Jeremy Maclin officially begins coaching career

Former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Jeremy Maclin has taken the coaching turn many thought he should after retiring from the NFL.

When Jeremy Maclin was a wide receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs, he would earn high marks from head coach Andy Reid on a consistent basis as a personal favorite player who did everything right.

Beyond his natural ability, Maclin was lauded for his intelligence, his work ethic, his knowledge of the offense, his route tree and more. During his playing career, those assets together made him a perfect on-field coach for younger receivers to “get” Reid’s offensive complexity.

Now he’s taking the turn that many thought he might at some point with news that he’s officially started his coaching career at the age of 31.

Maclin is returning to his high school alma mater to serve as a coach just west of St. Louis, a move that keeps him in state and close to his coaching mentor in Andy Reid.

Interestingly, Maclin is just one of two former NFL players joining Kirkwood’s coaching staff. Butler B’ynote’, another alum, is also joining the staff. B’ynote’ played for the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers for a couple years in the mid-nineties as a defensive back. Side note: B’ynote’ was head coach at Vashon High School last year but was replaced for this season by former Chiefs player Will Franklin.

During his two years in Kansas City, Maclin made the NFL’s Top 100 lists at No. 61 and No. 93, respectively, in 2015-16. He caught 514 passes for 6,835 receiving yards and 49 touchdowns in his career, an eight year stint in the NFL that included time with the Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Ravens.