Adrian Colbert Bio
Adrian Colbert (born October 6, 1993) is an American professional football safety. He played college football for the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Miami before launching an NFL career in 2017. Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing around 205 pounds, Colbert has spent his professional years moving between active rosters and practice squads across the league.
Selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL Draft, Colbert has appeared in regular-season games for several organizations, including the 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, and Chicago Bears. He most recently played for the Chicago Bears, working primarily on special teams and as a reserve defensive back.
Early Life and Background
Adrian Colbert was born on October 6, 1993, in Wichita Falls, Texas. He grew up in Texas and attended Mineral Wells High School in Mineral Wells, where he developed into a highly regarded defensive back prospect. Coming out of high school, he was rated as a four-star recruit and was considered one of the top defensive backs in the state.
Colbert originally committed to the University of Texas at Austin, where he spent the first phase of his college career. His physical profile, length, and ball skills made him an attractive prospect for college recruiters, and he drew attention from multiple Power Five programs before signing with the Longhorns.
Path to American Football
Colbert’s path to the NFL began with his play at Mineral Wells High School, where he earned four-star recruit status. He committed to the Texas Longhorns out of high school and joined the program as a cornerback, where he spent several seasons developing his technique and learning the Longhorns’ defensive schemes.
Seeking a stronger platform for his senior season, Colbert transferred to the University of Miami for the 2016 campaign. Playing for the Miami Hurricanes gave him the chance to compete in one of college football’s premier conferences and showcase his skills against top-level competition, which helped position him for the 2017 NFL Draft.
Adrian Colbert Career
Early Career (2017–2018)
The San Francisco 49ers selected Colbert in the seventh round, 229th overall, of the 2017 NFL Draft. He was the 31st cornerback taken in that year’s draft class. On May 4, 2017, the 49ers signed him to a four-year, $2.48 million contract that included a signing bonus of $84,786.
As a rookie, Colbert transitioned to free safety and appeared in 14 games with six starts. He recorded 37 tackles and five passes defensed, showing enough range and tackling ability to enter the 2018 season as San Francisco’s starting free safety. He started six of seven games that fall before suffering a high ankle sprain in Week 7, which sent him to injured reserve on October 22, 2018.
Journeyman Years (2019–2021)
Colbert was waived/injured by the 49ers during final roster cuts on August 31, 2019, and reverted to injured reserve the next day before being released with an injury settlement on September 6. The Seattle Seahawks signed him to their practice squad on September 18, 2019, and promoted him to the active roster on September 26. He was waived on October 12 and re-signed to the practice squad.
On November 19, 2019, Colbert was signed off Seattle’s practice squad by the Miami Dolphins. He re-signed with the Dolphins on March 20, 2020, but was waived on August 16, 2020. The Kansas City Chiefs signed him on August 22, 2020, and waived him during final cuts on September 5. The New York Giants claimed him off waivers on September 6, 2020, before placing him on injured reserve on November 3 and activating him on December 19.
In 2021, Colbert signed with the New England Patriots on May 21 and was released on August 30. The New York Jets signed him to their practice squad on September 6, 2021, promoted him on September 20, and released him on October 26. The Cleveland Browns signed him to their practice squad on December 19, 2021, and elevated him to the active roster on December 24 as a COVID-19 replacement player.
Chicago Bears Era (2022–2024)
On August 9, 2022, Colbert signed with the Tennessee Titans but was released on August 29. On November 29, 2022, he was signed to the Chicago Bears practice squad. He signed a reserve/future contract on January 9, 2023, and was placed on injured reserve on August 21, 2023. The Bears released him with an injury settlement on August 30 and re-signed him to the practice squad on November 21, 2023. He signed another reserve/future contract on January 8, 2024.
On August 27, 2024, Colbert was released by the Bears. He was re-signed to the practice squad on November 20, 2024, and was promoted to the active roster on December 24, 2024, before becoming a free agent at the end of the season.
Notable Events and Milestones
Colbert’s most notable professional milestone came in his 2017 rookie season, when he earned a starting free safety role with the 49ers and posted 37 tackles and five passes defensed across 14 games. His subsequent run of practice-squad promotions, active-roster stints, and special teams contributions with multiple franchises has reflected the journeyman path many late-round defensive backs take in today’s NFL.
Adrian Colbert Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Adrian Colbert’s immediate family is limited. He is a cousin of Cleveland Browns wide receiver Marquise Goodwin, a connection that places him within a broader family network of professional football talent.
Personal Life
Colbert has kept much of his personal life out of the public eye. He maintains a presence on social media, including an account on X under the handle @adriancolbert27 and an Instagram profile. Beyond his well-documented family tie to Marquise Goodwin, few additional personal details have been publicly confirmed.
2025 Season Outlook
Adrian Colbert became a free agent after the 2024 NFL season, when his contract with the Chicago Bears expired. As of early 2025, no team had publicly announced his signing, leaving his 2025 status as a professional football safety unresolved.
Given his track record of moving between practice squads and active rosters, Colbert remains a candidate to sign with a club in need of secondary or special teams depth. His experience as a free safety and on special teams units could make him an attractive depth addition for teams entering training camp.
Should Colbert land with a new organization, his role would likely mirror his recent work as a rotational defensive back and core special teams contributor. Fans and analysts will be watching for any official signing announcements as the 2025 offseason progresses.