Nick Collins life and biography

Nick Collins is an American football free safety who plays for the Green Bay Packers of the NFL.

• Selected to the Pro Bowl for the second straight season in 2009, becoming the first Packers safety to earn the honor in back-to-back seasons since LeRoy Butler (1996-98).
• Leads all NFL safeties with 13 interceptions since 2008, and leads the league with 405 interception return yards over that span.
• Returned three INTs for TDs in 2008, becoming the first NFL safety to do so since Kansas City’s Lloyd Burruss in 1986. His 295 interception return yards in ’08 led the NFL and broke the franchise record (Bobby Dillon, 244 in 1956).
• Has missed just three games in five seasons (all in 2007, knee injury) since being drafted in the second round in 2005.
• Honored by the Packers as the team’s 2005 Defensive Rookie of the Year, and earned a spot on the prestigious All-Rookie team announced by Pro Football Weekly/Pro Football Writers of America.
• Became the first Packers rookie to start a regular-season opener at safety since Chuck Cecil in 1988.
• Upon drafting Collins, GM Ted Thompson assigned the rookie No. 36, last worn by four-time Pro Bowler Butler; Thompson told Butler he wouldn’t give out the number to just any player, tabbing Collins worthy of the honor.
• Only the second Bethune-Cookman athlete ever to play for the Packers, joining offensive tackle Steve Collier, who saw action for Green Bay in 1987.

PRO CAREER:
Talented, athletic defender has become one of the top playmakers in the league at the safety position... Selected to the Pro Bowl for the second straight year last season, becoming the first Packers safety to receive that recognition in back-to-back seasons since LeRoy Butler (1996-98)... Also earned second-team All-Pro honors from The Associated Press for the second straight season... Leads all NFL safeties with 13 interceptions since 2008, and leads the league with 405 interception return yards over that span... Is tied for second with four interception returns for touchdowns since 2006, trailing only teammate Charles Woodson (seven)... Took on increased responsibilities as a signal caller in ’09 in new defensive coordinator Dom Capers’ 3-4 scheme, and started all 16 games at free safety for the fourth time in five seasons... Finished second on the team with six interceptions, tied for fifth in the league... That followed a 2008 campaign that saw him intercept a career-best seven passes, nearly tripling his previous career total, and returned three of them for touchdowns in earning his first Pro Bowl berth, the first Packers safety to earn the honor since Darren Sharper in 2002... Became the first NFL safety to run back three INTs for TDs in a season since Kansas City’s Lloyd Burruss in 1986, and tied Herb Adderley (1965) for the single-season franchise record in the category (Charles Woodson also tied the mark in 2009)... Also led the NFL in interception return yards with 295 in ‘08, the sixth-best single-season mark in NFL history, which also topped Bobby Dillon’s previous single-season franchise mark of 244... Is tied with Johnny (Blood) McNally for No. 5 on the Packers’ all-time list for INT returns for TDs with four, needing one to tie Sharper and Dillon for third... Showed the first true glimpse of his game-changing ability in the 2006 regular-season finale at Chicago, when he intercepted two passes and returned one for a TD in Green Bay’s resounding victory over the eventual NFC champion Bears...

In 2007, remained reliable and productive, but did not turn in those big plays in part due to a knee injury that forced him to miss the first and only three games of his career, plus a nagging back issue that he played through repeatedly in 2008... Upon drafting Collins, GM Ted Thompson assigned the rookie No. 36, last worn by four-time Pro Bowler Butler; Thompson told Butler he wouldn’t give out the number to just any player, tabbing Collins worthy of the honor... Collins answered by earning the Packers’ 2005 Defensive Rookie of the Year award... Took a little more than a week of his rookie training camp to gain his bearings, then grabbed onto the starter’s role at free safety and never relinquished it... Turned heads prior to the 2005 draft with a 40-inch vertical leap... Was the first of two second-round choices by Green Bay in the 2005 draft (51st overall and 12th defensive back), the Packers utilizing the pick acquired from New Orleans for Mike McKenzie in October 2004... Led the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in interceptions each of his last two seasons in college, earning all-league honors both years and successfully filling the void as Bethune-Cookman’s playmaker after three-time Division I-AA All-American Rashean Mathis departed for the NFL (Jaguars)... Also was a third-team Division I-AA All-America pick as a senior... Is only the second Bethune-Cookman athlete ever to play for the Packers, joining offensive tackle Steve Collier, who suited up for Green Bay in 1987.

