For readers who arrived via sports transaction aggregators wondering if the former football player had resurfaced, Jalen Collins' athletic trajectory ended long before this recent basketball mix-up.
Selected 42nd overall by the Atlanta Falcons in 2015, Collins possessed ideal physical metrics for a modern NFL defensive back: 6-foot-1, fluid hips, and verified 4.4 speed. He stepped into a major starting role during Atlanta's run to Super Bowl LI, recording key playoff passes defended.
His professional career derailed due to repeated violations of the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances. Following suspensions of four games, ten games, and ultimately a full regular season, Atlanta waived him in late 2017. Stints with the Indianapolis Colts practice squad and minor football leagues did not yield a career resurgence. He has not signed an active professional sports contract since his brief time in spring football leagues.
