Colson Yankoff Bio
Colson Yankoff is an American professional football tight end for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and listed at 225 pounds, he is a versatile athlete whose college journey spanned two Pac-12 programs. He joined the Commanders as an undrafted free agent in 2024 and remains on the active roster.
Born in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Yankoff built his football foundation as a high school quarterback before transitioning through wide receiver and running back in college. He is currently positioned as a depth tight end and a reliable contributor on special teams for Washington.
Early Life and Background
Colson Yankoff was born on March 1, 2000, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, where he grew up and developed his early love for football. He attended Coeur d’Alene High School, playing quarterback for the Vikings and emerging as one of the most highly regarded recruits in the state. As a senior in 2017, he led his team to the Idaho state 5A championship game, showcasing the arm talent and athleticism that would later define his positional flexibility.
Yankoff drew major college interest as a four-star recruit, with outlets such as 247Sports ranking him as the top overall prospect in Washington’s incoming class. He originally gave a verbal commitment to the University of Oregon, but rescinded that pledge after Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich was fired, opening the door for him to reconsider his college destination. His recruitment reflected the combination of arm strength, mobility, and football intelligence that had made him a multi-year starter at the high school level.
Beyond athletics, Yankoff placed a strong emphasis on academics. He ultimately earned a degree in economics from UCLA and later completed a master’s degree in education, underscoring a commitment to long-term planning alongside his athletic career.
Path to Professional Football
Yankoff began his college career at the University of Washington, where he enrolled with the Huskies as a highly touted quarterback prospect. He redshirted his freshman year, preserving a season of eligibility while adjusting to the speed and complexity of the college game. That redshirt season became a turning point, as he ultimately decided to seek a fresh opportunity elsewhere.
He transferred to the University of California, Los Angeles, to play for the UCLA Bruins, where a coaching change at Washington and a desire for an earlier on-field role shaped his decision. The Huskies initially blocked his bid for immediate playing eligibility, forcing him to sit out the 2019 season. Once cleared, he carved out a role on offense and special teams, lining up at wide receiver in 2020 and 2021 before sliding into a running back and special teams role in 2022 and 2023.
Across his time in the Pac-12, Yankoff became known less for a single position and more for his positional versatility, intelligence, and willingness to take on blocker and special teams duties. That profile helped him attract NFL interest as a tight end prospect, a position conversion that emphasized his size, hands, and football IQ over his college production as a skill player.
Colson Yankoff Career
Early Career (2017–2018)
Yankoff’s first notable stretch came as the starting quarterback at Coeur d’Alene High School, where he led the program to the 2017 Idaho 5A state championship game. His senior performance cemented his status as a four-star recruit and a top-tier priority for multiple Pac-12 programs.
After originally committing to Oregon, he de-committed following the firing of head coach Mark Helfrich and instead enrolled at the University of Washington. He redshirted his first year on campus, preserving a season of eligibility while learning the Huskies’ offensive system and adjusting to the demands of college-level training.
UCLA Bruins Tenure (2019–2023)
Yankoff transferred to UCLA after his redshirt year, but the Huskies blocked his initial request for immediate playing eligibility, causing him to sit out the 2019 season. When he finally reached the field, he did so as a wide receiver during the 2020 and 2021 seasons, gradually building a niche as a versatile offensive piece.
In 2022 and 2023, he moved to running back and took on a larger role on special teams, demonstrating the kind of adaptability that would later attract NFL evaluators. By the end of his UCLA career, he had also completed a degree in economics and a master’s degree in education, signaling a well-rounded profile both on and off the field.
Washington Commanders Era (2024–Present)
Following the 2024 NFL Draft, Colson Yankoff signed with the Washington Commanders as an undrafted free agent, making a full-time position switch to tight end after playing running back and wide receiver in college. He was placed on injured reserve on November 9, 2024, pausing his rookie development but not ending his season.
He returned to the active roster in time for the Commanders’ postseason run, appearing in both the NFC Wild Card Round and the Divisional Round. Across six regular-season games as a rookie, he logged six offensive snaps and 101 special teams snaps, finishing the year with four tackles on special teams. Entering 2025, he remained one of Washington’s auxiliary tight ends and recorded his first career reception in Week 11 against the Miami Dolphins, a four-yard catch from quarterback Marcus Mariota.
Driving Style and Strengths
Although football rather than auto racing is the discipline in question, Yankoff’s professional profile is shaped by versatility, football intelligence, and special teams reliability. His 6-foot-4 frame and 225-pound build give him the size to develop as an in-line tight end, while his background as a college quarterback and wide receiver provides strong hands and route-running instincts. His comfort on special teams further enhances his value as a depth contributor who can fill multiple roles in a game plan.
Notable Events and Milestones
Yankoff’s first NFL reception, a four-yard catch from Marcus Mariota in a Week 11 game against the Miami Dolphins, marked a career milestone in his second professional season. His return from injured reserve to appear in both the NFC Wild Card Round and Divisional Round during the 2024 playoffs also stands as a defining early-career moment, signaling trust from the Commanders’ coaching staff in high-leverage situations.
Colson Yankoff Career Wins
Because Colson Yankoff is a position player whose value is measured in receptions, snaps, and special teams contributions rather than race wins, his statistical profile is more modest in volume. His most significant on-field achievements to date center on his positional versatility and his growth into a reliable depth tight end and special teams player for the Washington Commanders.
NFL Highlights
Yankoff’s first NFL reception came in Week 11 of the 2025 season against the Miami Dolphins, a four-yard catch from Marcus Mariota that marked his initial mark in the league’s receiving columns. He also played in six regular-season games as a rookie in 2024 and contributed four tackles on special teams while appearing in both the NFC Wild Card Round and Divisional Round of the 2024 playoffs.
Other Performances
At the high school level, Yankoff led Coeur d’Alene to the Idaho 5A state championship game as a senior in 2017, a peak accomplishment during his prep career. At UCLA, his statistical output was limited by position changes and eligibility rules, but he earned recognition as a four-star recruit out of high school and as the top-rated signee in Washington’s 2018 recruiting class according to 247Sports.
Colson Yankoff Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Publicly available information about Colson Yankoff’s immediate family is limited, and no detailed records of his parents or siblings have been widely published. His upbringing in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and his development into a top-tier high school quarterback suggest a family environment that supported his athletic and academic growth.
Personal Life
Yankoff is known to have completed a degree in economics and a master’s degree in education at UCLA, reflecting a strong academic focus alongside his football career. He maintains a public presence on social media, where he shares updates about his training and professional journey. Beyond these details, he has kept his personal life largely private.
2025 Season Performance
Colson Yankoff entered the 2025 season as one of the Washington Commanders’ auxiliary tight ends, a depth role that has given him opportunities to contribute on offense and special teams. He has continued to develop within the tight end room while handling core special teams responsibilities for Washington.
In Week 11 against the Miami Dolphins, Yankoff recorded his first career reception, a four-yard catch from Marcus Mariota, marking an important individual milestone. The reception reflected the trust the coaching staff has placed in him as a young pass-catcher, even within a rotational role.
Heading into the latter portion of the 2025 season, Yankoff remains on the active roster and positioned as a developmental tight end with special teams value. With continued growth in the passing game and a steady role on coverage units, he has a clear path to expand his responsibilities within the Commanders’ offensive and special teams schemes in future seasons.
