Colin Thompson (American football)

Colin Thompson (born December 15, 1993) is an American football tight end who is a free agent. He played college football at Florida and Temple.

Colin Thompson
Personal information
Born: (1993-12-15) December 15, 1993
Cape May, New Jersey, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:255 lb (116 kg)
Career information
High school:Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pennsylvania)
College:Florida (2012–2013)
Temple (2014–2016)
Position:Tight end
Undrafted:2017
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career NFL statistics as of 2022
Receptions:1
Receiving yards:7
Receiving touchdowns:1
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Early years

Thompson attended Archbishop Wood Catholic High School. He suffered an injury to the fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot during his senior year.[1] Thompson helped Archbishop Wood win the PIAA championship during his senior year.[2] He was ranked the No. 2 tight end in the country and played in the 2012 Under Armour All-American Game.[3]

College career

Thompson began his college career at Florida. During his freshman year, he re-injured the same foot he injured in high school and was ruled medically ineligible. After being cleared to return to football, Thompson transferred to Temple, the only university to offer him a scholarship. As a senior, he had three receptions for 43 yards and a touchdown and helped the team finish 10–4.[1] Thompson caught 19 passes for 208 yards and a touchdown for the Owls.[4] He earned a degree in media communications.[1]

Professional career

New York Giants

After going undrafted in the 2017 NFL draft, Thompson signed with the New York Giants as a priority free agent on May 1 because he liked the organization.[4] After undergoing an appendectomy during the preseason, Thompson was waived on August 14.

Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears signed him to their practice squad on November 7, following an injury to Zach Miller. Thompson was waived on December 2, but was re-signed three days later. The Bears signed Thompson to a reserve/futures contract on January 2, 2018.[5] During the 2018 preseason, Thompson caught three passes for 43 yards and a touchdown, but was waived on September 1.[6]

Birmingham Iron

Thompson joined the Birmingham Iron of the Alliance of American Football in 2019, signing after a two-person tryout following injuries to Birmingham's tight ends. He played tight end and special teams for the Iron before the league folded after Week 8. "This league, I thought, was great and I thought this would make it and break the trend of minor league football not making it. I enjoyed my time here," Thompson said of his experience in the AAF.[7] Thompson worked as a host on 97.3 ESPN radio and a sideline reporter for Temple Owls football games.[8]

Tampa Bay Vipers

Thompson was selected by the Tampa Bay Vipers of the XFL in the open phase of the 2020 XFL Draft on October 16, 2019. Ron Selesky, the Vipers' director of operations and who held the same role with the Birmingham Iron, recommended Thompson to Vipers tight end coach Pete Mangurian, who invited him to try out for the team. On March 1, 2020, during a game against the DC Defenders, Thompson made an acrobatic catch and fell forward for a 13-yard gain after DC safety Rahim Moore deflected the ball in the air. The XFL season was suspended after Week 5 due to the coronavirus pandemic, and Thompson said he thoroughly enjoyed the experience.[2] He had his contract terminated when the league suspended operations on April 10, 2020.[9]

Carolina Panthers

On April 27, 2020, the Carolina Panthers signed Thompson, reuniting him with former Temple head coach Matt Rhule and former Temple teammates P. J. Walker, Robby Anderson, and Keith Kirkwood.[10] He was waived on September 5, 2020,[11] but re-signed two days later after Keith Kirkwood was placed on injured reserve.[12] Thompson scored a touchdown on the first touch of his NFL career, a pass from Teddy Bridgewater in the first quarter of Carolina's Week 10 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.[13] Thompson signed a one-year contract extension with the Panthers on January 4, 2021.[14]

On December 14, 2021, Thompson was waived by the Panthers and re-signed to the practice squad.[15] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Panthers on January 10, 2022.[16]

On August 30, 2022, Thompson was waived by the Panthers and signed to the practice squad the next day.[17][18]

Minnesota Vikings

On July 24, 2023, Thompson signed with the Minnesota Vikings.[19] He was waived on August 28, 2023.[20]

Personal life

Thompson is the son of Karen and Dave Thompson. He and his wife, Sydney, met while both playing collegiate sports at The University of Florida. His brother, Kerry, is a former high school All American in Swimming. [21] His mother is a high school friend of Thompson's Birmingham Iron coach, Tim Lewis.[7] She owns Cotton Company and Lace Silhouettes Lingerie in the Washington Street Mall in Cape May, New Jersey, while his father is a realtor. Thompson has served as the offensive coordinator for Lower Cape May Regional High School.[22]

References
  1. Narducci, Marc (May 1, 2017). "Temple's Colin Thompson calls Giants 'the right fit'". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  2. Moore, Tom (March 16, 2020). "Moore: Colin Thompson enjoys abbreviated time in XFL". Bucks County Courier Times. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  3. Encina, Eduardo (February 22, 2020). "The unique paths that brought these Vipers to the XFL". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  4. Witmondt, Justin (May 3, 2020). "Colin Thompson on signing with Giants: 'It feels like the right fit'". Giants Wire. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  5. Moore, Tom (July 17, 2018). "Moore: Colin Thompson aims to take next step in NFL journey with Bears". The Intelligencer. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  6. Eurich, Matt (September 1, 2018). "Bears 2018 roster cuts". 247 Sports. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  7. Moore, Tom (April 4, 2019). "Moore: Colin Thompson, Tim Lewis moving on from AAF". Bucks County Courier Times. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  8. Wallen, Ryan (October 17, 2019). "Eight former Owls find new homes on XFL rosters". 247 Sports. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  9. Condotta, Bob (April 10, 2020). "XFL suspends operations, terminates all employees, but Jim Zorn says he has hopes league will continue". SeattleTimes.com. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  10. "Panthers agree to terms with 17 undrafted free agents". Panthers.com. April 27, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  11. Simmons, Myles (September 5, 2020). "Panthers reduce roster to 53 players". Panthers.com.
  12. Simmons, Myles (September 7, 2020). "Panthers re-sign tight end Colin Thompson". Panthers.com. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  13. DeArdo, Bryan (November 15, 2020). "Former XFL, AAF player Colin Thompson's first NFL touch is a touchdown for Panthers". CBS Sports. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  14. Bryan, Will (January 4, 2021). "Panthers sign 14 players to reserve future contracts for 2021". Panthers.com. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  15. "Colin Thompson: Waived by Carolina". CBS Sports. December 14, 2021. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  16. Gantt, Darin (January 10, 2022). "Panthers sign 10, including quarterback P.J. Walker". Panthers.com.
  17. "Panthers make transactions to get to initial 53-man roster". Panthers.com. August 30, 2022.
  18. "Panthers add 14 to practice squad". Panthers.com. August 31, 2022.
  19. "Vikings Sign TE Colin Thompson & G Jack Snyder Among Roster Moves". Vikings.com. July 24, 2023.
  20. "Vikings Begin Roster Reductions Ahead of Final Roster Cut Deadline". Vikings.com. August 28, 2023.
  21. Moore, Tom (September 8, 2020). "Moore: Colin Thompson's perseverance pays off with a spot on the Carolina Panthers". Bucks County Courier Times. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  22. Mulranen, Patrick (September 9, 2020). "Lower Cape May coach Colin Thompson makes Carolina Panthers' 53-man roster". The Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
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