Trystan Colon Bio
Trystan Colon, born on March 23, 1998, in Webb City, Missouri, is an American professional football center who plays in the National Football League (NFL). A former collegiate standout at the University of Missouri, Colon has built his career as an interior offensive lineman after entering the league as an undrafted free agent. He currently plays for the Detroit Lions, where he was promoted to the active roster during the 2025 season.
Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing around 144 kilograms during his playing days, Colon has earned a reputation for his size and durability along the offensive line. He previously went by the name Trystan Colon-Castillo before officially simplifying it to Trystan Colon at his own request during the 2021 offseason.
Early Life and Background
Trystan Colon was born in Webb City, Missouri, to Heriberto Eddie Colon and Neysa Rosaria Colon. His mother, originally from Puerto Rico, moved to Missouri to attend Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, and his father followed shortly afterward to be with the family. Tragedy struck the family early when his father died in a motor vehicle accident in Joplin when Trystan was only one year old.
Colon attended Webb City High School, where he played three varsity seasons of football from 2013 through 2015 as an offensive lineman. He was part of two Class 4 state championship teams and one state runner-up squad, compiling an overall high school record of 43 wins against just 2 losses. His 2014 team finished a perfect 15-0, and Colon also played basketball during his prep career.
Path to American Football
After completing high school, Colon took his game to the University of Missouri, where he joined the Tigers football program. Following a redshirt year, he earned the team’s Lifter of the Year award and broke into the starting lineup as a true freshman, starting 13 games and earning a spot on the Southeastern Conference coaches’ All-Freshman team. He also received the Team Underclassmen Leadership Award that season, signaling his rapid rise within the program.
Colon started the final 38 games of his three seasons after his redshirt year, then started all 25 games in 2018 and 2019. Missouri was ineligible for postseason play during those seasons because of NCAA sanctions. Despite the lack of bowl appearances, his steady development as a pass-blocking and run-blocking center caught the attention of NFL scouts.
Trystan Colon Career
Early Career (2020-2021)
After going unselected in the 2020 NFL Draft, Trystan Colon signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent. He was waived at the end of training camp and quickly re-signed to the practice squad, then elevated to the active roster for the Ravens’ Week 5 game against the Cincinnati Bengals. He earned his first career start on December 2, 2020, against the Pittsburgh Steelers, an opportunity created by a team-wide COVID-19 outbreak in Baltimore.
The Ravens placed an exclusive-rights free agent tender on Colon in March 2021, and he signed a one-year contract in April. That offseason, the team officially began referring to him as Trystan Colon rather than Trystan Colon-Castillo, per his own request, and that name has remained in use since.
Baltimore Ravens Breakthrough (2020-2022)
Colon spent his first three professional seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, appearing in a total of 20 games across the 2020, 2021, and 2022 campaigns. Although he spent parts of his rookie season on the practice squad, his steady play at both guard and center gave Baltimore valuable depth along the offensive line.
The Ravens tendered Colon again in March 2022, keeping him in the organization for another year. By the end of his time in Baltimore, he had proven capable of stepping into a starting role when called upon, laying the groundwork for opportunities elsewhere around the league.
New York Jets Era (2023)
On March 22, 2023, Trystan Colon signed with the New York Jets as a free agent. His time in New York, however, proved short, as he was waived on August 29, 2023, during final roster cuts.
Arizona Cardinals Era (2023-2024)
Colon was claimed off waivers by the Arizona Cardinals on August 30, 2023, the day after his release from the Jets. During the 2023 season, he appeared in 14 games, four of them as a starter, with most of his snaps coming at left guard. On March 11, 2024, he signed a one-year contract with the Cardinals valued at $1.75 million, rewarding his versatility and reliability.
Detroit Lions Era (2025-Present)
On June 4, 2025, Trystan Colon signed with the Detroit Lions in search of a fresh opportunity. He was released as part of final roster cuts on August 26, 2025, but was re-signed to the practice squad the very next day. On September 16, 2025, the Lions promoted him back to the active roster, where he has continued to provide interior line depth.
Driving Style and Strengths
Colon is valued across the league for his positional flexibility, having played both center and guard at the NFL level. His strength in pass protection and his comfort with zone-blocking schemes have made him a dependable reserve who can step into multiple roles on the offensive line.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the most memorable early moments of Colon’s career came on December 2, 2020, when he made his first NFL start against the Pittsburgh Steelers amid Baltimore’s COVID-19 outbreak. He has since logged 20 games with the Ravens, 14 with the Cardinals, and additional appearances with the Lions, while also being named to the SEC All-Freshman team in college.
Trystan Colon Career Wins
Across his professional career, Trystan Colon has established himself as a reliable interior offensive lineman rather than a stat-sheet headline. While centers and guards do not accumulate traditional win totals, his value is reflected in the number of games he has appeared in and his ability to start at multiple positions along the offensive line.
Baltimore Ravens Highlights
During his three seasons in Baltimore from 2020 to 2022, Colon played in 20 total games, gradually earning the trust of the coaching staff and the front office. His first career start against Pittsburgh in December 2020 remains one of the defining early moments of his time with the Ravens.
Other Wins and Performances
In 2023, Colon appeared in 14 games for the Arizona Cardinals, including four starts at left guard, before signing a one-year, $1.75 million contract to remain in Arizona in 2024. He then joined the Detroit Lions in 2025, where he was promoted to the active roster in mid-September.
Trystan Colon Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Trystan Colon was raised in Webb City, Missouri, by his mother, Neysa Rosaria Colon, after the early death of his father, Heriberto Eddie Colon, in a motor vehicle accident in Joplin when Trystan was just one year old. His mother’s journey from Puerto Rico to attend Missouri Southern State University brought the family to the region where Colon eventually became a high school football star.
Personal Life
Colon is known publicly by his chosen professional name, Trystan Colon, having requested the change from his previous name during the 2021 offseason with the Baltimore Ravens. He maintains an active presence on social media and continues to focus on his NFL career with the Detroit Lions.
2025 Season Performance
Trystan Colon joined the Detroit Lions on June 4, 2025, looking to carve out a role on one of the NFC’s most competitive offensive lines. Although he was released as part of final cuts in late August, his quick re-signing to the practice squad the next day kept him within the organization and ready to contribute.
On September 16, 2025, the Lions promoted Colon back to the active roster, a clear sign that the coaching staff valued his experience and positional versatility. His ability to play both guard and center gives Detroit valuable depth as the season progresses.
Looking ahead, Colon’s challenge in 2025 will be to solidify a spot in the Lions’ interior rotation and contribute on special teams. With his track record of stepping into starting roles when needed, he remains a trusted depth piece for one of the league’s most talked-about offenses.