Kerry Collins played QB at Penn State from 1991-’94.
Over his college career his stats increased across the board.
In his Senior campaign in 1994, he completed 176/264 passes for 2,679 yards, 21 TDs to 7 INT.
He’d be the first pick in the history of the Carolina Panthers franchise at #5 overall.
In a historic 1996 season, he led the Panthers to the NFC Championship in just the franchise’s second season.
During 1998, he struggled with alcoholism and considered quitting the game.
The franchise cut him and he finished the season on the roster of the New Orleans Saints.
Over 3 seasons with the Panthers, Kerry threw for 7,295 yards, 39 TDs, and 49 INT and completed 52.6% of his passes.
He briefly played for New Orleans, winning 2 games in 7 contests, while throwing just 4 TDs to 10 INT in 1998.
In 1999, Kerry joined the Giants, and later in the season took over as starter, going 2-5 the rest of the way out.
Kerry led the Giants to the Super Bowl in 2000, as he finished the season 12-4 and threw for 3610 yards (311/529), 22 TDs, and just 13 INT.
He played for the Giants through the 2003 season after the team decided to go in another direction with Kurt Warner and Eli Manning waiting in the wings.
After two middling seasons as a starter in Oakland in 2004 and ’05, the journeyman phase of his career began- but not without controversy.
Collins signed with the Tennessee Titans, who secretly were not completely sold on Vince Young.
He and Vince traded starting duties for the team under HC Jeff Fisher through the 2010 season.
In 2008, he led the team to a 12-3 record completing 242 of 415 passes for 2676 yards and 12 TDs.
After the 2010 season, he announced his retirement.
Signed with the Colts in 2011, and became first quarterback to start for the Colts other than Peyton Manning since 1997 (Jim Harbaugh).
A concussion sustained in late October of that year, ended his season, and ultimately he decided to hang up his cleats.
ACCOLADES:
College Football Hall of Fame
Pro Bowl 1996, ’08
Davey O’Brien Award 1994
Sammy Baugh Trophy 1994
PFWA All-Rookie Team 1995
NOTES:
Kerry owns multiple passing records for both the Panthers and Giants franchises.
Kerry had some really nice cards near the end of his career and I adored all the stuff that came out in 2009 and 2010. Once I saw that he was signing it was a no-brainer to send these cards out and hope for the best.
Kerry’s struggle with alcoholism should not be understated. Although much of it went public, it allowed him to get the help he needed to address his problem, and he aggressively sought treatment in 2000 while with the Giants, and continued to do so over the next 3-4 years.
A talented baseball player, Kerry was selected by both the Detroit Tigers and the Toronto Blue Jays, but opted to play football instead.
CARDS: Topps XFL 2020 GREEN 43/99, Topps XFL 2020 Stars of the Future, Topps NOW 2020 2.16.20, Topps NOW 2020 2.9.20, TNT XFL 2023 ACQUIRED: In Person, 2023 San Antonio Brahmas v Washington Defenders. IP, 2024 San Antonio Brahmas v Washington Defenders. FAILURE: TTM 2020, C/o The Kansas City Chiefs
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Jordan Ta’Amu played college ball for Ole Miss from 2017-’18.
In 2 years he was 381/591 for 5,600 yards, 30 TDs and 12 picks.
Based on his limited resume at QB he went unselected in the 2019 NFL Draft.
He was a camp arm for the Texans that year for roughly the month of August.
Afterwards he decided to try his hand in the XFL in 2020 and was selected by the St. Louis Battlehawks.
He had an exceptional start to his season, showing poise with his arm and opportunistic legs, but before he could finish his season, the XFL ended due to COVID.
Signed with the Chiefs in April of ’20, and was a member of the practice squad through October.
Joined the Lions PS, but was resigned to the Chiefs in ’21 through a futures contract.
Jordan had cups of coffee with the Lions (again), Redskins, and Panthers, before landing with the Tampa Bay Bandits of the USFL in 2022.
He finished as the league’s leader in passing yards (2,014) and TDs (14).
Ta’amu joined the XFL23 as a member of the DC Defenders.
He’d lead the team to the XFL Championship game, throwing for 1,894 yards and 14 TDs.
In August of 2023, he’d again be brought in briefly- this time by the Minnesota Vikings.
As a late addition, Jordan returned to the Defenders for the 2024 season.
He finished with 1,846 yards passing, and 15 TDs- both ranking second in the UFL.
Topps XFL NOW 2020, #11Topps XFL NOW 2020, #7
ACCOLADES:
XFL Offensive Player of the Year 2023
All-XFL 2023
NOTES:
Before the game I had spotted the Ta’Amu family wearing matching jerseys. I keyed in on them figuring that they’d know where to go to be able to get close enough to get his autograph. After the game the Defenders were lingering after their victory so I wandered over to their side and picked up an autograph from Santos Ramirez. The gatekeepers of the Alamodome were getting more aggressive about telling me to leave but I ignored them as long as possible. Santos was shocked he had a card so I gambled he wouldn’t mind slipping over to get Jordan on his base card.
After I secured the autograph much to Santos’ credit, I went outside and found the team busses. His family was waiting outside there and told me that he wouldn’t have a problem signing the rest of my cards if I just hung out long enough. We talked about his career and they told me that he’d hoped to have played closer to Texas than Washington but he was happy to be playing. They all admired his limited print Topps XFL NOW 2020 cards- and when he came out he said hello to them and he signed the remaining cards including an additional one I gifted to my friend Mark- of Mark’s Signing Bonus. A big win for me as Ta’Amu doesn’t sign TTM.
In 2024, the Brahmas first game was against the Defenders at home. I printed out my custom XFL card and was able to get him to sign it before the game started. It was I think the only one I got signed that day, and although disappointed with the lack of a haul I got, I was happy with getting this one gem.
If I’m very lucky maybe I’ll pick up that final short run Topps NOW XFL 2023 (#22) card of him and get him to sign that too but it’s been on and off the market so many times, I’ve forgotten to purchase it.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
