Jed Collins
An undrafted fullback who carved out a decade-long NFL career through sheer grit, becoming a valued teammate on eight different teams.
Born 1986 (age 40)·American football player·Birthday: March 3·Millennials
Biography
Jed Collins’s path to the NFL was the hard way. Undrafted out of Washington State in 2008, he faced the reality that his dream might end before it began. But Collins embodied the blue-collar ethos of the fullback position, a role often overshadowed but crucial for its physical, selfless play. He didn't just make a roster; he built a ten-year career by being the reliable, punishing blocker and special teams contributor coaches could trust. Wearing the jerseys of eight different franchises, from the Saints to the Lions, Collins became a journeyman in the truest sense, a testament to adaptability and resilience in a league with relentless turnover. His longevity as an undrafted player at a fading position speaks to a football intelligence and toughness that left a quiet mark on every locker room he entered.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Jed was born in 1986, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jed Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Jed's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Turned 21
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played ten seasons in the NFL as an undrafted free agent, a significant feat given the position's volatility.
- Appeared in games for eight different NFL franchises, showcasing remarkable adaptability and value.
- Earned a starting fullback role for multiple seasons with the New Orleans Saints and Detroit Lions.
- Played college football in the Pac-10 conference at Washington State University.
Did You Know?
He majored in management information systems at Washington State.
His first NFL regular-season game was with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2009.
He scored his first and only NFL touchdown in 2013 while playing for the New Orleans Saints.
“They told me I was too slow, so I made my living in the hole.”
