Colt Anderson

Colt Anderson (born October 25, 1985) is a former American football safety and coach who is the assistant special teams coach for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Montana and was signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He has also played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts and Buffalo Bills.

Colt Anderson
refer to caption
Anderson with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2013
Cincinnati Bengals
Position:Assistant special teams coach
Personal information
Born: (1985-10-25) October 25, 1985
Butte, Montana, U.S.
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:194 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school:Butte (MT)
College:Montana
Undrafted:2009
Career history
As a player:
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As a coach:
Career highlights and awards
  • 3× First-team All-Big Sky honors (2006–2008)
  • College Sporting News "Fabulous Fifty" honors (2007)
  • First-team All-America honors (AFCA, AP, CSN, WCF) (2008)
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:109
Forced fumbles:4
Fumble recoveries:1
Pass deflections:4
Interceptions:1
Player stats at NFL.com

Early years

Anderson was born on October 25, 1985, in Butte, Montana, to parents Mike and Michele Anderson. He has three uncles that played college football between the University of Montana and Montana State University during the 1970s. He attended Butte High School where he lettered in football and basketball for three years, and track for two years. He played football as a running back and safety. As a junior, he was named honorable mention all-state, and as a senior in 2004, was an all-state first-team safety and honorable mention running back. The Butte High Bulldogs had an imperfect season with a record of 0–9 in Anderson's senior season.[1] Over the course of his career, Anderson recorded 310 tackles, nine interceptions, 850 rushing yards, and 12 touchdowns.[2] He was not recruited out of high school and chose to attend the University of Montana.[3]

College career

Anderson attended the University of Montana, where he studied business administration.[2] He walked onto the team,[4] and sat out the 2004 season on redshirt status.[2] In 2005, he saw action in five games on special teams,[4] but suffered a broken thumb after making a tackle against Oregon.[3] His injury curtailed his playing time, and he finished the season having recorded seven tackles.[2] During the offseason, he worked to improve his conditioning and impressed the coaching staff enough to garner a scholarship.[3] In 2006, Anderson started all 14 games and recorded 92 tackles. The conference named him to the All-Big Sky first-team as both a safety and on special teams.[2] When asked if he looks for "big-hit opportunit[ies]" in 2006, he said, "I just like to fly around and make plays and every now and then you’ll come across a guy that you can hit."[4] In 2007, he started in all 14 games. Anderson tallied 85 tackles including 58 solo and seven for loss, three forced fumbles, four interceptions, and nine pass deflections. The conference again named Anderson to the All-Big Sky first team, while The Sports Network named him an honorable mention All-American, and College Sporting News named him to its "Fabulous Fifty" team.[2]

In 2008, Anderson served as the team captain and saw action in all 16 games. He recorded 129 tackles including 63 solo and 6.5 for loss, one quarterback sack, three interceptions returned for 80 yards, six passes broken-up, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries.[5] That season, Montana advanced to the national championship game before falling to Richmond, 24–7. Anderson was selected as a Buck Buchanan Award candidate.[2] The conference named him an All-Big Sky player for the third year and he also received the team's most valuable player honors.[6] Virtually every FCS All-America team selector named him to its first team.[7] The American Football Coaches Association, Associated Press,[8] College Sporting News,[9] and the Walter Camp Foundation named Anderson to their first teams,[8] while the Sports Network named him an honorable mention All-American.[10] After the season, he participated in the Texas vs. the Nation all-star game.[11]

Professional career

Pre-draft

The CBS Sports-affiliated NFL Draft Scout assessed Anderson as the 13th-ranked of the 106 free safeties available for the 2009 NFL Draft, and considered him as a potential seventh-round selection or free agent.[12] A Scout.com assessment commended his instincts and tackling, but described his size as "marginal for the NFL" and said he was more suited for zone coverage than man-to-man.[13] Anderson said, "Shoot, I'm like any other person. I'll watch the first 10 picks, or maybe the first round, and then just check on it from time to time. Any NFL fan will watch that first round. Once the second round starts, I’ll be laying around, taking a nap."[14]

Minnesota Vikings

Anderson was not selected in the 2009 draft, but he reported that ten teams pursued him shortly afterward. The Minnesota Vikings signed him as an undrafted free agent,[15] which included a $20,000 signing bonus, a comparatively large sum.[16] Anderson said, "I just felt Minnesota was the best opportunity for me. They thought I could have an impact for them."[13] The Vikings won the 2009 NFC North Division title while Anderson was on the practice squad.

On September 5, 2010, Anderson was signed to the practice squad by the Vikings.[17]

Philadelphia Eagles

Anderson was signed to a three-year contract off of the Vikings' practice squad on November 9, 2010, by the Philadelphia Eagles.[18] Despite playing at a Pro Bowl level in 2011 as a special teams player, Anderson suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in a game against the Seattle Seahawks, leading to his placement on injured reserve on December 5.[19] He was placed on the physically unable to perform list (PUP) for the start of training camp on July 22, 2012. Anderson played eight games in 2010 and 14 games in 2013, helping the Eagles win the NFC East Division Championship in 2010 & 2013. In 4 seasons with the Eagles, Anderson played in 48 games with 6 starts.

