Daryn Colledge facts for kids
Colledge with the Green Bay Packers in 2011
|
|||||||
| No. 67, 71, 73 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Guard | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | February 11, 1982 Fairbanks, Alaska, U.S. |
||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 308 lb (140 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | North Pole (AK) | ||||||
| College: | Boise State (2001–2005) | ||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2006 / Round: 2 / Pick: 47 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
|
|||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||
|
|||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
|
|||||||
| Player stats at PFR | |||||||
Daryn Wayne Colledge is an American athlete who played football at the highest professional level. He was an offensive guard for nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL). An offensive guard is a big, strong player who protects the quarterback and helps runners advance. Colledge played college football for the famous Boise State Broncos. He later joined the Green Bay Packers through the 2006 NFL draft. Colledge reached the top of his sport when he won Super Bowl XLV against the Pittsburgh Steelers. During his career, he also played for the Arizona Cardinals and the Miami Dolphins. After sports, he flew military helicopters and served his country.
Contents
Growing Up in the Snowy North
Colledge was born in Fairbanks, Alaska, on February 11, 1982. He grew up nearby in a town called North Pole. North Pole is famous for having Christmas decorations up all year long. In high school, he attended North Pole High School. He was a very large and fast athlete for his age. He made the all-state first team as a defensive lineman for the high school team, the Patriots. Growing up in snowy Alaska made him tough and ready for cold football games.
College Football with the Boise State Broncos
Colledge traveled south to Idaho to study and play at Boise State University. The school played in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). He worked hard and earned a starting spot on the football team for four whole years. His head coach was Dan Hawkins, who trusted him to block defensive players.
Colledge was selected as an All-WAC player twice. He was named an All-American by College Football News in both the 2004 and 2005 seasons. As an older student in 2003, he made the all-conference second team. In college, he played as an offensive tackle, protecting the edges of the line. He became one of 38 talented players from Boise State chosen for the NFL after 2000.
Professional Football Career in the NFL
Before joining the pros, Colledge showed off his strength and speed at the NFL Combine and Pro Day. He measured over six feet and four inches tall and weighed nearly 300 pounds. He ran fast drills, jumped high, and lifted heavy weights to impress team scouts.
Winning the Super Bowl with Green Bay
The Green Bay Packers chose Colledge in the second round of the 2006 NFL draft. He was the 47th overall pick. This was the highest an athlete from the state of Alaska had ever been drafted. When he got to Green Bay, coaches moved him to offensive guard. Colledge started right away and earned a spot on the PFWA All-Rookie Team. In his fifth season, during the 2010 season, the Packers went on a magical championship run. They reached Super Bowl XLV and faced the powerful Pittsburgh Steelers. The Packers won the game 31 to 25, making Colledge a proud Super Bowl champion. After that great victory, he finished his contract and tested free agency.
Playing for the Cardinals and Dolphins
In the summer of 2011, Colledge signed a five-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals. He moved from cold Wisconsin to the sunny desert of Arizona. He played three solid years as an offensive starter for the Cardinals. In early 2014, Arizona decided to release him so they could manage their team budget better.
On June 30, 2014, the Miami Dolphins signed him for a one-year deal worth $2 million. He played in 141 total NFL games throughout his career and started 137 of them. He also recovered three loose footballs on fumble recoveries. After completing the season with the 2014 Miami Dolphins, he decided to retire from professional football.
Life After Football: Flying Helicopters and Helping Students
Colledge wanted to serve his community after football. In March 2016, he enlisted in the Idaho Army National Guard. He trained hard to become a pilot and learned to fly the massive Black Hawk UH-60 helicopter. He even served on an overseas mission in Afghanistan. Colledge proved that athletes can use their discipline to serve others in brave ways.
In November 2021, Colledge went back to work at Boise State University, his former college. He became the director of development and the coordinator for the Varsity B program. In this job, he helps current student-athletes succeed in school and connects former players with the university.
