Background: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), regulate the extracellular matrix. This study examined messenger RNA transcripts of TIMP2 before and after kidney transplantation. Methods: Transcripts were measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 105 kidney transplant recipients, including AB0-incompatible, AB0-compatible, and deceased donor transplantation patients. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was utilized. Results: Kidney transplant recipients (72 male; 33 female) were a median of 55 (44–63) years old. The median (interquartile range) of pretransplant TIMP2 transcripts was 0.68 (0.50–0.87) in kidney transplant recipients. In total, 9 out of 72 patients (13%) showed delayed graft function, i.e., need for dialysis within 1 week after transplantation. Preoperative TIMP2 transcripts were significantly lower in kidney transplant recipients who experienced delayed graft function compared to patients with immediate graft function (0.40 (0.32–0.62) vs. 0.68 (0.56–0.87); p = 0.01). There was no association between TIMP2 transcripts and age or gender. TIMP2 median transcripts were 0.73 (0.58–0.88) on the first postoperative day. TIMP2 transcripts were similar on the first postoperative day in patients with delayed graft function and immediate graft function. Conclusions: Preoperative TIMP2 transcripts were lower in patients with delayed allograft function. Future investigations are needed to establish the role of TIMP2 transcripts in transplant pathophysiology.