchdowns, solidifying his reputation as a formidable player. The Associated Press recognized his feats and named him second-team All-SEC.

As Pinkney rolled into his redshirt senior season, he remained on the Mackey Award watchlist and was named second-team preseason All-SEC. Renowned ESPN experts Todd McShay and Mel Kiper touted Pinkney as the 2020’s top tight end NFL Draft hopeful, with Pro Football Focus even projecting him as a first-round pick. However, his game performance dwindled during his senior year, concluding with 20 receptions for 233 yards and two touchdowns across 11 games.

April 27, 2020, marked a significant moment in Pinkney’s football journey — he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Atlanta Falcons, post the 2020 NFL draft. Despite his optimistic start with the Falcons, he was waived in September that same year and subsequently signed to the practice squad. Early in 2021, Pinkney was elevated to the active roster during the team’s week 17 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but remained inactive for the game.

In addition to his time with the Falcons, Pinkney also signed a reserve/futures contract with the Tennessee Titans in January 2021. However, his stint with the Titans was short-lived as he was waived in August 2021. The subsequent years saw Pinkney moved among several teams, including signing onto the Detroit Lions’ practice squad and the Los Angeles Rams’ practice squad. Despite multiple team changes and releases, Pinkney persevered, making his NFL debut in January 2022 as a Lions’ tight end against the Seattle Seahawks.

However, by May 2022 he was waived by the Lions, only to be picked by the Los Angeles Rams the following month. The continual transitions didn’t deter Pinkney as he was promoted to the Rams’ active roster in January 2023. Nevertheless, he was waived by the team in March the same year. Pinkney’s journey as a noteworthy football tight end continues as he was signed by the Chicago Bears in July 2023. Despite challenges including injury, Pinkney’s unwavering resilience continues to be a defining aspect of his eventful career in American football.