2009 SEASON: Earned Pro Bowl recognition for the second straight season, becoming the first Packers safety since Butler (1996-98) to earn the honor in consecutive years... Also earned second-team All-Pro honors from The Associated Press for the second straight year... Started every game at FS for the fourth time in five seasons and started the team’s playoff contest... Posted 54 tackles (45 solo), six INTs, a sack, a fumble recovery and 16 passes defensed... The six INTs ranked second on the team and tied for fifth in the league... On the field for 916-of-996 defensive snaps (92.0 percent), good for second on the team behind only Woodson... Added six special teams tackles and a fumble recovery on a kickoff return... Was selected by his teammates as the winner of the Ed Block Courage Award... Vs. Chicago (Sept. 13): Intercepted Jay Cutler’s pass deep down the middle intended for TE Desmond Clark in the first quarter and returned the pick 31 yards to the Green Bay 43. Finished with three tackles (all solo) and two passes defensed... Vs. Cincinnati (Sept. 20): Posted season-high seven tackles (six solo) in less than half a game as he left midway through the second quarter with a clavicle sprain and did not return... Vs. Minnesota (Nov. 1): Recovered DE Brian Robison’s fumble on kickoff return midway through the third quarter at the Vikings’ 41; Packers turned the field position into points with a Spencer Havner TD reception... At Tampa Bay (Nov. 8): Picked off rookie QB Josh Freeman’s deep pass intended for WR Maurice Stovall at the Green Bay 41 and returned it 13 yards. Stopped RB Cadillac Wiliams for a 1-yard loss on first-quarter run, one of four tackles (all solo) he made on the afternoon... Vs. Dallas (Nov. 15): Posted the first sack of his career when he came off the right edge to bring QB Tony Romo down for a 1-yard loss on a 3rd-and-3 on the Cowboys’ opening drive. Tied for the team lead with two passes defensed... Vs. San Francisco (Nov. 22): Intercepted QB Alex Smith’s pass intended for TE Vernon Davis at the San Francisco 21 early in the fourth quarter and returned the pick 10 yards to set up a Ryan Grant TD run four plays later. Finished with a team-leading three passes defensed... At Detroit (Nov. 26): Recorded five tackles (three solo) and an INT. Stopped a Detroit drive late in the first quarter when he picked off QB Matthew Stafford’s pass intended for TE Will Heller on third down, doing a nice job to keep both feet in bounds near the sideline at the Lions’ 26...

2008: Named Pro Bowl starter to become the first Packers safety to receive that honor since Sharper in 2002...Earned second-team All-Pro honors from The Associated Press and All-NFC by Pro Football Weekly/Pro Football Writers Association...Started every game at FS and ranked second on the team with 99 tackles (77 solo), the second-highest season total of his career...Tied for NFC lead with teammate Woodson with career-high seven INTs... Tied for second in the NFL in INTs with three others, trailing only Baltimore’s Reed (9)...Only player in NFL to return three INTS for TDs in 2008, becoming the first NFL safety to accomplish the feat since Kansas City’s Burruss in 1986... Tied Adderley (1965) for team single-season record with the three INT returns for scores...Led league with 295 INT return yards, which is sixth-most in a single season in NFL history and tops in Green Bay history, besting Dillon’s mark (244 in 1956)...Along with Woodson, became only the second tandem in franchise history to each post 165-plus INT return yards in a season (John Symank/Dillon, 1957)...Along with Woodson and Tramon Williams, became first Packers trio to each post five interceptions in a season since 1996 (Eugene Robinson, Doug Evans, Butler)... Second on the team with a career-high 18 passes defensed...On the field for 986-of-1,050 (93.9 percent) defensive snaps, which ranked third on the team... At Detroit (Sept. 14): Posted second TD of his career when he intercepted QB Jon Kitna with just over two minutes remaining and returned the pick 42 yards for the score...Vs. Dallas (Sept. 21): Intercepted a Romo pass toward end of first quarter in the end zone, and returned it 61 yards. Posted eight tackles and two passes defensed on the night, but left game in third quarter with a bruised back and did not return..

