Among the numerous Muskegon-area gridders whose careers landed them in the National Football Leaque, Jerry Collins’ credentials were based more on determination than high-profile press notices during his prep and collegiate years.  Despite a fine career at Western Michigan University as a defensive end, Collins was not drafted by the Buffalo Bills, but was signed as a free agent, lured by a $12,000 signing bonus and an additional bonus if he made the squad.  The Buffalo organization was apparently impressed enough with his strength and quickness and he remained on the Bills squad for three seasons (1969-71).  Another rookie who was signed by Buffalo that year under far different circumstances was the USC sensation O.J. Simpson.

Jerry played football at Muskegon High School from 1962-64 as a halfback, fullback and linebacker on defense.  He was co-captain in his senior year and was named to the LMAC All-Conference team.  Unfortunately, his Big Red teams did poorly (except for a respectable 5-2-2 record in his senior year), which might have cost him all-state recognition in the press.
Western Michigan University was aware of his potential and recruited him as a defensive end.  He became a standout in the Mid-America Conference, but as in high school, he was denied the publicity that comes to gridders in the more elite conferences.  After graduation, Collins bypassed an offer to stay on at WMU as an assistant coach to try his luck with Buffalo, which was sorely in need of defensive players with Jerry’s skills.  Although he fell short of becoming a first stringer with the Bills, he was a solid backup linebacker with plenty of game action – even filling in for starting linebacker Mike Stratton after an injury to Stratton.  He did, however, see more game time as a regular on special teams.  Jerry retired from professional football after the 1971 season.