Byron Pringle remains one of the Chiefs' greatest training camp success stories

Many players make strides during training camp, where the vast majority are fighting for their NFL careers. According to Statista, the average length of an NFL career is about three years, with cornerbacks, wide receivers, and running backs at the lowest end of the spectrum, ranging from 3.3 to 3.5 years. This can largely be attributed to the amount of talent and the number of players at those positions entering the league every year.

For wide receivers, there have been many prominent training camp and preseason standouts who turned into solid-to-good NFL players, such as Victor Cruz and Wes Welker. In recent Kansas City Chiefs history, though, one name stands out among the rest: Byron Pringle.

Byron Pringle's History

Byron Pringle is a Tampa, Florida, native who attended Thomas R. Robinson High School. He attended Butler Community College, a prominent junior college (JUCO) football program, in 2015 before transferring to Kansas State, where he played from 2016-17. After the 2018 NFL Draft, he signed with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent (UDFA).

In 2018, Pringle suffered an injury in his final preseason game and was placed on injured reserve (IR) for the remainder of the season after an impressive preseason in which he recorded six receptions for 147 yards. In 2019, he initially made the final 53-man roster before being waived and signed to the practice squad on September 10. He was re-elevated to the active roster on September 14.

Pringle started to make his mark with the Chiefs in 2020 on special teams, highlighted by a 102-yard kickoff return touchdown against the Denver Broncos in Week 7:

Pringle's biggest break came in 2021. After another impressive preseason and training camp (seven receptions for 84 yards), he set career highs in targets (60), receptions (42), receiving yards (568), and touchdowns (5). Additionally, he scored three postseason touchdowns, with two against the Pittsburgh Steelers and one against the Buffalo Bills. He became a fan favorite and an underrated weapon whom both the Chiefs and their fans loved watching:

In 2022, Pringle entered free agency and signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Bears. He then signed with the Washington Commanders in 2023, where he remained until September 6, 2024, when he was released. His role with both teams was as a backup X/Z receiver who could start if needed. Below are his yearly and career stat lines:

Pringle's Career Stats

Where is Pringle Now?

Byron Pringle has not released an official retirement statement, so it is safe to assume he is still an NFL free agent. According to Pringle's Twitter account, he is spending his days fishing and enjoying life to the fullest:

If nothing else, Pringle will be remembered as one of the most underrated receivers of the Patrick Mahomes era. It was always exciting to watch him play, thanks to his smooth route running and his ability to generate yards after the catch with his foot speed and acceleration. He has enjoyed a successful NFL journey, spending seven years on an NFL roster, which is an achievement not many football players can claim.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow