The two teams confirmed that the former Seattle Seahawks and Baltimore Ravens died on Monday.
He was 28 years old.
Details surrounding his death are not known.
“It is with heavy hearts that we mourn the passing of Alex Collins,” the Ravens family said in a statement. “Always quick to greet everyone with a smile, he was a really sweet person who brought a special joy and passion wherever he went. My Alex will always be remembered for the light and love he brought to so many people in his life.”
Collins was first selected in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Seahawks after a dominant run at Arkansas. The Fort Lauderdale, Florida native ran for 1,577 yards and 20 touchdowns in his final season with the Razorbacks, which was his third straight season with at least 1,000 receiving yards.
Collins then spent one season with the Seahawks, landing in Baltimore the following year after being waived by Seattle.
Collins played for the Ravens for two seasons, and racked up a career best 973 yards during the 2017 season. He was a solid starter there, finishing with nearly 1,400 yards and 13 touchdowns before leaving after the 2018 season.
He returned to Seattle briefly in 2020 and 2021 to finish his NFL career. In total, he ran for 1,997 yards and had a league-leading 19 total touchdowns.
“Alex it was a pleasure to have someone to shine his light on,” Ravens head coach John Harbaugh he said in a statement. “I will always remember him for being an amazing fellow who had a high spirit that affected everyone he met. He was also an intelligent player who ran with boundless determination, and contributed to so many of our successes during his time in Baltimore.
This post will be updated with more information soon.