He played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft.

Kinlaw spent part of his childhood homeless in Washington, D.C. after immigrating from Trinidad and Tobago with his mother and two siblings.

[3] Kinlaw played one year at Jones County Junior College in 2016 before transferring to the University of South Carolina.

[17] In Week 12 against the Los Angeles Rams, Kinlaw intercepted a pass thrown by Jared Goff and returned it for a 27-yard touchdown during the 23–20 win.

[26] On 29 April 2023, the 49ers declined the fifth-year option of Kinlaw's rookie contract, making him a free agent in the 2024 offseason.