Landon Collins

At 31 years old, Landon Collins has this physical status:

Landon Alexander Collins, born January 10, 1994, is an American footballer with a strong sense of security for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL).

He played football at Alabama for three years and won the 2013 BCS National Championship Game during his freshman season.

He decided against his senior season in the 2015 NFL Draft, where he was picked in the second round by the New York Giants.

Collins made three Pro Bowls during his time with the Giants, as well as the 2016 All-Pro Team.

Personal life

Collins, a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, grew up in Algiers' neighborhood. When Hurricane Katrina struck the city in 2005, Collins and his family had to leave and eventually settled in Ascension Parish in Geismar. Tom Collins, Landon's father, was his football coach from the ages of 4 to 12. Landon's father, "is the most influential coach I've ever had," Landon says. Collins said that although his father coached him, he adopted the term "Money" for his son because everything he touched "was just gold at the age of six." Landon's heroes, as a youth, were former running back Clinton Portis, retired quarterback Peyton Manning, and late Sean Taylor, who was a Redskins safety when he was killed - Collins wore No. 68. Sean Taylor was honored at 21 on Friday. Collins played baseball when he was 7 or 8 years old.

Collins is the son of Tom Collins and April Justin. His father is currently a station manager with the Coastal Bridge Construction Company in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, while his mother lives in Florida. Collins has four children: 3 girls and 1 boy. Collins is Justin's first-born son. Gerald Willis and Justin Collins, as well as one sister, Gerrah Willis, are among his brothers. Gerald played college football at the University of Florida and at the University of Miami. Willis has also played for the Baltimore Ravens.

Collins' relationship with his mother has never been happier. Landon's decision to choose Alabama over LSU has never specifically addressed the pair's friendship, which has caused the subject to be a point of contention.

Collins and Giants teammates Damon Harrison and Olivier Vernon took a knee in their third game of the 2017 season against the Philadelphia Eagles after U.S. President Donald Trump's remark in September 2017 that any player kneelings during the National Anthem should be fired or suspended. When asked about his decision to kneel, Collins said he was "completely contradicted" as he adored the United States, adding that he was weeping as he knelt. When taking a knee during the anthem, Collins also referred to his uncle who was previously employed in the Army as an additional source of conflicted opinion. Collins instead of raising his fist during the anthem when the Giants faced the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the next week. This decision came after Giants owner John Mara requested that the players stand during the anthem while noting that if they did not understand if they did not.

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High school career

Collins attended Dutchtown High School in Geismar, Louisiana, where he was a two-sport star in football and track. He was an All-American defensive back in football. When playing with senior Eric Reid, he had 26 tackles, one intercept, and one fumbled. As a junior, Replacing Reid, Collins had 12 tackles for injury and four interceptions, receiving an All-State award from the Louisiana Sports Writers Association. The Dutchtown Griffins went undefeated during the regular season and advanced to the playoffs as the No. 1 in the national championships. This seed was only to be upset 29-14 by No. No. In the Class 5A quarterfinals, 24 New Iberia Westgates qualified. The Griffins had a 12–1 record on the season. Collins excelled on both directions as a senior. He rushed for 1,218 yards and 21 touchdowns on offense, but he was intercepting 13.7 yards per carry. In the defensive backfield, he had 34 tackles with four interceptions, two of whom were returned for touchdowns. Collins was the first LSWA player to earn 5A All-State recognition on both directions of the sport. He led the Griffins to their second straight 10–0 regular season and District 5-5A championship. They were defeated 28-14 by Ponchatoula in the first round of the 5A playoffs. Collins received All-American recognition from Parade and USA Today for his individual achievements. He also appeared in the 2012 Under Armour All-America Game, scoring an interceptions and keying a goal-line stand.

Collins, who was also a standout track & field performer while at Dutchtown, was one of the state's best sprinters. Collins ran the second leg on the Dutchtown 4 100m squad in 2011, winning and setting a new school record of 41.10 seconds at the 2011 Josten's Invitational. He ran in the 100 meters at the 2012 Episcopal 4-Way Championships in a personal record of 10.28 seconds. In the 200-meter dash at the 2012 Josten's Invitational, where he finished first, he ran a career-best time of 21.60 seconds. Collins spent the second leg of the LHSAA Class 5A State Championships, assisting them in claiming the state championship in a time of 1:25.40 minutes. In addition,, he completed a 4.48-second 40-yard dash and a 36-inch vertical jump.

