Tristin McCollum Bio
Tristin McCollum (born May 3, 1999) is an American professional football safety for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 195 pounds, he plays primarily on special teams and in the secondary. After going unselected in the 2022 NFL draft, he signed with the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent and has since built his career through practice squad elevations and reserve contracts.
McCollum is a Super Bowl champion, having been part of the Philadelphia Eagles roster that defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 40–22 in Super Bowl LIX. Beyond football, he comes from a deeply athletic family: his father, Cory Carr, played in the NBA, and his identical twin brother, Zyon McCollum, is a cornerback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Early Life and Background
Tristin McCollum was born on May 3, 1999, in Galveston, Texas. He grew up in a household shaped by professional sports, as his father Cory Carr had a stint with the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association. That basketball pedigree gave the McCollum twins an early familiarity with high-level competition and training habits.
Tristin and his identical twin brother Zyon both attended Ball High School in Galveston, Texas, where they played together on the defensive side of the football. Tristin was ranked a two-star recruit by 247Sports and was listed as the 40th-best player at his position in the state of Texas. Their shared path through high school set the foundation for a rare twin pairing that would continue into college and, eventually, the NFL.
Path to American Football
Coming out of Ball High School, both McCollum twins initially committed to play college football for the Utah Utes before later reconsidering and re-committing to Sam Houston State University. The decision to play together at the FCS level allowed Tristin to take on a meaningful role early, rather than fight for limited reps at a larger program.
At Sam Houston, McCollum developed from a special-teams contributor into a full-time starter and a two-time All-Southland Conference selection. His college trajectory, paired with a strong physical profile, positioned him for a chance at the next level despite entering the 2022 NFL draft without an invitation to the combine spotlight. He signed with the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent, beginning his professional climb.
Tristin McCollum Career
Early Career (2022)
After going unselected in the 2022 NFL draft, Tristin McCollum was signed by the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent. He was released on August 30, 2022, during final roster cuts and was re-signed to the team’s practice squad the same day. McCollum spent the rest of the season on the Texans’ practice squad, refining his technique and learning the team’s defensive system before being released from the practice squad on January 16, 2023.
Philadelphia Eagles Breakthrough (2023–2024)
Two days after his release from Houston, McCollum was signed to a reserve/future contract by the Philadelphia Eagles. He produced what the Tampa Bay Times described as an outstanding training camp and preseason, though he was waived on August 29 and re-signed to the practice squad the following day. McCollum remained on the practice squad through the early weeks of the 2023 season, including a Week 3 matchup in which the Eagles faced his twin brother Zyon, then a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Due to a series of injuries in the Eagles’ secondary, McCollum was elevated to the active roster for the Week 4 game against the Washington Commanders, recording his NFL debut on 20 special teams snaps. He signed a reserve/future contract on January 18, 2024, and stayed with the organization through the 2024 campaign. His biggest career milestone came when the Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 40–22 in Super Bowl LIX, earning McCollum a Super Bowl championship ring.
Las Vegas Raiders Era (2025–Present)
On August 27, 2025, McCollum was waived by the Philadelphia Eagles as part of late-summer roster moves. The very next day, August 28, 2025, he was claimed off waivers by the Las Vegas Raiders, giving him a fresh opportunity to compete for a roster spot. The move placed him on the active roster heading into the regular season.
On October 5, 2025, during a Week 5 game against the Indianapolis Colts, McCollum collided with Indianapolis kicker Spencer Shrader on an extra-point attempt in the second quarter. The collision resulted in Shrader leaving the game with a season-ending knee injury, an incident that put McCollum in the national spotlight for the first time in his Raiders tenure.
Playing Style and Strengths
McCollum is a tall, long safety whose 6-foot-3 frame gives him excellent range and leverage against bigger tight ends and running backs. He has built his professional value almost entirely on special teams, where his willingness to mix into coverage and blocking units has earned him repeated practice squad and active-roster opportunities. His developmental track suggests continued growth as a depth defensive back, with the physical tools to carve out a long-term defensive role.
Notable Events and Milestones
McCollum’s signature achievement is his Super Bowl LIX championship with the Philadelphia Eagles, earned as part of the roster that beat the Kansas City Chiefs 40–22. He also made his official NFL debut on special teams in Week 4 of the 2023 season against the Washington Commanders, a hard-earned first appearance after nearly a year on practice squads. The October 2025 collision with Spencer Shrader stands as his most widely discussed regular-season moment to date.
Tristin McCollum Career Wins
Tristin McCollum’s most prominent career win is a Super Bowl championship, captured with the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX. Beyond that team achievement, he has steadily accumulated wins through special teams contributions and depth defensive snaps, with his career NFL statistics as of 2025 including 53 total tackles and 3 pass deflections.
NFL Highlights
McCollum’s primary NFL highlight came during the 2024 season, when the Eagles completed their playoff run with a 40–22 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX. His first taste of regular-season action came in Week 4 of 2023, when he logged 20 special teams snaps in his debut against Washington. Through the 2025 season, he has continued to appear in a reserve and special teams capacity, first with the Eagles and then with the Las Vegas Raiders.
College Highlights
At Sam Houston State University, McCollum was part of the Bearkats’ national championship squad during the 2020–21 season and earned second-team All-Southland Conference honors in both 2020 and 2021. He finished his collegiate career with 229 total tackles, 12.0 tackles-for-loss, 4.0 sacks and three interceptions across five seasons.
Tristin McCollum Family
Family Background and Athletic Lineage
The McCollum twins grew up in a household steeped in professional athletics. Their father, Cory Carr, played in the NBA with the Chicago Bulls, giving Tristin and Zyon an early window into the demands of elite competition. Both brothers chose football, and their paths have remained remarkably parallel, including shared time at Ball High School and Sam Houston State University.
Personal Life
Tristin McCollum is the identical twin brother of Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Zyon McCollum, with the two having played together at every level from high school through college. The brothers have faced each other professionally, notably in a 2023 Week 3 game between the Eagles and Buccaneers. McCollum maintains an active presence on Instagram, where he shares updates from his football career.
2025 Season Performance
Tristin McCollum’s 2025 season began with uncertainty after he was waived by the Philadelphia Eagles on August 27, but he quickly landed with the Las Vegas Raiders after being claimed off waivers the following day. The move gave him a fresh roster opportunity heading into the regular season and a chance to reset his developmental arc in a new defensive system.
Through the early weeks of the 2025 campaign, McCollum has continued to fill a reserve and special teams role for the Raiders. His most visible 2025 moment came on October 5, in Week 5 against the Indianapolis Colts, when his collision with kicker Spencer Shrader during an extra-point attempt led to a season-ending knee injury for Shrader. The play drew significant attention and underscored McCollum’s aggressive special teams style.
As the 2025 season progresses, McCollum will look to build on his special teams foundation and push for expanded defensive snaps within the Raiders’ secondary. With his size, athleticism, and championship experience from Super Bowl LIX, he has the tools to grow into a longer-term role in Las Vegas if he can stay healthy and consistent.