Jim Collins (linebacker)

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Jim Collins

| number = 50, 55

| position = Linebacker

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1958|6|11|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Orange, New Jersey, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 2

| weight_lb = 230

| high_school = West Morris Mendham
(Mendham Borough, New Jersey)

| college = Syracuse

| draftyear = 1981

| draftround = 2

| draftpick = 43

| teams =

Los Angeles Rams ({{nfly|1981}}–{{nfly|1988}})
San Diego Chargers ({{nfly|1989}})

| highlights =

First-team All-Pro (1985)
Second-team All-Pro (1984)
Pro Bowl (1985)
3× First-team All-East (1978, 1979, 1980)

| statlabel1 = Interceptions

| statvalue1 = 6

| statlabel2 = Sacks

| statvalue2 = 4.5

| statlabel3 = Fumble recoveries

| statvalue3 = 6

| pfr = CollJi01

}}

James Brian Collins (born June 11, 1958) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Syracuse Orange. He played in the NFL for the Los Angeles Rams and was named to the Pro Bowl in 1985. He also played for the San Diego Chargers.

Early life

Collins graduated from West Morris Mendham High School in the Class of 1976, where, as a senior, he helped lead his high school football team to a still standing club record eight shutouts and its only state championship victory to date. He subsequently attended Syracuse University on a full athletic scholarship at linebacker. In 1980, Collins was an honorable mention All-American by the Associated Press. He was later named to the Syracuse all-century team.[http://cuse.com/sports/2005/5/31/jcollins.aspx "James Collins, Football, 1976, 1978-80"], Syracuse University Athletics (accessed 2014-02-05).

Professional career

Collins was selected in the second round (43rd overall pick) of the 1981 NFL draft as a linebacker by the Los Angeles Rams. He was considered a leader of the Rams' defense of the mid-1980s.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1454&dat=19860102&id=38osAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0hMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4949,320844 "Overlooked Collins leads Ram defense"], Associated Press in Star-News, January 2, 1986. He made one appearance in the Pro Bowl, with the Rams in 1985,Rich Roberts, [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-10-29-sp-7888-story.html "Jim Collins Can Only Watch . . . and Wait: Injured Ram Linebacker Realizes His Career May Be in Jeopardy"], Los Angeles Times, October 29, 1986. and was a Pro Bowl alternate in 1984. Due to a shoulder injury, Collins spent the 1986 season on the injured reserve list.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/19361653/waiting_game/ |title=Waiting game |first=Michael |last=Eisen |newspaper=Daily Record |location=Morristown, New Jersey |page=40 |date=November 16, 1986 |accessdate=April 19, 2018 |via=newspapers.com}} Overall, he played in the NFL for seven seasons with the Rams (1981–1985, 1987–1988), and then spent one season with the San Diego Chargers (1989).

Collins also appeared in the 1986 Rams promotional video, Let's Ram It,{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/19357745/rams/ |title=Rams |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |page=129 |date=November 13, 1986 |accessdate=April 18, 2018 |via=newspapers.com}} where he goes by the nickname "Babyface" and refers to himself as a "tacklin' fool on the football field."{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxkKlzInR4Y |title=Ram IT (NFL Rams Football Team) Song |via=YouTube |accessdate=April 17, 2018}}

References

Category:1958 births

Category:American football linebackers

Category:Living people

Category:Los Angeles Rams players

Category:National Conference Pro Bowl players

Category:Players of American football from Morris County, New Jersey

Category:Players of American football from Orange, New Jersey

Category:San Diego Chargers players

Category:Syracuse Orange football players

Category:West Morris Mendham High School alumni

Category:20th-century American sportsmen