KANSAS CITY, Mo. — He has been on the field this season for some of Patrick Mahomes’ biggest completions, although he has rarely been the player who makes the reception. He is adored by his offensive teammates, both the offensive linemen and the skill-position players. He’s also a major reason why Mahomes, the Chiefs’ superstar quarterback, has been sacked just 19 times, the second fewest among passers who have started 12 games.
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Based on his physical frame, running back Jerick McKinnon, listed at 5-foot-9 and 209 pounds, is the smallest member of the Chiefs’ potent offense. The Chiefs lead the NFL in scoring (29.2 points per game) — and everyone in the unit understands that perhaps McKinnon’s biggest contribution to their success is when he doesn’t have the ball. It’s when McKinnon meets an attacking defender.
Most defensive coordinators know that blitzing Mahomes, a strong candidate to win the NFL MVP award in his sixth season, is often an unwise strategy. Mahomes has faced a blitz on 107 snaps, 14th most among quarterbacks, according to TruMedia. But the combination of Mahomes’ elusiveness and McKinnon’s blocking ability has often been why their linebacker, cornerback or safety doesn’t generate a negative play for the Chiefs.
Among running backs who have played 12 games, McKinnon is just one of three players in the league who has yet to surrender a sack while playing at least 40 snaps as an additional pass blocker, according to TruMedia and Pro Football Focus. In fact, McKinnon’s work in such a role has helped Mahomes complete nine passes of 18 yards or more and four other passes that ended with the Chiefs scoring a touchdown.
Last month, McKinnon, 30, explained his success in a hilarious yet honest manner.
“I’m little, so I’ve got little-man syndrome when it comes to stuff like that,” he said, laughing. “It’s definitely something that I like. It’s fun working with the O-line, man. Those guys make it easy. It’s a collective effort.”
McKinnon’s favorite snap this season, one in which the little man dominated, was against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 2. The Chiefs were in a familiar scenario: They needed to rally after falling behind 10 points. Midway through the third quarter, on a third-and-10 play, linebacker Drue Tranquill, listed at 6-foot-2 and 234 pounds, blitzed through the B gap, between right tackle Andrew Wylie and right guard Trey Smith. McKinnon jumped forward and, on contact, won the one-on-one battle, pushing Tranquill to the left. McKinnon’s block was essential for what happened next: Mahomes stepped up in the pocket and unleashed a perfect deep pass, a 41-yard touchdown strike to receiver Justin Watson.
J. WATSIX !!!
📺: #LACvsKC on @NFLonPrime pic.twitter.com/Xhr1p9ul8A
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) September 16, 2022
In critical situations this season, Mahomes is often in the shotgun with McKinnon, a nine-year veteran, next to him. Trust from the quarterback, the head coach and the offensive coordinator is the first prerequisite for any third-down running back.
“That’s probably one of the most underrated deals that people (don’t) think about when they’ve mentioned his name,” said Eric Bieniemy, the offensive coordinator and a former NFL running back for nine seasons, of McKinnon. “I’ve said this before: You want the best football players who happen to be the best running backs.
“He brings a lot to the table. He does a great job of working with the offensive line.”
In his second season with the Chiefs, McKinnon is the third member of the trio, along with Mahomes and center Creed Humphrey, who adjust and confirm the pre-snap protection checks.
Mahomes shared that he places his faith in McKinnon as his last protector in the backfield because McKinnon has as much of an understanding of the Chiefs’ blocking schemes as he does. McKinnon, of course, knows what Mahomes demands from him. Last week, in a guest appearance on “New Heights,” the popular podcast featuring Chiefs superstar tight end Travis Kelce and his older brother, Philadelphia Eagles star center Jason Kelce, Mahomes revealed how much he loves thwarting an opposing defense’s blitz.
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“I’m kind of an asshole about the blitz protection plan,” Mahomes said, smiling. “I want that thing pristine before we step into the game.”
Film sessions for fullback Michael Burton and the running backs can focus on a plethora of topics, such as the success or failure of running plays, the tendencies of the upcoming opposing defense, short-yardage situations, snaps where there are additional receivers and the protection plan for Mahomes. But Burton, an eight-year veteran, said he and his teammates get hyped — the sound of “ooh!” and “woo!” filling the room — when they watch one of McKinnon’s big blocks.
“Keeping (No.) 15 upright,” Burton said, “is the No. 1 goal.”
