Marques Colston
A seventh-round draft pick who defied all expectations to become the most prolific receiver in New Orleans Saints history.
Born 1983 (age 43)·American football player·Birthday: June 5·Millennials
Biography
Marques Colston's NFL story is a masterpiece of undervalued talent finding its perfect home. Drafted in the seventh round out of Hofstra University—a school that later dropped its football program—he arrived in New Orleans with little fanfare in 2006. That season, under the innovative offense of coach Sean Payton and quarterback Drew Brees, the unheralded rookie exploded onto the scene. With a towering frame, sure hands, and a knack for finding soft spots in zone coverage, 'The Quiet Storm' became Brees's most reliable target. For a decade, he was the steady, consistent engine of the Saints' passing attack, eclipsing 1,000 receiving yards in six of his first seven seasons. His legacy is inextricably linked to the Saints' golden era: he was a cornerstone of the team that won Super Bowl XLIV, making key catches in the championship victory. When he retired in 2016, he left as the franchise's all-time leader in every major receiving category, a testament to sustained excellence forged from a beginning that almost nobody noticed.
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.
Marques was born in 1983, 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 Marques Was Born
The biggest hits of 1983
#1 Movie
Return of the Jedi
Best Picture
Terms of Endearment
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Marques's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1983Born
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1988Started school
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1996Became a teenager
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Could drive
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2001Could vote
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2004Turned 21
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
2013Turned 30
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 40
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 43 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Holds New Orleans Saints franchise records for career receptions (711), receiving yards (9,759), and receiving touchdowns (72).
- Was a key member of the Saints team that won Super Bowl XLIV, catching 7 passes for 83 yards in the victory.
- Recorded over 1,000 receiving yards in six of his ten NFL seasons, all with the Saints.
- Was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team in 2006 after being selected in the seventh round of the draft.
Did You Know?
His nickname among Saints fans was 'The Quiet Storm' due to his soft-spoken demeanor and dominant play.
He caught a touchdown pass in his first NFL game.
He never made a Pro Bowl despite his prolific statistics, often cited as one of the biggest Pro Bowl snubs in league history.
He played his entire 10-year career with the New Orleans Saints.
“I just showed up, kept my head down, and caught the ball.”