2007: Started 13 games, plus both playoff contests, and was inactive for three games... Made 62 tackles (45 solo), plus six passes defensed... At Minnesota (Sept. 30): Suffered knee injury after making a second-quarter, TD-saving tackle on RB Adrian Peterson; missed parts of two defensive series, but returned to play the entire second half. Finished second on the team with a season-high eight tackles (three solo)... Vs. Chicago (Oct. 7): Made seven tackles (six solo), with one pass defensed. In the fourth quarter, leaped and got his hand on a Griese throw, tipping the pass into the hands of Brady Poppinga for the INT... At Kansas City (Nov. 4): Made two solo tackles and one pass defensed before leaving the game in the third quarter with a knee injury; did not return and missed the next three contests... Vs. Oakland (Dec. 9): Posted five tackles (four solo) and one pass defensed. In the first quarter, stopped RB Justin Fargas for a 2-yard loss on fourth-and-1.

2006: Started all 16 games at FS and finished third on the team with 16 passes defensed — surpassing the nine he totaled as a 2005 rookie — and finished fifth on the team and second among Packers defensive backs with a career-high 102 tackles (82 solo)... Also picked off three passes, returning one for his first NFL TD forced a fumble, and notched one special teams tackle... Saw action in 999 of the team’s defensive plays (95.7 percent)... His versatility allowed him to play corner in the team’s dime package...Vs. New Orleans (Sept. 17): Deflected a Drew Brees pass into the arms of teammate Al Harris; also shifted to corner in the dime package, and on two third downs — including late in the game with the Packers trailing by a TD — stopped Reggie Bush on dump-off passes to force punts... At Detroit (Sept. 24): Led the team with a career-high four passes defensed. In the fourth quarter on a crucial Lions third-and-1, took down Kevin Jones from behind for a 1-yard loss (Corey Williams sacked Kitna on fourth down to change possession); then, on the last play of the game — a Hail Mary attempt by Kitna — got up to knock the ball down, preserving a 31-24 win... At San Francisco (Dec. 10): Made his first INT of the season and second of his career, diving for a Smith pass intended for Davis; Green Bay took a 24-13 lead two plays later on a 68-yard Donald Driver catch-and-run... At Chicago (Dec. 31): Posted a career-high two INTs. In first quarter, stepped in front of a Rex Grossman pass intended for Desmond Clark and returned it 55 yards for his first NFL TD; in the fourth quarter, intercepted a Griese throw on third-and-13 on what turned out to be Chicago’s final offensive play.

2005: Promising second-round draft pick who started all 16 games at FS, earning a spot on the prestigious All-Rookie team announced by PFW/PFWA... Finished fourth on the team with 96 tackles (66 solo)... Also ranked third with nine passes defensed, including one INT, and forced a fumble... Began working with the first-team defense prior to the first preseason game and did not look back, becoming an important contributor to the NFL’s No. 1 passing defense... Added 10 stops on special teams and secured each of the team’s two opponent onside kick attempts, extinguishing potential rallies in wins over Atlanta and Seattle... At Detroit (Sept. 11): Posted two solo tackles in his first NFL game and start, becoming the first Packers rookie to start a regular-season opener at safety since Chuck Cecil in 1988; Cecil, a fourth-round pick out of Arizona, lined up in the backfield Sept. 4, 1988, a 34-7 loss to Jim Everett and the L.A. Rams in Lindy Infante’s first contest as Packers coach... Vs. New Orleans (Oct. 9): Made seven tackles (three solo) and forced one fumble with a jarring hit on TE Ernie Conwell that Kenny Peterson returned 8 yards, leading to a three-play TD drive... At Cincinnati (Oct. 30): Notched six tackles (four solo) and a then career-high three passes defensed; delivered a highlight-reel hit on WR Chad Johnson to knock the ball loose and, on the next play, nearly intercepted a Carson Palmer pass intended for Johnson, forcing a punt... Vs. Minnesota (Nov. 21): Totaled 11 tackles (eight solo) and two passes defensed, including his first career INT, a Brad Johnson sideline pass intended for Mewelde Moore. In the second half, broke up a long pass in the second half, blasting Koren Robinson before he could make the catch, and dropped Moore for a 5-yard loss on third down, forcing a punt... At Baltimore (Dec. 19): Paced the team with a (then) career-high 12 tackles (career-high 11 solo)... 2005 Draft: Chosen by the Packers as the first of two second-round selections (51st overall and 12th defensive back), using a choice obtained from New Orleans in the McKenzie trade six months prior.

