Former Seahawks running back Alex Collins, known by teammates as ‘Sweet Feet,’ dies at 28
Alex Collins was sidestepping Los Angeles Chargers, embarrassing them into tackling air instead of him.
As he was juking linebackers after catches, defensive linemen in the hole during runs, scoring a touchdown while averaging 7 yards per touch through the first half of the preseason finale, the renewed running back could hear his Seahawks teammates yelling from the sideline during that summer game in 2021.
“Sweet feet!” they kept howling at Collins. “Sweet feet!”
“Hey!” Collins finally replied to them from the field during the game. “Come do some Irish dancing with me. We can do it all together.”
That’s how many Seahawks, many around Seattle, remember Alex Collins.
The team’s draft pick in 2016, an Irish dancer whom Seattle still remembers as “Sweet Feet,” has died.
He was 28.
Collins’ family, the Seahawks and the Baltimore Ravens, for whom he played in 2017 and ‘18 after his first season with Seattle, confirmed Collins’ death Monday evening.
“Absolutely heartbroken,” the Seahawks’ statement said.
Those words were over a photo of him in his Seahawks uniform No. 41 with one of his big smiles.
WPLG television in Miami reported Monday night it was “able to confirm Alex Collins was killed in a motorcycle crash in Lauderdale Lakes (Florida) Sunday evening.”
WPLG reported the Broward Sheriff’s Office Traffic Homicide Unit is investigating a crash involving a motorcycle and a vehicle at about 10:20 p.m. Sunday in Lauderdale Lakes, near Collins’ native city of Fort Lauderdale.
“The preliminary investigation revealed Alexander Collins was traveling eastbound on a 2004 Suzuki GSX-R600K motorcycle,” WPLG reported. At the same time, an adult female was driving a 2002 Chevrolet Suburban SUV westbound on the same street.
“According to investigators, at some point, the Chevrolet driver proceeded to turn left ... as the car cross the eastbound lanes, the motorcycle struck the real passenger side of the SUV. The impact caused the motorcyclist to enter the rear passenger side window of the Chevrolet and come to a final rest inside the car. ...
“The motorcyclist was pronounced deceased on the scene,” WPLG reported, via the Broward Sherriff’s Office.
Russell Wilson, Collins’ quarterback for both of his stints with the Seahawks, in 2016 and in the 2020 and ‘21 season, posted his condolences on his social-media account.
“To one of my favorite teammates. You brought joy to every huddle. Keep Dancin’ in Heaven. Love you AC. Forever missed. #RIP,” Wilson wrote online.
One of Collins’ former backfield mates with the Seahawks Rashaad Penny, now with the Philadelphia Eagles, posted online Monday night: “AK, I’m heartbroken,” with an emoji of a broken heart.
Collins’ family released a statement through the Seahawks Monday night.
“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved Alex Collins this morning,” Collins’ family said in the statement. “Alex was cherished by his family and friends as well as supporters from all around the world. All who truly know him can attest to his drive, determination, and larger-than-life personality. We kindly request your thoughts and prayers for our family during this difficult time. We ask for privacy as we navigate through our grief. We will provide updates regarding funeral arrangements as they become available.”
The Seahawks released a statement from general manager John Schneider, who drafted Collins as a star running back out of Arkansas in 2016.
“The Seahawks family along with the 12s are so saddened to hear of Alex’s passing,” Schneider said. “Alex’s infectious smile and classic river dance skills will forever be missed. Alex would light up a room and was beloved by our entire building. He enjoyed life and attacked it on the football field. He was one of the most productive runners in SEC history. Our sincere condolences to his immediate family, the Gatewood family, and his agent Kelli Masters. You will be forever be missed, Alex. On behalf of Jody Allen, Pete Carroll, Chuck Arnold, Chad Morton and the entire Seahawks community, rest in peace brother.”
Collins was Seattle’s fifth-round draft choice in 2016. He is one of four players in the history of the Southeastern Conference to rush for 1,000 yards in three consecutive years.
He played in 11 games and rushed 31 times for 125 yards and a touchdown as a rookie for the Seahawks in 2016. Coach Pete Carroll believed Collins was out of shape, and the rookie lost the trust of the coaching staff.
By the end of the next training camp, late summer of 2017, Seattle had cut him. Releasing fifth-round draft choices before they begin their second season is unusual, but that’s how quickly Collins fell out of favor with Carroll’s staff.
That move looked like a mistake after Baltimore immediately signed him.
Collins quickly flourished in the Ravens’ run-heavy offense. He went from beginning on Baltimore’s practice squad to a 12-game starter in 2017 who rushed for 973 yards and six touchdowns. The Ravens re-signed him for 2018. He had seven more rushing scores that season but went on injured reserve after 10 starts that year.
Baltimore released Collins in March 2019. That was hours after Baltimore County Police said a passerby spotted Collins asleep in the driver seat of his Chevrolet Corvette. The car had crashed into a tree about a mile from the Ravens’ team headquarters.
Then the league investigated the incident and suspended him for three games stemming from his arrest.
It was the opposite of the happy-to-lucky rookie with the Seahawks years earlier who posted videos online of his Irish-dancing hobby.
He had a smiling, happy return to the Seahawks during the 2020 season, signing after injuries to Seattle running backs Chris Carson, Carlos Hyde and Travis Homer.
Collins scored a touchdown Nov. 15, 2020, the second game of his Seattle redux, a loss to the Los Angeles Rams. That was Collins’ first start and his first score since Nov. 18, 2018, his final game with Baltimore before his 2 1/2 seasons out of the league.
Collins finished 2020 with 18 carries for 77 yards and two rushing touchdowns.
He did his Irish dance celebration after them.
He returned to play in 11 games for the Seahawks in 2021, rushing for 411 yards and two more touchdowns. Carroll lauded Collins for being in better shape for his second Seattle go-round; Collins said he was 10 pounds lighter that year. He played through injuries that ‘21 season.
“He has a great spirt,” Carroll said during that season.
In an October 2021 game at Pittsburgh, Collins romped for 101 yards. Then he left the game late with hip and gluteus-muscle injuries. That left the offense limited with then-backup quarterback Geno Smith starting for injured Russell Wilson. Without Collins to keep plowing, Smith lost a fumble in overtime that sealed Seattle’s loss to the Steelers.
Collins ended that 2021 season — and, it turned out, his NFL career — on injured reserve.
He went unsigned for 2022. He last played for the Memphis Showboats of the USFL this past spring.
He would have turned 29 on Aug. 26.
This story was originally published August 14, 2023 at 5:42 PM.
