THE FRONT ROW with MARK NELKE: Colson Yankoff's 'crazy journey' — former Coeur d'Alene High star quarterback carving out role on special teams and tight end in the NFL

There are the obvious perks to playing in the NFL, as former Coeur d’Alene High star Colson Yankoff, now entering his third season with the Washington Commanders, is finding out.  

Among them, the chance to play football at the highest level in the world, before thousands of fans in the stadium, and millions more watching on TV. 

But don’t forget the food. 

And the travel. 

“I’d be lying if I said it was as novel as Year 1, but I definitely still do that (pinch myself),” Yankoff said Thursday, via phone between practice and meetings from the Commanders’ practice facility in Ashburn, Va.    

“I’ll be driving in to a preseason game, or we’ll be traveling somewhere, going to Baltimore for the first time or these cool places on the East Coast where I’ve never been, right? Dude, I get to do this because of football, because of a game that I love to play. It’s a total blessing. I’m very grateful.” 

The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Yankoff and the Commanders open the regular season today (1:25 p.m., KAYU) at the Philadelphia Eagles. 

YANKOFF, A star quarterback in high school, has carved out a role with the Commanders as a core special teams player, and a backup tight end.  

As a special teamer (he’s on both kickoff and both punt teams), Yankoff played in six games as a rookie in 2004, and in 14 games in 2025.  

In ‘24, he was in on six offensive snaps and 101 special teams snaps, recording four tackles on special teams. 

Last year, he totaled 246 special teams snaps and 107 offensive snaps.  

In ‘25, he recorded the first two receptions of his pro career — one for 4 yards in a 16-13 loss at Miami on Nov. 16, and one for 14 loss in a 27-26 loss to the Denver Broncos on Nov. 30. 

With the Commanders leaning toward becoming more multiple on offense this year, lining up more in 12 (two tight ends) and 13 (three tight ends) personnel, that creates more of an opportunity for Yankoff to get on the field on offense. 

“I think my goal and my role is to do whatever’s asked of me, whenever it’s asked of me,” Yankoff said. “And be prepared and ready and able to do that. I think I’ve developed a ton as a tight end since I got here. And special teams as well; I’ve continued to develop there, and play my butt off, and so yeah, whatever they ask is what I’m going to go out there and do.”

ON KICKOFFS, gone (at least for now) are the days of players sprinting down the field to cover the kick, and the violent collisions that often ensued.  

Now, the kickoff coverage guys line up 5 yards from the kick return blockers, and can’t move until the ball is caught or hits the ground.  

“You don’t get a running start, and it feels like it’s less of an advantage, but then, I play on both sides,” Yankoff said. “On KOR (kickoff return), I prefer the new one because guys aren’t running a million miles an hour at you. You can kind of scheme up the return easier.  

“But they’re not moving full speed, so they can shake and wiggle a little more, and get shifty, and it’s tougher to stay on a block.” 

Depending on where he’s asked to play, on kickoff coverage Yankoff is either a “3”, where the job is maintaining leverage, or a “4”, where you’re a bit closer to the middle of the field. 

“Kickoff is still, ball is kicked, go get ball,” Yankoff said. “See ball, get ball. Which is kinda fun.” 

A 2019 Coeur d’Alene High grad, Yankoff committed to Oregon in high school, then switched to the University of Washington following a coaching change in Eugene. 

In 2019, after a redshirt year in Seattle, he transferred to UCLA, where he was moved to receiver ... then running back ... then to returning kicks. 

“Yeah, it took some getting used to,” Yankoff said of the transition. “I’d be lying if I told you that I was stoked to do that. Or even knew what was going to come of it. I’d never done anything else, so I had no knowledge of ... ‘I don’t know, can I do this?’ But I’m not someone that really lives in the past, so the second it happened, ‘OK, I’m playing receiver,’ which at the time was the first switch. All right, I’m going to find a way to find a way, if you will. If this is what God’s got for me right now, I’m going to go give it everything I’ve got.” 

That led to a pre-draft invite from the Commanders in 2024, and the decision to sign with Washington as an undrafted free agent on the final day of the three-day, seven-round draft. 

"It was a crazy journey; still is, and one that I didn’t anticipate, but I look back on that stuff fondly,” Yankoff said. “I’m grateful for it all.” 

AS FOR those other perks of playing in the NFL that the outside world wouldn’t even think of ... 

“One, dude, our food is so good,” Yankoff said. “Our chefs do such a great job, and you basically get three meals a day. Which for someone who’s crushing food to try to keep the weight on, that is such an awesome perk. And not having to think about it. Yesterday (Wednesday) at lunch I had a custom poke bowl, which was awesome.  

“And two, getting to travel like we do. I remember my rookie year, going to preseason in Miami, and playing games in New York. Dude, I’ve never been in these cities ... the fact that this game has afforded me the opportunity to bring my mom to the beach in Miami to watch me play a game ... is something I’m so grateful for.” 

A custom poke bowl? 

“I think you could argue it’s a competitive advantage to have really healthy food to feed your athletes,” Yankoff said. “We just get to crush good food all the time. It’s a win-win.”   

DESPITE YANKOFF seemingly in a good spot with the Commanders, things in the NFL can change daily. 

He said he still feels the need to prove himself, “and I think it’s more internal than external. I want to prove to, not just other people but to myself that I can do this, and I can do this at a really high level and see how good I can be.” 

Yankoff is in the final year of his rookie contract, after which he will become a restricted free agent, meaning the Commanders have the right to match any offer sheet Yankoff might sign with another team. 

But that’s in the future. 

In the present, Yankoff is looking forward to the Seahawks visiting Washington in Week 3 on Sept. 27, and having “some fam” in town for that. 

Two years ago, the Commanders reached the NFC title game, before stumbling to 5-12 last year.  

Yankoff said it’s not like there’s a redemption vibe this year. 

“We know how good we can be, and we have the guys in the building to do it,” he said. 

As for Yankoff, being an NFL player isn’t something he takes for granted. 

“It’s a blessing,” he said. “It’s an opportunity that I was super grateful I was afforded, and I plan on making the absolute most of it, whatever that means. I’m going to give it all I got.” 

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 208-664-8176, Ext. 1205, or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @CdAPressSports. 

    Colson Yankoff