Colin Cole (American football)

Colin Anthony Cole (born June 24, 1980) is a former American football defensive tackle who played in the National Football League (NFL). He was signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He played college football at Iowa.

Early life
Cole was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, but later moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He played high school football at South Plantation High School, earning second-team all-state and first-team all-county honors. He was also a four-year letterman in wrestling and won the state wrestling championship his senior season. Cole was a four-time county heavyweight champion and three-time regional champion as well. On October 24, 2008, his football jersey number was retired by South Plantation High School.

College career
Cole played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes from 1999 to 2002. He was named honorable mention All-Big Ten his junior year in 2001. He switched from defensive end to defensive tackle his senior year in 2002. Cole garnered first-team All-Big Ten recognition in 2002 after recording 85 tackles (56 of which were solo) and nine sacks.

Cole appeared in 46 games, starting 36 during his college career, totaling 213 tackles (138 solo), 23 sacks, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. He graduated with a degree in African-American Studies

Minnesota Vikings
Cole signed with the Minnesota Vikings on May 2, 2003 after going undrafted in the 2003 NFL Draft. He was waived on September 9 and signed to the team's practice squad on September 25. He was promoted to the active roster on October 1 before being waived again on October 7, 2003. Cole did not play in any games for the Vikings.

Detroit Lions
Cole was signed by the Detroit Lions on December 23, 2003. He was waived by the Lions on September 5, 2004 and signed to the practice squad on September 7. He was then released on September 8, 2004.

Green Bay Packers
Cole was signed to the Green Bay Packers' practice squad on September 16, 2004. He was promoted to the active roster on November 30, 2004, and played in three games, starting one, for the Packers in 2004, recording six solo tackles and one assisted tackle. He appeared in 16 games, starting four, during the 2005 season, totaling 24 solo tackles, 15 assisted tackles, two sacks and one pass breakup. Cole re-signed with the Packers on March 22, 2006. He played in 15 games, starting three, in 2006, accumulating 28 solo tackles, 10 assisted tackles, one sack and one forced fumble. He re-signed with the Packers again on March 28, 2007. Cole appeared in seven games for the Packers during the 2007 season, recording seven solo tackles, five assisted tackles and one pass breakup, before being placed on injured reserve on November 26, 2007. In 2008, the Packers extended a second-round ($1.417 million) tender to Cole, who was a restricted free agent. He signed the tender on April 17, 2008. He played in 16 games (no starts) in 2008, totaling 19 solo tackles, 11 assisted tackles, 0.5 sacks and four pass breakups. He became an unrestricted free agent after the 2008 season.

Seattle Seahawks
Cole was signed by the Seattle Seahawks on March 1, 2009; his five-year contract was worth $21.4 million, including $6 million in guaranteed money. He appeared in 16 games, with a career-high 15 starts, for the Seahawks in 2009, accumulating 29 solo tackles, 19 assisted tackles, one fumble recovery and two pass breakups. He appeared in 11 games, all starts, during the 2010 season, recording 36 solo tackles, eight assisted tackles, one sack and five pass breakups. Cole was released by the Seahawks on September 3, 2011.

Carolina Panthers
After having not played in an NFL game since 2010, Cole was signed by the Carolina Panthers on February 7, 2013, for one year, $840,000 and no guaranteed money. He played in 15 games, starting 13, during the 2013 season, totaling nine solo tackles, six assisted tackles and one sack. On April 9, 2014, the Panthers re-signed Cole to a one-year deal worth $1.1 million. He appeared in 16 games, starting 10, in 2014, recording 12 solo tackles, 16 assisted tackles and one fumble recovery. On March 3, 2015, he re-signed with the Panthers for one year and $1.0 million. Cole played in two games for the Panthers in 2015, making one assisted tackle, before being released on September 30, 2015.

Personal life
Cole has spent time as an NFLPA player representative.