Maliek Collins Bio
Maliek Collins Sr. (born April 8, 1995) is an American professional football defensive tackle for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League. He stands 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs approximately 311 pounds, bringing rare power and quickness to the interior defensive line.
Collins was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft and later suited up for the Las Vegas Raiders, Houston Texans, and San Francisco 49ers before joining Cleveland. Across his career he has played under respected defensive line coaches and has built a reputation as a steady, gap-disciplined defender who can collapse the pocket from the interior.
Early Life and Background
Maliek Collins Sr. was born on April 8, 1995, in Kansas City, Kansas, to parents Janice Davis and C.W. Collins. His father worked as a mechanic and died of a heart attack when Collins was six years old. He grew up alongside two older sisters and credits his family with grounding him through the early loss.
Collins attended Center High School in Kansas City, Missouri, where he emerged as one of the top two-sport athletes in the region. He starred in both football and wrestling, compiling a 48–5 record as a junior and a perfect 48–0 mark as a senior, capturing the state wrestling championship in his final prep season.
On the gridiron, his senior year was equally dominant. As a defensive tackle he posted 102 tackles, 43 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, and 5 forced fumbles, drawing attention from major college programs. He accepted a scholarship offer from the University of Nebraska, a program known for producing NFL-ready defensive linemen.
Path to American Football
Collins enrolled at Nebraska and immediately contributed along the defensive line. As a freshman he played in 12 games as a backup defensive lineman, getting his first taste of Big Ten competition and adjusting to the speed of the college game.
The following year he was promoted to a starting role at defensive tackle, where he led the team with 14 tackles for loss, added 4.5 sacks, and registered 13 quarterback pressures, signaling the disruptive potential that would later define his professional profile. He was recognized on the Second-team All-Big Ten following the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
In his junior season, Collins moved to nose tackle, where he faced more double teams yet continued to produce, finishing with 29 tackles and 2.5 sacks. After the year concluded, he opted to forgo his senior season and declared for the 2016 NFL Draft. He closed his college career with 8 sacks, 19 quarterback pressures, and 23 tackles for loss across 36 games.
Maliek Collins Career
Early Career (2016–2017)
Collins was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round (67th overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft and signed a four-year, $3.22 million rookie contract. A broken right foot suffered during organized team activities forced him onto the physically unable to perform list, costing him most of his first preseason.
As a rookie he started 14 of 16 games, racking up 31 tackles, 5 sacks, 14 quarterback pressures, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. His first career sack came against Cleveland Browns quarterback Cody Kessler on November 9, 2016. He returned in 2017 to start all 16 games, posting 2.5 sacks and 25 quarterback pressures despite undergoing offseason surgery on his left foot.
Dallas Cowboys Era (2016–2019)
Collins spent the first four seasons of his NFL career in Dallas, developing under defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli and learning the one-technique role from veterans such as Tyrone Crawford, Terrell McClain, and Cedric Thornton. The Cowboys moved Crawford to defensive end during his rookie year to keep Collins in the starting lineup.
Over his Cowboys tenure he appeared in 57 games with 49 starts, contributing 13.5 sacks, numerous tackles for loss, and steady interior pressure. Although injuries to his feet and knee cost him time, including a 2018 fifth metatarsal fracture, he returned each season to reclaim a starting role.
Las Vegas Raiders (2020)
On March 30, 2020, Collins signed a one-year contract with the Las Vegas Raiders to reunite with his former defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli, who had joined the Raiders as defensive line coach. The reunion offered familiarity within a new scheme and an opportunity to anchor the defensive interior.
His season was disrupted by a stint on the reserve/COVID-19 list and a placement on injured reserve in early December. He appeared in 12 games with 11 starts, finishing the year with 15 tackles and no sacks.
Houston Texans (2021–2023)
Collins signed a one-year contract with the Houston Texans on March 23, 2021, and immediately became a fixture in their defensive front. He started 15 games in his first Texans season, recording 29 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 9 tackles for loss, one interception, one pass defensed, and one fumble recovery.
