Darnell Dinkins

Darnell Joseph Dinkins (born January 20, 1977 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) was most recently tight ends coach for the Rutgers University Scarlet Knights football team. Dinkins was formerly an American football tight end for the New Orleans Saints in the National Football League. He played college football at Pittsburgh.

Dinkins also played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants, Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns.

Early years
A standout quarterback and linebacker at Schenley High School in Pittsburgh, Dinkins was named City League MVP by both the Pittsburgh Post Gazette and the Pittsburgh Courier and a member of the 1995 Big 33 Team. As a senior he rushed for 435 yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries and threw 113 passes for 1,256 yards and ten touchdowns. On defense, he had 86 tackles, three knockdowns, four sacks and four fumble recoveries (one for a touchdown).

College career
Dinkins attended the University of Pittsburgh as an undergraduate. He started at free safety for three years while at Pittsburgh also saw time at wide receiver and linebacker in college. He started all 11 games at free safety, finishing second on the team with 78 tackles (49 solo) in 1998 also posted six pass deflections, 2 quarterback hurries and one forced fumble. Dinkins came to the Panthers as a quarterback before shifting to the defensive backfield.

Semi Professional Career
Dinkins played for the Pittsburgh Colts, a minor league football team in North American Football League in 2001. He attended a pro workout in the Minneapolis Metrodome on September 15, 2001. The workout led to a contract with an arena football team where he was drafted by the New York Giants and played for the Rhein Fire.

New York Giants
In 2002, Dinkins was signed by the New York Giants as a free agent and was allocated to NFL Europa where he played for the Rhein Fire. When he returned he saw action in two games, missing the final 13 games after breaking a bone in his foot. He was inactive for games 4-7 before being placed on injured reserve. He made his NFL debut against the San Francisco 49ers on September 5.

In 2003, Dinkins saw action in seven games after being signed to the Giants active roster from the practice squad in week 10. He finished the season with two receptions for 16 yards and eight special teams tackles.

Baltimore Ravens
Dinkins was waived by the Giants at the end of the training camp and was signed by the Baltimore Ravens on October 2, 2004 to their practice squad before being elevated to the active roster on October 29. He played in ten games, starting four (the first starts of his career), in his first year with the Ravens. He was a key contributor for Baltimore as he pulled in nine receptions for 94 yards and one touchdown. He scored his first career touchdown on a 17-yard pass from Kyle Boller versus the Dallas Cowboys on November 21.

In 2005, his second season with the Ravens, Dinkins appeared in all 16 games, including four starts, and totaled 55 yards on six receptions (9.2 avg.).

Cleveland Browns
Dinkins was signed by the Cleveland Browns as an unrestricted free agent on March 19, 2006. He played in 14 games with two starts and averaged seven yards per reception and one touchdown. He is known more for his size than his receiving ability.

Although not starting a single game in 2007 for the first time in four years he appeared in a total of 15 games. His offensive totals for season was one reception for eight yards (8.0 avg.) which he recorded in week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The only game he did not see action in was the week 6 game against the Miami Dolphins.

In 2008, Dinkins caught his second career touchdown with 2:15 left in the second quarter during the week 6 game against the defending Super Bowl champions, New York Giants. He caught a 22-yard pass from quarterback Derek Anderson while filling in for injured tight end Kellen Winslow. It was his first reception of the 2008 campaign.

New Orleans Saints
Dinkins signed with the New Orleans Saints on March 18, 2009.

Broadcasting
Dinkins broadcasted the Pittsburgh Power of the Arena Football League on 93.7 The Fan, Pittsburgh's CBS Radio station.

Dinkins married his high school sweetheart Shayla and has three children Kayla, Khalil and Kolin

Dinkins acquired a college degree in criminology and works to educate local youths in desperate situations. In 2003, he spoke with children from MS 45 about gang prevention on behalf of NYPD Youth Services, visited youth incarcerated at the Union County (N.J.) Juvenile Detention Center, and twice visited Giants Academy in Newark to praise the academic effort of the students. In 2004, Dinkins created his own foundation to host the annual Darnell Dinkins Maleness to Manhood football camp, with the goal involving parents to of teaching inner-city Pittsburgh youth leadership, responsibility, integrity and teamwork.

Dinkins has served as a professor for both Football 101 and 201 programs, and attended the annual "Meet the Giants" Ronald McDonald House dinner. He also led walkers on behalf of the Autism Directory Service in Poughkeepsie, New York.

In late 2008, Dinkins, with fellow Browns player Joshua Cribbs, opened a children's indoor inflatable play arena called Bounce City, which is located in Strongsville, Ohio.

Coaching
Dinkins served as tight ends coach at Rutgers University in 2012, after serving as an assistant tight ends coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2010 and 2011.