COLLEGE:
Was a three-year letterman and two-year starter at Division I-AA Bethune-Cookman... In 34 games (23 starts), had 144 tackles (89 solo), one sack, 13 passes defensed and 13 INTs — two of which he returned for scores... Also rushed once for 12 yards and returned 10 kickoffs for 215 yards... Paced the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in INTs each of his last two seasons, earning all-conference honors both years and filling a vacancy in the Bethune-Cookman secondary created when Mathis left for the NFL... Majored in recreation... Senior season (2004): A third-team Division I-AA All-America pick of The Associated Press, starting all 10 games at FS... Earned first-team All-MEAC honors after leading the conference in INTs with six (for 108 yards)... Began his senior campaign by intercepting Antonio Lovelady early in the third quarter of 27-14 victory at Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Sept. 11), then running 38 yards to the end zone to give B-CC a commanding 17-0 advantage... Closed out his collegiate career with a memorable performance in a 58-52, double-OT triumph over Florida A&M in Orlando (Nov. 20). Recorded nine tackles and intercepted FAMU QB Ben Dougherty at the B-CC 8-yard line with 1:49 left to keep the game tied and send it into OT... Junior season (2003): Started 11 of 12 games at FS and led the MEAC in INTs with six... Had a career-high two INTs in a pair of games... Scored his first TD as a collegian when he returned an INT 45 yards at Norfolk State (Sept. 27)... Sophomore season (2002): Spent most of season as a reserve LB before starting the final two games at SS... Freshman season (2001): Sat out season under NCAA’s Proposition 48 guidelines.

PERSONAL:
Given name Nicholas Cardell Collins... Born in Gainesville, Fla. ... Married to Andrea... The couple has a daughter, Jenajah, 6, and two sons Nicholas Jr., 3, and Nmar’e, 1... High school: Lettered twice as a QB, RB and DB at Dixie County High School in Cross City, Fla. ... Was named first-team all-conference and team MVP as a senior... Also earned two letters as a guard on the school’s basketball team and three letters as a CF for its baseball team... Community involvement: Was voted by his teammates as the 2009 Ed Block Courage Award, an honor given to one player on each team for overcoming adversity... In March, attended the Ed Block awards ceremony in Baltimore... Started the Nick Collins Jumpstart Foundation, with offseason fundraising activities including a flag football tournament, a basketball tournament, and a football camp... Also has the Nick Collins Scholarship Fund at his hometown high school, which provides four scholarships annually to students heading off to college... Visited with students at Westwood Elementary in De Pere as a reward for being one of the top donor schools in the annual in-school food drive... Was part of Packers Tailgate Tour in 2009... Has participated in local United Way kickoff and Big Brothers Big Sisters events, and the annual Children with Cancer holiday party... Also has participated in the Edgar Bennett Celebrity Bowl-A-Thon, the Al Harris Stars and Strikes Celebrity Bowling Event, and benefits for the Donald Driver Foundation, including the Donald Driver Celebrity Softball Game... Has been a member of the ‘Green Machine’ charity basketball team and hosted his own celebrity basketball game in Florida... Volunteered at elementary schools and the YMCA in Daytona Beach, Fla., while in college... Also has been an instructor at a passing camp in Cross City, Fla., for kids ages 6-15... Hobbies/interests: Takes an annual trip to Disney World with his family... Went on the Packer Fan Tours Cruise through the Caribbean with his family last offseason... Enjoys bowling, watching action movies, fresh-water fishing and spending time with his family... A boxing fan, attended the Floyd Mayweather Jr./Shane Mosley fight this past May in Las Vegas... Residence: Gainesville, Fla.

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