Indianapolis Colts

Anderson signed with the Indianapolis Colts on April 21, 2014. He was one of the only NFL players ever to have the same first name as his team.

On March 10, 2015, Anderson re-signed with the Colts. On October 18, 2015, against the New England Patriots, Indianapolis coach Chuck Pagano called for a fake punt on 4th and 3 late in the third quarter. The play left Griff Whalen snapping the ball to Anderson with no Colts teammates blocking and two Patriots players standing over the ball. Anderson was tackled for a loss, and the Patriots took over on downs and scored a touchdown en route to a 34–27 victory.[20] Anderson helped the Indianapolis Colts win the 2014 AFC South Division Championship, reaching the Conference Championship against the New England Patriots in the 2015 AFC Championship Game.

Buffalo Bills

Anderson signed with the Buffalo Bills on April 12, 2016.[21] On October 10, 2016, he was placed on injured reserve with a hand injury.[22]

On January 27, 2017, Anderson was re-signed by the Bills.[23] He was released on September 4, 2017, but was re-signed the next day.[24][25] He was placed on injured reserve on October 3, 2017.[26] He was activated off injured reserve to the active roster on December 28, 2017.[27] Anderson helped the Bills reach the Wild-Card playoffs on January 7, 2018.

NFL statistics
Year Team Games Tackles Fumbles Interceptions
GGSCombTotalAstSackFFFRYdsIntYdsAvgLngTDPD
2010PHI 0802161600.0000000000
2011PHI 1200111010.0100144403
2012PHI 1404333030.0100000001
2013PHI 140011920.0100000000
2014IND 1500191630.0010000000
2015IND 140112750.0000000000
2016BUF 02000000.0000000000
2017BUF 05000000.0000000000
Career87710288140.0210144404

[28]

Coaching career

Anderson was hired by the Cincinnati Bengals as the team's assistant special teams coach on February 10, 2020.[29]

References
  1. "One last chance for 'Dogs".
  2. 2008 Montana Grizzlies Archived July 14, 2011, at the Wayback Machine (PDF), 2008 Montana Football Media Guide, University of Montana, p. 20, 2008.
  3. A look at the Griz’s ‘Butte Rat’ Archived May 21, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, The Montana Kaimin, November 2008.
  4. Bill Schwanke, Anderson, Dlouhy ultimate role players, The Missoulian, September 30, 2006.
  5. 2008 Cumulative Season Statistics Archived October 18, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, University of Montana, retrieved August 7, 2009.
  6. Colt Anderson named Grizzly MVP, The Missoulian, Associated Press, February 1, 2009.
  7. Anderson selected Grizzly football's MVP, USA Today, January 30, 2009.
  8. UM's Anderson named AFCA All-American, USA Today, December 18, 2008.
  9. John Kasper, Peach Named Top Defender by College Sporting News, Big Sky Conference, January 7, 2009.
  10. Daly, Biermann receive first-team honors from The Sports Network, ESPN, January 8, 2009.
  11. UM's Colt Anderson invited to allstar game, KXMC TV, Associated Press, January 20, 2009.
  12. Colt Anderson, The NFL Draft Scout, retrieved August 7, 2009.
  13. Kevin Brown, Scout’s Notebook: S Colt Anderson, Scout.com, July 28, 2009.
  14. Montana players watching draft, but not too closely, Helena Independent Record, April 25, 2009.
  15. Dow, Anderson sign NFL contracts, Billings Gazette, April 27, 2009.
  16. Colt Anderson: Making waves with the Vikes, Billings Gazette, August 1, 2009.
  17. Sullivan practicing, practice squad announced, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, September 5, 2010.
  18. "Safety First: Birds Confirm Moves".
  19. Weinberg, Dave (December 5, 2011). "Eagles notebook: Star special-teamer Colt Anderson out for the year". Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved December 5, 2011.
  20. Boston Globe
  21. Gantt, Darin (April 12, 2016). "Bills sign special teams guys Lorenzo Alexander, Colt Anderson". NBCSports.com. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  22. Brown, Chris (October 10, 2016). "Bills activate Seantrel Henderson; Anderson to I-R". BuffaloBills.com. Archived from the original on October 11, 2016. Retrieved October 10, 2016.
  23. "Bills re-sign S Colt Anderson". BuffaloBills.com. January 27, 2017. Archived from the original on January 27, 2017. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  24. Brown, Chris (September 4, 2017). "Bills sign QB Joe Webb". BuffaloBills.com. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018.
  25. Brown, Chris (September 5, 2017). "Bills add DT Cedric Thornton; re-sign S Anderson". BuffaloBills.com. Archived from the original on December 11, 2017.
  26. Brown, Chris (October 3, 2017). "Bills sign WR Brown, S Elston back to the roster; sign S Thomas". BuffaloBills.com. Archived from the original on January 8, 2018. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
  27. Brown, Chris (December 28, 2017). "Bills activate S Anderson; Elston released". BuffaloBills.com. Archived from the original on December 31, 2017.
  28. "Colt Anderson stats". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  29. "Bengals Add Walters, Anderson As Assistant Coaches". Bengals.com. February 10, 2020. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
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