1. Nicholas Cordell Collins was born on August 16,1983 and is an American former professional football player who was a safety for seven seasons with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League.
52 Facts About Nick Collins
1. 2.
Nick Collins played college football for the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, and was selected by the Packers in the second round of the 2005 NFL draft.
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Nick Collins led the league in interceptions returned for touchdowns and interception return yards in the 2008 season.
4.
Nick Collins was officially released by the Packers in 2012, and formally announced his retirement in 2014.
5.
Nick Collins was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 2016.
6.
Nick Collins was a diverse athlete during his high school career.
7.
Nick Collins attended Dixie County High School in Cross City, Florida, and lettered twice as a quarterback, running back and defensive back.
8.
Nick Collins was given first-team all-conference honors and was named team MVP as a senior.
9.
Nick Collins earned two letters as a basketball guard and three letters as a center fielder in baseball.
10.
In 2002, Nick Collins spent the majority of the season as a reserve linebacker.
11.
Nick Collins played in all thirteen games of the season, making his first two starts in the final two games of the season at the strong safety position.
12.
Nick Collins finished the season with 35 tackles, one interception, five defended passes, one fumble recovery and eight kickoff returns for 181 yards.
13.
Nick Collins had a breakout season in 2003, leading the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in interceptions with six and finished third in the conference in passes defended with 13.
14.
Nick Collins contributed 54 tackles, a fumble recovery, and the first defensive touchdown of his college career.
15.
Nick Collins led the conference with six interceptions, led his team in solo tackles and passes defended, and scored the second and final defensive touchdown of his collegiate career.
16.
Nick Collins had an interception in each of the first four games of the 2004 season.
17.
Nick Collins would become only the second Bethune-Cookman player to make the Packers roster.
18.
Head coach Mike Sherman named Nick Collins the starting free safety to start the regular season, alongside strong safety Mark Roman.
19.
Nick Collins completed his rookie season in 2005 with a career-high 84 combined tackles, seven passes defensed, two forced fumbles, and an interception in 16 games and 16 starts.
20.
Nick Collins entered training camp slated as the starting free safety.
21.
Nick Collins intercepted a pass attempt by quarterback Brian Griese and returned for a 55-yard touchdown in the first quarter.
22.
Nick Collins completed the 2006 season with 80 combined tackles, ten pass deflections, three interceptions, two forced fumbles, and a touchdown in 16 games and 16 starts.
23.
Nick Collins retained his job as the starting free safety to begin 2007, alongside strong safety Atari Bigby.
24.
Nick Collins was inactive, for the first time in his career, for three games after injuring his knee.
25.
Nick Collins finished the season with 46 combined tackles and five pass deflections in 13 games and 13 starts.
26.
Nick Collins scored his touchdown after intercepting a pass by Gus Frerotte and returning it for his third pick six of the season as well as his career.
27.
On December 17,2008, it was announced that Nick Collins was voted to the 2009 Pro Bowl to mark his first Pro Bowl selection of his career.
28.
Nick Collins ended the season with 72 combined tackles, a career-high 15 pass deflections, career-high seven interceptions, three touchdowns, and a forced fumble in 16 games and 16 starts.
29.
Nick Collins led the league with three pick sixes and 295 interception return yards in 2008.
30.
Nick Collins was unsatisfied with his contract for the upcoming season and opted to skip organized team activities, but attended mandatory minicamp.
31.
Nick Collins's interception extended his streak to four consecutive games with an interception.
32.
On December 30,2009, it was announced that Nick Collins was one of three safeties to be named to the NFC roster for the 2010 Pro Bowl.
33.
Nick Collins completed the 2009 season with 53 combined tackles, 13 pass deflections, six interceptions, and a sack in 16 games and 16 starts.
34.
On March 4,2010, the Green Bay Packers placed the highest possible restricted free agent tender on Nick Collins, to ensure they would be compensated if he signed with another team.
35.
Any team that would sign Nick Collins would be required to give a first and third round selection in return.
36.
On March 9,2010, Nick Collins signed his one-year, $3.49 million restricted free agent tender.
37.
Nick Collins's agent stated his client chose to immediately sign the contract as a gesture of good faith in possible negotiations for a long-term deal.
38.
Head coach Mike McCarthy named Nick Collins the starting free safety to start the 2010 season, opposite rookie strong safety Morgan Burnett.
39.
On December 28,2010, Nick Collins was voted to the 2011 Pro Bowl, making it his third consecutive selection.
40.
Nick Collins completed the 2010 season with 70 combined tackles, 12 passes defensed, and four interceptions in 16 games and 16 starts.
41.
On February 6,2011, Nick Collins started in Super Bowl XLV and recorded four solo tackles, a pass deflection, and returned an interception for a touchdown as the Packers defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers to win Super Bowl XLV.
42.
Nick Collins was ranked 96th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2011.
43.
On September 18,2011, Nick Collins was carted off the field on a stretcher in the fourth quarter and was immediately taken to the hospital after sustaining a neck injury while attempting to tackle Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart.
44.
Nick Collins went in to make a routine tackle but when Stewart went to hurdle Nick Collins he didn't get a complete hurdle.
45.
The crown of Nick Collins head collided with Stewart's tailbone and Nick Collins' neck was compressed resulting in serious injury.
46.
Nick Collins spent the night at the hospital and returned to Green Bay the next day, where it was announced that Collins would miss the remainder of the 2011 season.
47.
Nick Collins had suffered a herniated disk in his neck, and underwent single-level cervical fusion surgery.
48.
Nick Collins has been an instructor at a passing camp for children ages 6 to 15.
49.
Nick Collins has a daughter named Jenajah, and four sons, Nicholas Jr.
50.
Nick Collins has coached high school football as a Defensive back's coach for Lake Highland Preparatory School, where he helped win them back-to-back-to-back championships in 2021 and 2022.
51.
Nick Collins always knew I was a self-directed type of kid and I wanted to do things my way.
52.
Nick Collins made sure I stayed on track of my goals.