Mahomes to Kelce TD part 2 👀
📺: #LVvsKC on ESPN
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/qRoro7dq9P pic.twitter.com/NUiWDtMCRpSee AlsoHow Patrick Mahomes' Unique Body Mechanics Give Him an EdgePatrick Mahomes Doesn’t Take a Day OffBiometrics 101: What You Can Learn from Patrick Mahomes' Longtime Trainer - The ManualPatrick Mahomes: Daily Routine - Balance The Grind— NFL (@NFL) October 11, 2022
A 4-yard touchdown pass from Mahomes to Kelce in the Chiefs’ comeback win over the Las Vegas Raiders included McKinnon putting outside linebacker Divine Deablo on the turf.
“I pride myself on it so much,” McKinnon said of his pass-blocking prowess. “Running backs aren’t as big as D-linemen or linebackers. The average linebacker weighs about 230 or above. I’m 195. But you’ve got to do it.”
In Week 10, McKinnon was next to Mahomes when the Jacksonville Jaguars ran an exotic blitz in the first quarter on a third-and-8 play in the middle of the field.
“That look that we got was (a similar) kind of an unscouted look that we had gotten early in the season against the (Indianapolis) Colts,” Mahomes said. “They use one of their linebackers to pick the tackle and then the D-end loops around.”
The Colts elected to run the stunt with defensive end Kwity Paye and linebacker Zaire Franklin, and the pass-rushing tactic forced a matchup between Paye and McKinnon. By blitzing, the Colts did just enough to pressure Mahomes into throwing an inaccurate pass to Watson, an incompletion on a pivotal third-and-11 play early in the fourth quarter. (The next snap was a faked field goal play that was unsuccessful.)
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Having seen the Colts’ success on film, the Jaguars tried their own version of the blitz in the first quarter on a third-and-8 play. With six defenders along the line of scrimmage, the Jaguars hoped to disguise a play in which rookie outside linebacker Travon Walker, the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft, runs a stunt with linebacker Foyesade Oluokun. McKinnon, with the smoothness of an above-average guard, blocked Oluokun into Wylie, passing off the defender before driving Walker away from Mahomes, who moved to his right before connecting on a 25-yard pass to receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Get you a RB who can block two guys on one play like @JetMckinnon1 💪 (by @Cisco) pic.twitter.com/zziqdOeVtU
— NFL (@NFL) November 16, 2022
“Earlier in the season, you might go with (Walker) because that’s technically your guy,” Mahomes said of McKinnon. “For him, just knowing the protection plan, having that ‘dawg’ (in him) to step up and block a (pass rusher) that’s 6-5 and (272 pounds) and give me enough time to throw the ball downfield, that’s what it takes in order to be a great team.
“It’s special for a guy like that to take on that job and do such a great job (with it).”
McKinnon’s effort and execution in the Chiefs’ win impressed Brian Baldinger, a former NFL offensive lineman who played snaps at center, guard and tackle in his 11-year career before becoming a popular analyst for NFL Network.
“Watch this All-Pro performance,” Baldinger said on a video breaking down the play that he posted on his Twitter account. He later added: “You can’t get better protection than what McKinnon just did.”
McKinnon’s hardest assignment this season was helping to block a player that even the league’s best tackles struggle with: 49ers superstar defensive end Nick Bosa.
In Week 7, the Chiefs faced the 49ers, a rematch of Super Bowl LIV. In that classic game, which ended with the Chiefs rallying from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to become champions, the 49ers’ best defender was Bosa, who finished with a sack, a forced fumble and a pass deflection and regularly pressured Mahomes.
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Before the Chiefs’ comeback started, Mahomes famously asked Bieniemy a question: “Do we have time to run Wasp?”
The biggest concern behind Mahomes’ question was Bosa, and sure enough, on third-and-15, Mahomes had to backpedal an additional 9 yards from the shotgun after the ball was snapped to create enough time for former Chiefs receiver Tyreek Hill to run a 25-yard “dangle” route, a double-route that combines a deep cross and a corner. The O-line managed well enough for Mahomes to make the throw, and Hill made the game-changing 44-yard reception.
But in October against the 49ers, Mahomes never had to backpedal from the shotgun. The Chiefs’ creative plan on offense involved Mahomes rolling out of the pocket — and away from Bosa, who leads the league with 14.5 sacks. Using the jet sweep, one of their favorite misdirection plays, the Chiefs had speedy receiver Mecole Hardman sprint across the formation — away from Bosa — before getting the ball. Hardman’s second touchdown, also on a jet sweep, involved the Chiefs not even attempting to block Bosa. Hardman sped right by him.
The Chiefs also had McKinnon help out. On the Chiefs’ first short-yardage play, McKinnon slowed Bosa with a cut block, which allowed Mahomes to complete a short pass to Kelce, who gained 27 yards.
