By Derrick Bryson Taylor
Alex Collins, a former NFL running back who played for the Seattle Seahawks and the Baltimore Ravens, died last weekend in a motorcycle crash in South Florida, authorities said.
Collins, 28, was driving a 2004 Suzuki GSX-R600K motorcycle on Sunday when he crashed into a 2002 Chevrolet Suburban SUV in Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, the Broward County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
The driver of the SUV was turning left when Collins struck its rear passenger side. The impact of the crash was so forceful, it sent Collins through the rear passenger side window, the statement said.
Collins was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said, adding that the driver of the SUV, who was not named, remained nearby and cooperated with the investigation.
Collins’ family confirmed the death Monday in a statement through the Seahawks, saying he was cherished by his family and friends. “All who truly know him can attest to his drive, determination and larger-than-life personality,” the statement said. Funeral arrangements were to be announced later.
John Schneider, the Seahawks executive vice president and general manager, said in a statement that Collins’ smile and dance skills will be missed. “Alex would light up a room and was beloved by our entire building,” Schneider said. “He enjoyed life and attacked it on the football field. He was one of the most productive runners in SEC history.”
Collins often performed a short Riverdance-style routine after scoring touchdowns. It became his signature move and was a popular talking point in interviews. He said in a 2018 interview on the talk show “Pickler and Ben” that he got into Irish dancing through his high school football coach’s family. He praised the dance with helping him on the field. “It’s definitely made me a lot more explosive,” he said. “I want to give all the credit to Irish dancing because just having to be on my toes the entire time, bouncing around, it’s so tiring.”
Collins was a 2016 fifth-round pick for the Seahawks out of Arkansas.
He played three seasons with the Seahawks and two for the Ravens, producing 483 carries for 1,997 yards and 18 touchdowns, according to the NFL. Arguably, his best year in the league was in 2017 for the Ravens, where he had 973 yards and six touchdowns.
After finishing in the NFL in 2021, Collins played for the Memphis Showboats of the USFL this past spring. His time there ended when he was placed on the injured reserve list.