Collins was ranked as the best safety prospect in his class and the third best player overall by 247sports.com. In their rankings of the 2012 class' top 150 high school football players, ESPN ranked Collins as the top ranked safety leader but sixth overall, while Rivals.com ranked Collins as the sixth best overall player and 17th best overall player. Collins narrowed his choice down to Alabama and Louisiana State, having been recruited by almost every major college. He declared his decision live at the Under Armour All-America Game, selecting the Crimson Tide. Collins admitted that he had "actually made the decision two years before," but her mother, April Justin, was clearly dissatisfied with her son's decision to choose the Crimson Tide over the LSU Tigers.

College career

When Collins arrived in Tuscaloosa for his freshman season, then-defensive coordinator Kirby Smart said he was a young player trying to adjust to the college game's specifics. Collins recalled that as a freshman, "You're going to be disqualified." You have no idea what's going on. You don't know how everything goes." Collins served as a back-up as a true freshman at Alabama. He got off the kickoff and punt coverage units early in the season, and saw reserve play at all 14 games, totaling 17 tackles and blocking a punt. With ten special teams tackles, nine on kickoff coverage and one on punt coverage, he tied for the team's lead. In 2012, Alabama defeated the BCS National Championship.

Collins took over the starting job after starting Vinnie Sunseri tore his ACL during Alabama's 52-0 victory over Arkansas. Collins had an 89-yard interception return for a touchdown in his first game as a starter against Tennessee. He finished the year with 70 tackles, two interceptions, and two fumble recoveries. Collins' 70 tackles ranked second in the team, only behind starting linebacker C.J. Despite only having started six games, Mosley hasn't lost a single game. Alabama closed the season on September 11–0 after an Iron Bowl loss to Auburn and an Allstate Sugar Bowl loss to Oklahoma.

Collins played in all 14 games and led the team in interceptions with three interceptions with three others, tied for the team's top interceptions with three with three others, and finished second on the team with two fumble recoveries. He was named a unanimous All-American. The team will continue to play in the first ever College Football Playoff, but it will eventually fall to Ohio State in the semifinals.

Collins made the NFL Draft in 2015 after his junior season. Collins was reluctant to forego his senior season at Alabama, but the NFL Draft Advisory Board's decision to classify him as a potential first-round pick swayed him. In one of his first mock drafts, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. had him listed as a top-ten pick. Collins admitted that passing up on the opportunities to compete in another national championship and continue his education at Alabama was daunting, but vowed to take the necessary courses in order to guarantee that he would graduate.

Professional career

Collins was rated as a top first-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft by various mock drafts prior to his junior season.

Collins was selected in the second round (33rd overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft by the New York Giants. In the second round, the Giants had the 40th pick, eighth overall, but they later made a trade with the Tennessee Titans in order to capture Collins. Collins agreed to a four-year, US$6 million contract with the team on June 19, 2015.

Collins came to practice camp with Cooper Taylor and Nat Berhe, the New York Giants' starting free safety after losing veterans Quintin Demps, Antrel Rolle, and Stevie Brown to the free agency in the off season. Collins sustained a sprained MCL in a preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals on August 14, 2015. He appeared in only one preseason game. To start his rookie season, the New York Giants named him the starting free safety. Collins was moved from his natural defensive role to a position where he was more able to play free safety than Brandon Meriweather.

He made his professional appearance in the New York Giants' season opener against the Dallas Cowboys and finished the 27-26 loss with four combined tackles. In the Giant's 27–7 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on October 19, 2015, Collins made his first interception in his career by picking off Sam Bradford and making five combined tackles. In a 38–35 loss to the Carolina Panthers on December 20, 2015, Collins recorded a season-high ten combined tackles and a pass deflection. He finished his rookie season with 112 combined tackles, nine pass deflections, and an interception in 16 starts. Tom Coughlin, the New York Giants' head coach, left after the season, defeating them 6–10.

Collins had a breakout year in 2016, helping the Giants reach an 11-5 record and return to the playoffs for the first time since 2011.

Collins was able to return to his earlier intended position of high security after being picked in the 2016 NFL Draft. He was voted de facto de facto, with his strong protection starting strong during the regular season.