Kelce's hurdle is too smooth@tkelce
📺: #KCvsSF on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/USkaudAkBK pic.twitter.com/jFqQFDkeyG— NFL (@NFL) October 23, 2022
“You’ve got to account for him, so it’s something we knew we had to do all week (inside) the running back room,” McKinnon said of Bosa, his former teammate (in 2019 and ’20). “I felt like we did a good job. We put up a lot of points. To do that against a team I previously was on, it felt good.”
The Chiefs scored 44 points against the 49ers, who lead the league in fewest yards and points allowed.
McKinnon wasn’t done making an impact with his blocking. Just before halftime, McKinnon chip-blocked Bosa, knocking him backward to give Mahomes time to complete a 40-yard pass to receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
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In the third quarter, McKinnon, on two plays, motioned from his usual spot in the shotgun to a spot near one of the tackles, which is often occupied by a tight end. Each time McKinnon chip-blocked Bosa. The third time McKinnon motioned was on a third-and-20 play. After pretending to block Bosa for half of a second, McKinnon turned around to catch a screen pass from Mahomes. The play, which was Humphrey’s favorite from the game, was McKinnon’s biggest reception of the season, a 34-yard gain that set up a touchdown.
“He’s just a selfless teammate and he loves to do that,” Humphrey said of McKinnon’s blocking ability. “That’s fun to him. He knows that if he does enough plays like that, where he’s chipping guys, we can dial up something and have one play like that happen. He was definitely looking forward to that one and I’m glad it hit. He deserved it. It’s fun blocking for a guy like him.”
Give it to Jerick McKinnon on 3rd & 20.
📺: #KCvsSF on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/USkaudAkBK pic.twitter.com/519UnO1KzK— NFL (@NFL) October 23, 2022
Meanwhile, Bosa’s impact was minimal. His lone sack in the game, which happened early in the fourth quarter, occurred when McKinnon wasn’t on the field to help Wylie and left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. But two plays later, on a third-and-11, McKinnon’s presence next to Mahomes was enough to influence Bosa, who rushed toward the interior instead of from the edge. Wylie won the one-on-one matchup against Bosa, and Mahomes completed his longest pass of the season, a 57-yard connection to Valdes-Scantling.
“He’s an all-around player, man,” Kelce said of McKinnon. “You can put him in on first, second and third down and special teams. He plays confident, he sees things and he knows how to handle it. He’s the ultimate Swiss (Army) knife.”
Before his NFL debut, McKinnon said, while reflecting on how his career began, that he started learning about pass protection and its importance at the Senior Bowl.
McKinnon arrived at Mobile, Ala., in January 2014 for the weeklong event as a prospect who was hoping to transition from a college quarterback who ran a triple-option offense to a running back. At Georgia Southern, McKinnon, in a four-year career, made starts at quarterback, receiver, running back and cornerback. He finished his senior season with 1,050 rushing yards and 16 total touchdowns. Scouts from various NFL teams were intrigued by McKinnon’s speed, his tough running style for his size and his natural receiving skills. But during the practices ahead of the Senior Bowl, McKinnon had to do one-on-one drills in which he was asked to block linebackers and safeties.
“It was such a learning curve from college because I had never done it,” McKinnon said. “I never played as a traditional running back.”
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The Minnesota Vikings selected McKinnon in the third round of the ’14 draft. One of his most vivid memories from his rookie season was his first one-on-one repetition in training camp. Across from McKinnon was linebacker Chad Greenway, at the time an eight-year veteran and two-time Pro Bowler.
“He dumped me,” McKinnon said, laughing. “He dumped me bad. It was kind of a hip toss. After that, it was, ‘OK, I’ve got to get really right at this.'”
McKinnon and Greenway would become friends while playing three seasons together. Greenway’s last year in the league was 2016, but McKinnon still relies on Greenway for tips and ideas on how to block a blitzing linebacker.
McKinnon also gives credit to Kirby Wilson, his first running backs coach with the Vikings. A pattern developed between them: Wilson often spent time yelling at McKinnon when the rookie made a mistake. Then Wilson spent extra time giving him one-on-one attention, offering advice and guidance that McKinnon still can recite.
“The three things that you need to keep in mind, as you continue to grow and develop as a player, are pass pro, screens and explosive plays,” Wilson told McKinnon.
McKinnon never forgot that the first priority in Wilson’s list was protecting the quarterback. In addition to his determination and resolve, McKinnon said he started improving as a blocker during the second half of his rookie season by going through his techniques, before and after practice, with running back Matt Asiata, who in 2014 was a three-year veteran.
“I worked at that every day,” McKinnon said. “Every day.”
McKinnon has maintained that routine throughout his career, his techniques polished to where he has become the same mentor that Asiata was for him. This season, McKinnon has taught lessons, such as pre-snap alignments from defenders that can indicate a blitz is coming, and pass-blocking techniques, such as how to position your feet before contact, to running back Isiah Pacheco, a rookie.
