Junior Colson Bio
Junior Colson is a Haitian-American professional football linebacker for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines, where he won three consecutive Big Ten Conference titles and a College Football Playoff national championship in 2023. Colson also earned the Lott IMPACT Trophy and was a two-time All-Big Ten selection. He was selected by the Chargers in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft.
Born in Mirebalais, Haiti, Colson’s journey to the NFL included adoption by an American family and a development path through one of college football’s most decorated programs. His combination of instincts, tackling, and leadership has marked him as a young linebacker with long-term upside at the professional level.
Early Life and Background
Junior Colson was born on December 6, 2002, in Mirebalais, Haiti. His father died when Colson was seven years old, and he was later placed in an orphanage in Port-au-Prince operated by his uncle. His early years were shaped by significant loss, and the orphanage environment became a formative part of his childhood.
After the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Colson met Americans Steve and Melanie Colson during a church mission visit. He was adopted by the Colsons and, following a lengthy adoption and immigration process, moved to Tennessee in May 2012 at the age of nine. Colson has recalled that the first thing he saw on arriving in the United States was a Michigan hat, worn by family members who were already big Wolverines fans.
Colson grew up speaking Haitian Creole and learned English only after moving to Tennessee. He also grew up playing soccer before taking up American football, eventually playing linebacker at Ravenwood High School in Brentwood, Tennessee. The combination of an athletic foundation and a new environment helped set the stage for his future in football.
Path to American Football
At Ravenwood High School, Colson developed into one of the most highly rated linebacker prospects in the country. He was considered a four-star recruit by the 247Sports Composite rankings, rated as a top-100 player nationally, the tenth overall linebacker, and the second-best player in Tennessee in the 2021 class.
Colson met Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh at a football camp and was offered a scholarship. He committed to play college football at the University of Michigan, choosing the Wolverines over offers from LSU, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon, and Tennessee. His decision reflected a long-standing connection to the Michigan program, rooted in his adoptive family’s fandom.
By the time he arrived in Ann Arbor, Colson was regarded as one of the most physically and mentally prepared linebackers in his recruiting class. His combination of size, instincts, and football IQ gave him an opportunity to contribute early in his college career.
Junior Colson Career
Early Career at Michigan (2021)
Colson enrolled at the University of Michigan in 2021 and started seven games as a true freshman. He totaled 60 tackles, the fourth most on the team, and earned his first career sack on November 13, 2021, in a 12-tackle performance against Penn State. His immediate impact earned him Freshman All-American honors.
The freshman season gave Colson a foundation of experience against top Big Ten competition. It also signaled that he had the size and range to play the run and pass at a high level. His rapid development positioned him as a centerpiece of the Michigan defense heading into his second year.
Big Ten Dominance and National Championship (2022–2023)
As a sophomore in 2022, Colson started all 14 games and recorded a team-high 101 tackles along with two sacks. He was voted second-team All-Big Ten by the coaches. In the Big Ten Championship Game victory over Purdue, he posted a career-high 15 tackles, capping a strong individual season.
As a junior in 2023, Colson started all 15 games and led the Michigan Wolverines to a College Football Playoff national championship. He recorded a team-high 95 tackles, was named second-team All-Big Ten by both the coaches and media, and won the Lott IMPACT Trophy, which recognizes excellence on the field, in the classroom, and in the community.
Across the 2022 and 2023 seasons, Colson helped Michigan win three consecutive Big Ten Conference titles. His leadership and consistency were central to one of the most successful stretches in Wolverines football history.
Los Angeles Chargers Era (2024–Present)
Colson was selected 69th overall by the Los Angeles Chargers in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft. He made 11 appearances with one start during his rookie season, recording one pass deflection and 29 combined tackles while adjusting to the speed and complexity of the professional game.
On August 26, 2025, Colson was placed on injured reserve after undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery. The injury interrupted the momentum of his second NFL season but did not change his long-term outlook within the Chargers organization.
When healthy, Colson is expected to resume a role that leverages his tackling, his run-defense reads, and his experience within a winning defensive scheme. His development remains a priority for the Chargers moving forward.
Driving Style and Strengths
Colson’s game is built on physicality, instincts, and disciplined tackling. He reads run plays quickly, fills gaps with leverage, and has shown the range to cover ground from sideline to sideline. His football intelligence, refined by years of high-level coaching at Michigan, allows him to align teammates and communicate pre-snap adjustments with confidence.
Notable Events and Milestones
Colson’s signature achievements include three consecutive Big Ten titles, a College Football Playoff national championship in 2023, and the Lott IMPACT Trophy. He also earned Freshman All-American recognition in 2021 and was a two-time second-team All-Big Ten selection. His selection in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft marked the formal start of his professional career.
Junior Colson Career Wins
Junior Colson’s competitive résumé is anchored by team championships and individual awards rather than a long list of statistical leader categories. His work has been recognized at the conference, national, and now professional level.
Big Ten and College Football Playoff Highlights
Colson won three consecutive Big Ten Conference titles with the Michigan Wolverines, including Big Ten Championship Game appearances that highlighted his tackle totals and defensive leadership. In 2023, he helped lead Michigan to a College Football Playoff national championship, finishing the season with a team-high 95 tackles. He also recorded a career-high 15 tackles in the 2022 Big Ten Championship Game victory over Purdue.
Individual Awards and Performances
Colson won the Lott IMPACT Trophy in 2023, was a two-time second-team All-Big Ten selection in 2022 and 2023, and was a Freshman All-American in 2021. In his rookie NFL season with the Chargers, he recorded 29 combined tackles and one pass deflection in 11 appearances.
Junior Colson Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Colson’s biological father died when he was seven years old, and he was raised in part in an orphanage in Port-au-Prince operated by his uncle. He was later adopted by Steve and Melanie Colson, Americans he met through a church mission following the 2010 Haiti earthquake. The Colson family’s support helped him relocate to Tennessee at age nine and begin a new life in the United States.
Personal Life
Colson grew up speaking Haitian Creole and learned English only after his adoption. He currently resides in Brentwood, Tennessee. His personal life remains largely private, with public details focused on his athletic career and the family that helped guide his transition to life in the United States.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season began with Colson continuing his development within the Los Angeles Chargers organization. He was working to expand his role on defense following a rookie year in which he posted 29 combined tackles and one pass deflection across 11 appearances.
On August 26, 2025, however, Colson was placed on injured reserve after undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery. The injury cut short what was expected to be a more significant second season, shifting his focus to rehabilitation and long-term recovery.
Looking ahead, the Chargers view Colson as a long-term contributor at linebacker. His combination of experience in a championship program, leadership qualities, and physical tools positions him to return as a key piece of the defense once he regains full health.