Collins had six solo tackles and a pass deflection in his regular season debut at high defense against the Dallas Cowboys in the season opener. In a 16-13 win over the New Orleans Saints, Drew Brees had sixed combined tackles and his first sack in his career. Collins won by 27–23 over the Baltimore Ravens on October 16, 2016, smashing Joe Flacco with a season-high nine solo tackles, an aide tackle, and sacked Joe Flacco. The New York Giants played the Los Angeles Rams for eight straight tackles and a season-high two interceptions off of Case Keenum, one of which was returned one for a 44-yard touchdown. He was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 7 this week.

During the Giant's 28–23 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on November 6, 2016, Collins recorded a season-high 12 combined tackles, a pass deflection, a suspension, and intercepted Carson Wentz. For his second straight game, he was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week, marking the first safety to achieve that feat since Troy Polamalu. In the fourth quarter of a 21-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, Andy Dalton had five solo tackles and intercepted him. Collins made six solo tackles, three pass deflections, and intercepted Jay Cutler with 1:11 left on the clock, securing the 22-16 victory over Week 11. This was Collins' fourth straight game with an interceptor. Collins was named NFC Defensive Player of the Month in November, with 30 tackles, a sack, and three interceptions.

Collins was admitted to the 2017 Pro Bowl on December 20, 2016. He played for 125 combined tackles, four interceptions, 13 pass deflections, five interceptions, and a touchdown in 16 starts during his first season under new head coach Ben McAdoo. Collins was the only player in NFL history to have over 100 solo tackles, more than two sacks, at least five interceptions, and minimum of 12 pass deflections. He was also named first-team All-Pro. Collins was named NFC Defensive Player of the Year by the Kansas City Committee of 102 on the year after the season. He was also ranked 28th by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2017.

Collins had 15 tackles and intercepted an Interception in a 12–9 overtime victory over the Chiefs, earning him NFC Defensive Player of the Week. The Giants began the season 2-10 and then fired head coach Ben McAdoo. Collins expressed his dissatisfaction with the decision by saying that McAdoo deserved to coach for at least one year more. Collins was hospitalized in Week 14 after a game against the Dallas Cowboys. Collins was forced to leave the game and was unable to return. However, he returned the following week in Week 16. Collins was named to his second Pro Bowl on December 19, 2017. Collins was placed on injured reserve on December 26, 2017 after suffering a fractured forearm in Week 16. He was ranked 92nd among his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2018.

Collins revealed during the offseason that he needed surgery on his right forearm and that he'd have to miss a portion of the Giants training camp. Collins was involved in trade rumors around the trade deadline; however, he was not recalled. Collins suffered a partially torn rotator cuff in the team's victory over the Chicago Bears in week 13 and was placed on injured reserve four days later after it was announced that he would need surgery to repair it. He had 96 total tackles, four pass breakups, and a forced fumble in 12 games, with four of them playing and starting in 96 games.

Collins, the Washington Redskins' unrestricted free agent for the 2019 season, has been signed to a six-year, $84 million contract. Collins will wear number 21 with the Redskins after his idol, Sean Taylor, died in 2007, but after initial rumors that Collins would wear number 21 was not given out by the team since Taylor's death in 2007. Collins made a team high 12 tackles against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2 as the Redskins lost 31–21. As the Redskins defeated their first game of the season 17–16, Collins made a team high 12 tackles and fired Josh Rosen once. For his results, he was named the NFC defensive player of the week.

Collins migrated to his college number #26 ahead of Adrian Peterson's resignation, giving his number #20 to Jimmy Moreland right away. Collins' first dismissal and first interception on the season in Week 2 against the Arizona Cardinals. Collins tore his Achilles and was put on injured reserve against the Dallas Cowboys on Week 7 and was listed on injured reserve on October 27.

Washington wanted to move Collins to a hybrid safety-linebacker role in October 2021 after losing multiple linebackers to injury. In Washington's 17-15 victory over Alex Collins, he caused a fumble on running back Alex Collins in Week 12 against the Seattle Seahawks. Collins made his first interception of the season against Dak Prescott in Week 14 against the Dallas Cowboys, earning two sacks. He made an interception off a ball that bounced off Dallas Goedert's foot, one pass deflection, and one fumble recovery the following week. He sustained a foot injury in the game and was put on injured reserve on December 24. Collins was deemed a post-June 1 release on March 16, 2022.

Collins returned to the Giants on October 6, 2022, signing to their practice squad.

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