Marques Colston
June 5, 1983 — Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Marques Colston is an American former NFL wide receiver who spent his entire professional career with the New Orleans Saints. Selected in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL Draft, he became one of the most productive and reliable receivers in franchise history, earning the nickname "Colossus" for his ability to make difficult catches in traffic. He holds the Saints' franchise records for career receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns, and was a key contributor to the team's Super Bowl XLIV victory in 2010.
Early Life and College Career
Born on June 5, 1983, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Colston played college football at Hofstra University on Long Island — a Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) program rather than a major college football conference, which partly explains his slide to the seventh round of the draft. Despite his smaller-school background, his combination of size (6 feet 4 inches), route running ability, and reliable hands caught the attention of Saints coach Sean Payton and quarterback Drew Brees. He stepped into the starting lineup almost immediately after being drafted and set an NFL record for receiving yards by a rookie in the first seven games of a season.
Saints Career and Super Bowl
Colston was central to the Saints' offensive system under Drew Brees for a decade. His skill at finding soft spots in zone coverage, running precise routes, and making acrobatic catches in contested situations made him Brees's most trusted target on crucial drives. He was named to the Pro Bowl following the 2009 season — the year the Saints won Super Bowl XLIV over the Indianapolis Colts in a stunning comeback victory. Colston scored 72 regular-season touchdowns in his career and accumulated over 9,700 receiving yards. He retired following the 2015 season having appeared in more games as a Saint than any other wide receiver in franchise history.
Did You Know?
Colston was selected 252nd overall in the 2006 draft — one of the greatest late-round picks in NFL history, considering he went on to become one of the most productive wide receivers of his era.
Legacy
Marques Colston's career is one of the more remarkable stories in NFL history — a small-school late-round pick who became a franchise cornerstone and Super Bowl champion. His consistency, professionalism, and ability to perform in the biggest moments made him beloved in New Orleans, a city where the Saints' Super Bowl victory had particular emotional resonance following Hurricane Katrina. His franchise records may stand for years as testament to one of the most underrated receiving careers of his generation.