After agreeing to a two-year extension in March 2022, he started 15 games the following year with 37 tackles and 3.5 sacks, including a two-sack performance against the Miami Dolphins. He then signed a two-year, $23 million contract extension on June 20, 2023, and delivered a career-best season with 16 starts, 41 tackles, and 5 sacks, highlighted by multi-sack games against the Carolina Panthers and the Tennessee Titans.
San Francisco 49ers (2024)
On March 14, 2024, Collins was traded to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a 2024 seventh-round pick. He slotted into the 49ers’ defensive line rotation and started all 17 games, contributing 5 sacks, 12 quarterback hits, 33 combined tackles, and 2 fumble recoveries as San Francisco reached the postseason.
Cleveland Browns Era (2025–Present)
On March 13, 2025, Collins signed a two-year, $20 million contract with the Cleveland Browns, joining a defensive line anchored by Myles Garrett. He started all 12 appearances he made for Cleveland, recording 25 combined tackles, 6.5 sacks, and one fumble recovery.
His first season in Cleveland was cut short when he suffered a season-ending quad injury against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 13. He was placed on injured reserve on December 2, 2025, ending the year with the highest sack total of any Browns defensive tackle.
Driving Style and Strengths
Collins is widely regarded as a power-and-quickness interior defender with strong hands and leverage. He excels at collapsing the pocket on early downs, setting the edge against the run, and slipping through gaps to pressure quarterbacks from the three-technique position.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key moments in Collins’s career include his first career sack against Cleveland in 2016, his first forced fumble against Tampa Bay quarterback Jameis Winston later that season, a career-high 41-tackle season in 2023, and his role in Cleveland’s pass rush that helped him set a new single-season sack high of 6.5 in 2025.
Maliek Collins Career Wins
Maliek Collins has built a durable career as a rotational and starting defensive tackle across five NFL franchises, recording multiple 5-plus sack seasons and consistently contributing tackles for loss. While postseason experience remains limited, his career arc underscores reliability and longevity along the interior defensive line.
NFL Highlights
His most productive NFL season came in 2025 with the Cleveland Browns, when he posted 6.5 sacks in just 12 games. That campaign followed strong 2023 and 2024 seasons in which he recorded 5 sacks each with the Houston Texans and San Francisco 49ers, respectively.
Earlier, his 2016 rookie season produced 5 sacks and a forced fumble that set up a Cowboys win over Tampa Bay. Across his career Collins has also contributed two multi-sack performances, including games against the Miami Dolphins and the Carolina Panthers.
Other Performances
In college, Collins earned Second-team All-Big Ten honors in 2014 and 2015 and was a finalist for several Nebraska defensive awards. He also captured a state wrestling championship in high school, showcasing the athletic foundation that has fueled his football success.
Maliek Collins Family
Family Background and Lineage
Maliek Collins Sr. was raised by his mother, Janice Davis, and his late father, C.W. Collins, who worked as a mechanic and passed away when Maliek was six years old. He grew up with two older sisters who helped shape his early years in Kansas City.
Personal Life
Collins maintains close ties to his Kansas City roots, where his mother and sisters continue to support his career. Off the field he is known for his steady, family-oriented approach and for engaging with youth football initiatives in his hometown area.
2025 Season Performance
Collins began the 2025 season with the Cleveland Browns after signing a two-year, $20 million contract in March. He immediately stepped into a starting defensive tackle role and produced 6.5 sacks and 25 combined tackles across 12 games, providing steady interior pressure alongside Myles Garrett.
His campaign was halted in Week 13 against the San Francisco 49ers when a quad injury forced him onto injured reserve. Despite the shortened year, his play helped anchor a Browns defense that leaned heavily on its front line to compensate for offensive inconsistencies.
Looking ahead, Collins is expected to return healthy for the 2026 season as a centerpiece of Cleveland’s defensive front. With his contract running through 2027, the Browns view him as a key veteran presence whose experience and pass-rushing production will be central to the team’s defensive identity.