Bob Condotta The Seattle Times (TNS)
Alex Collins, a running back and fifth-round pick of the Seahawks in 2016 who became something of a fan favorite due to his love of Irish dancing and incorporating that into his touchdown celebrations, has died.
Both the Seahawks and the Baltimore Ravens, the two NFL teams for which Collins played, announced his death Monday afternoon.
There were no immediate details on the manner of his death.
Collins was 28.
“Absolutely heartbroken,” a tweet from the Seahawks read. “Prayers are with the Collins family.”
Several of Collins’ Seattle teammates also reacted on social media.
“Life so crazy man,” tweeted quarterback Geno Smith. “Fly high my boy until we meet again.”
Tweeted fellow running back Rashaad Penny: “AK, I’m heartbroken.”
Collins’ agent, Kelli Masters, also acknowledged his death on Twitter, stating: “As many of you have now heard, Alex Collins passed away this morning. My heart is broken, and I am just at a loss. Alex you were so loved by so many. You impacted lives with your joy and positive, caring spirit…and that big smile. I was so honored to be your agent.”
Collins played in 11 games with 125 yards rushing as a rookie in 2016 for the Seahawks before being waived the following year and spending two seasons with Baltimore. He also worked out with the Buffalo Bills in 2019.
Collins, who had starred at Arkansas where he became only the third running back in SEC history to begin his career with three straight 1,000-yard seasons, had his best NFL season with the Ravens in 2017 with 973 yards.
He returned to the Seahawks in 2020 and played three games that season and then 11 more in 2021 with Seattle. He was Seattle’s second-leading rusher that year with 411 yards and two touchdowns, which included a 101-yard effort in a Sunday night game at Pittsburgh.
Collins, a native of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was the active career leader in SEC rushing yards when he left Arkansas after the 2015 season with 3,703…
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