Danny Grithead

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Danny Grithead

No. 23 – Kansas City Coyotes
Position:	Running back
Personal information
Born:	(2000-03-14)March 14, 2000 (aged 62) Canton, Ohio
Height:	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:	215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
College:	Last Chance U
ISFL Draft:	2025  / Round: N/A / Pick: N/A
Career history
Kansas City Coyotes (2024–present)
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:	Active
Player stats at ISFL.net

Danny Grithead (born March 14, 2000) is an American football running back for the Kansas City Coyotes of the Developmental Simulation Football League (DSFL). He played college football for Last Chance U before entering the professional ranks of the DSFL in 2024. Grithead will enter the NSFL in 2025.

Early years

Grithead was born in Canton, Ohio, minutes away from the National Football Hall of Fame. His father was a youth football coach and was Grithead's coach throughout both high school and college. Grithead was homeschooled by his father as well, and was taught the values of hard work, effort, and scrappiness over the typical education. Grithead has only played football his whole life, and in fact has not seen any other sports, on TV or in person.

College career

As a true freshman enrolling at Last Chance U, Grithead impressed in preseason training and earned the role of backup running back, behind star running back O.J. Simpson. While Simpson dominated as the lead back, breaking the single season rushing record for LCU, Grithead earned some playing time at the end of blowouts. Grithead spent a lot of time in the film room, studying Simpson's jump cuts and behavior both on and off the field.

Starting in his sophomore year, after Simpson was arrested and kicked out of LCU, Grithead took over as the lead back for LCU. With 27.8 touches per game, Grithead became the bellcow back and ran for 17 TDs, in addition to catching 8 TDs. Grithead topped 500 yards receiving and over 1500 rushing yards, the first LCU player in history to achieve both milestones in the same season. With his tenacity in the gym and his father taking over the LCU Head Coaching job, Grithead became a true superstar in his sophomore season.

However, in his junior year, Grithead was suspended for the first 2 games of the season for off the field conduct. Grithead was arrested for breaking into the gym while it was closed on Memorial Day, refusing to take a day off from his workouts. At last, Grithead's scrappy attitude was beginning to hurt him. With the return of O.J. Simpson from his arrest and acquittal, Grithead was forced to take up a backup role again after serving his suspension.

With Simpson re-cementing his role as lead back for LCU, Grithead declared for the Developmental Simulation Football League draft following the 2023 season.

College career statistics

Grithead left college with a career total of 3,325 rushing yards, 25 rushing TDs, 1,116 receiving yards, and 14 receiving TDs.

			Rushing						Receiving
Season	Team	GP	Att	Yds	Avg	Yds/G	Long	TD	Rec	Yds	Long	TD
2021	LCU	14	156	577	3.7	41.2	27	2	32	297	14	1
2022	LCU	14	317	1682	5.3	120.1	38	17	72	504	43	8
2023	LCU	12	187	1066	5.7	86.1	47	6	43	315	20	5

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables

Ht	Wt	40‑yd dash	20‑ss	3‑cone	Vert jump	Broad	BP	Wonderlic
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	215 lb (98 kg)	4.71 s	5.05 s	7.55 s	36.50 in (0.93 m)	10 ft 4.90 in (3.17 m)	29 reps	4
DSFL S9 Scouting Combine

Danny Grithead was drafted with 19th overall pick in the 2024 DSFL draft by the Kansas City Coyotes. With character concerns for coming out of LCU, as well as his suspension in his junior season, Grithead slid down the draft boards. Grithead's record-low Wonderlic score also raised concern about his general ability to take care of himself off the field.

Professional career statistics

			Rushing						Receiving				Kick Returns			Punt Returns
Season	Team	GP	Att	Yds	Avg	Yds/G	Long	TD	Rec	Yds	Long	TD	Yds	Avg	KR TD	Yds	Avg	PR TD
2025 (S10)	N/A	0	0	0	0.0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0.0	0

Achievements and Records

Awards

Team

Individual

DSFL records

• 2025;

TBD franchise records

• 2025;