“That’s one thing that’ll keep you around for a long time,” McKinnon said. “Everybody can run the ball. Pass pro is definitely something that’s difficult. It’s something that’s not God-given.”
This past offseason, one of the last veterans to re-sign with the Chiefs was McKinnon, who in June signed a one-year deal worth almost $1.2 million.
McKinnon spent the spring recovering from surgery to repair a sports hernia, an injury he sustained in late January while serving as the Chiefs’ most productive running back during their postseason run. Four other teams, McKinnon said, inquired about his services for this season. But McKinnon said his decision to rejoin the Chiefs was an easy one because he heard how valuable he was to the team from Mahomes, Kelce and head coach Andy Reid.
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“He’s a guy that understands the game,” Kelce said. “What he’s been to this team as a leader, and what he means to that running back room, that’s the reason we brought him back.”
Once McKinnon got past his first three to four seasons, his biggest concern — which has proved disappointing at times — has been simply maintaining his availability. He didn’t play a single game in 2018 and ’19 due to a knee injury that required two different surgeries. Last season, he sustained a hamstring strain that lingered and forced him to miss four games.
But this season, McKinnon has been in uniform — and has been effective — in every game. Taking on a blitzing linebacker or a defensive lineman, McKinnon said, can sometimes have the same cumulative effect, when it comes to attrition as a season progresses, as when he is tackled by two or three defenders. Thanks in part to his durability this season, McKinnon already has had more pass-blocking snaps (41) than any Chiefs running back has had in a single season in the past six years, according to TruMedia.
“He’s doing a hell of a job,” Bieniemy said of McKinnon.
Even when McKinnon wasn’t assigned to pass block, he still was able to execute one of the Chiefs’ most important blocks of the season. In another comeback victory, this one a 20-17 overtime win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 9, McKinnon ran a route to the flat when the Chiefs attempted a pivotal two-point conversion late in the fourth quarter. Once Mahomes recognized the Titans secondary was playing man-to-man coverage, he extended the play by scrambling to his left. In front of Mahomes, near the goal line, was McKinnon, who too adjusted in the middle of the play, going from receiver to protector. McKinnon blocked linebacker Joe Jones, which allowed Mahomes to race into the end zone, just in front of the pylon.
Tie game! Mahomes putting the team on his back (or legs)! #ChiefsKingdom
📺: #TENvsKC on NBC
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/ExOeMHivBX pic.twitter.com/56aSJCEZgf— NFL (@NFL) November 7, 2022
Two weeks later, in the Chiefs’ second victory over the Chargers, McKinnon was on the field to start the fourth quarter. On a third-and-4 play in Chargers territory, McKinnon was put in another one-on-one situation against Tranquill, who again blitzed through the B gap. Tranquill never came close to Mahomes, who stood comfortably in the pocket before throwing a short pass to Kelce, who gained 27 yards after the catch to reach the end zone.
Even though he has played in every game, McKinnon has had his share of aches and pain this season. In fact, he has been on the Chiefs’ injury report every week since the start of November due to discomfort in his knee, shoulder or hamstring. He has balanced his practice routine with a recovery routine that includes acupuncture, plenty of time spent in the cold tub, two massages per week and the use of a Theragun (massage gun) in his spare time, even when he talks to reporters inside the Chiefs’ training facility.
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Last week, for the first time this season, McKinnon missed two consecutive practices. But after being a full participant Friday, McKinnon had one of his best performances of the season in the Chiefs’ loss to the Bengals, finishing with 51 rushing yards on just eight attempts and scoring on a 2-yard touchdown reception. He also was involved in the Chiefs’ biggest gain. Following halftime, on a third-and-7, the Bengals presented an all-out blitz look, with seven defenders set to overwhelm the Chiefs’ six blockers. But McKinnon stepped in front of Mahomes and did just enough against blitzing linebacker Logan Wilson for Mahomes to deliver a perfect 42-yard pass to Valdes-Scantling. The Chiefs finished that drive with a touchdown.
Mahomes 42 yards on the money to MVS
📺: #KCvsCIN on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/KRUwj1CkWe pic.twitter.com/nl77OGt3hD— NFL (@NFL) December 4, 2022
McKinnon believes the Chiefs will need him to have similar performances during their upcoming postseason run, one the team hopes will end with a victory in Super Bowl LVII. And if McKinnon continues to protect Mahomes as well as he has, he knows it could lead to something beneficial downfield for the Chiefs.
“Every time I get a chance to do it, I’ve got my antenna up,” McKinnon said of pass blocking. “As long as we convert, I’m good with it, especially on third down, that money down.”
(Photo of Jerick McKinnon: Ryan Kang / Associated Press)
