Business Empire
Marques Colston is also known for his savvy business acumen, investing in several successful ventures in and outside of football. He has owned shares of the Harrisburg Stampede of the American Indoor Football League and the Philadelphia Soul and Albany Empire of the Arena Football League. He is also an early investor in a compression apparel startup called Enerskin.
Early Life
Marques E. Colston was born on June 5, 1983, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Growing up, Colston was a multi-sport athlete who excelled in football, basketball, and track and field. Despite his athletic prowess, Colston was largely overlooked by college scouts and accepted a scholarship to Hofstra University, a small Division 1-AA school in New York, after turning down the University of Missouri. In college, Colston quickly established himself as one of the top receivers in the country, setting numerous school and conference records. However, his small-school pedigree and lack of exposure caused him to slip to the seventh round of the 2006 NFL Draft.
NFL Career
Despite being selected with the 252nd overall pick in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL Draft, Colston wasted no time making an impact in the NFL. In his rookie season with the Saints, he caught 70 passes for 1,038 yards and eight touchdowns, earning him a spot on the All-Rookie team. Over the next nine seasons, Marques continued to establish himself as one of the top receivers in the league, becoming the Saints’ all-time leader in receiving yards, touchdown catches, and receptions. He helped lead the Saints to a Super Bowl victory in 2010 with their 31-17 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Despite his success on the field, Colston was often overshadowed by other high-profile receivers in the league. He was known for his quiet and unassuming demeanor, choosing to let his play speak for itself. In 2019, Marques was inducted into the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame. In 2021, he was enshrined into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.
Contracts & Career Earnings
Over the course of his 10-year career, Colston signed several lucrative contracts with the Saints. In 2008, he signed a four-year, $15 million deal with the team. Then, in 2012, he agreed to a five-year, $36.3 million contract with a $10 million signing bonus, giving him an average annual salary of nearly $7.3 million. In total, Marques earned more than $41.5 million in salary alone during his career.
Personal Life
Off the field, Colston is known for his philanthropy and community involvement. He established the Marques Colston Foundation, which aims to provide educational and athletic opportunities for underprivileged children in his hometown of Harrisburg. Colston is a devoted family man, married to his wife, Emily, since 2009. The couple has three children together and resides in south New Jersey. In 2016, Marques announced his retirement from the NFL after a successful ten-year career. Since then, he has stayed involved in football as a coach and mentor to young athletes.
