Zaven Collins Bio
Zaven Collins is an American professional football linebacker for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, earning unanimous All-American honors and winning several defensive player of the year awards in 2020. Collins was selected by the Cardinals in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft with the 16th overall pick.
Early Life and Background
Zaven Collins was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on May 19, 1999. He attended Hominy High School in Hominy, Oklahoma, where he played multiple positions including quarterback, linebacker, and safety. His versatility showed early, as he accumulated 4,084 rushing yards with 54 touchdowns and passed for 3,056 yards with 32 touchdowns during his high school career.
Collins demonstrated his dual-threat ability as a quarterback while also excelling on the defensive side of the ball. His performance in high school attracted attention from college programs, and he ultimately committed to the University of Tulsa to continue his football career.
Path to American Football
After redshirting his first year at Tulsa in 2017, Collins began making an impact in 2018. He played in 12 games and started 10, recording 85 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and one interception. His sophomore season in 2019 saw him start all 12 games, where he recorded 97 tackles and two sacks, earning Second-team All-AAC honors.
The 2020 season marked Collins’s breakthrough as one of the nation’s top defensive players. He delivered a dominant campaign that resulted in him winning the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, the Chuck Bednarik Award, and the Lombardi Award, recognizing him as the nation’s best defensive player. He also earned AAC Defensive Player of the Year honors and was named a unanimous All-American. His success helped elevate the Tulsa Golden Hurricane defense to national prominence.
Zaven Collins Career
Arizona Cardinals (2021–Present)
Collins was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the first round (16th overall) of the 2021 NFL draft. He signed his four-year rookie contract worth $14 million on June 8, 2021. Collins entered his rookie season as a starting inside linebacker alongside Jordan Hicks and Isaiah Simmons. He was later relegated to a backup role midway through the season, playing the third-most snaps among inside linebackers. He finished the 2021 season with 25 tackles and three passes defensed through 17 games and six starts.
In Week 9 of the 2022 season, Collins recorded a 30-yard interception returned for a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks, showcasing his playmaking ability. Throughout the 2022 season, he appeared in 16 games and finished with 100 total tackles (63 solo), one interception, six passes defended, and one forced fumble.
The 2023 season saw Collins contribute 3.5 sacks, 41 tackles, one interception, and three passes defended. On April 30, 2024, the Cardinals declined the fifth-year option on Collins’s contract, making him a free agent after the 2024 season. However, on August 3, 2024, Collins and the Cardinals agreed to a two-year, $14 million contract extension, securing his future with the team. In the 2024 season, Collins recorded five sacks, 57 tackles, and one pass defended.
Driving Style and Strengths
Collins brings size, speed, and versatility to the linebacker position. His experience playing multiple positions in high school translated to adaptability at the professional level. He demonstrates strong instincts for reading plays and making tackles in space, while also possessing the pass-rushing ability to pressure quarterbacks. His interception return for a touchdown against Seattle highlighted his ability to create game-changing plays when the opportunity arises.
Notable Events and Milestones
Collins’s rookie contract worth $14 million represented a significant investment by the Cardinals in his potential. His signature moment early in his career came in Week 9 of 2022 when he returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown against the Seahawks. The Cardinals’s decision to extend his contract in August 2024 for $14 million over two years demonstrated their continued confidence in his abilities.
Zaven Collins Career Statistics
Collins has compiled solid career statistics through his first four seasons in the NFL. His versatility shows up across multiple categories, with his 263 total tackles representing consistent production from the linebacker position.
NFL Career Highlights
Through the 2024 season, Collins has recorded 263 total tackles, 12 sacks, 13 pass deflections, two interceptions, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and two defensive touchdowns. His best statistical season came in 2022 when he recorded 100 tackles. His pass-deflection totals of 13 demonstrate his ability to disrupt passing lanes, while his two defensive touchdowns highlight his big-play capability.
College Career Statistics
Collins’s college career at Tulsa laid the foundation for his professional success. In three seasons of play from 2018 to 2020, he demonstrated consistent improvement. His freshman season saw him record 85 tackles with 1.5 sacks, followed by 97 tackles and two sacks as a sophomore in 2019.
| Level | Games | Tackles | Sacks | Interceptions | Passes Defensed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NFL (2021-2024) | 62 | 263 | 12 | 2 | 13 |
| College (2018-2020) | 36 | 249 | 5.5 | 2 | — |
Zaven Collins Family
Personal Life
Collins was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and attended Hominy High School in the state. In June 2021, shortly after being drafted, he was arrested in Arizona for speeding and reckless driving. He was released from custody within an hour of the arrest.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 season, Collins is entering the second year of his two-year, $14 million contract extension signed in August 2024. The Cardinals declined his fifth-year option in 2024 but ultimately retained him with the long-term extension, signaling their belief in his role within the defense. With four seasons of NFL experience, Collins enters 2025 as a veteran presence in the Cardinals linebacker room. His 12 career sacks and two defensive touchdowns demonstrate his ability to impact games in multiple ways. The Cardinals coaching staff will look for Collins to build on his 2024 production of five sacks and continue his development as a consistent playmaker on defense.