Ryan McCollum

Ryan McCollum's Biography

Ryan McCollum’s life transformed on March 4, 1998, when he took his first breath in this world. Growing into a fine human, Ryan formed a keen interest in football, eventually leading him down a path towards professional glory. Being a football virtuoso, he is currently representing Pittsburgh Steelers as a professional football center in the renowned National Football League (NFL).

An alumnus of Texas A&M University, McCollum’s natural flair for football became evident quite early on. After spending his years learning the ins and outs of the game, his talents caught the attention of Oklahoma State football scouts in August 2015. A verbal commitment was made, which marked the beginning of his journey in the collegiate ranks.

However, fate had different plans for Ryan. He decommitted from Oklahoma State on December 2, 2015, and by December 13, he had pledged to the Texas A&M football program. The year 2017 marked his first year in college football. Demonstrating commendable performance, McCollum played a significant role in 13 games with seven starts as a freshman.

McCollum’s sophomore year in 2018 was equally eventful. He made his notable presence felt in 12 games, with seven starts to his credit. The next year, in 2019, he featured in eight games and was accordingly honored with the Offensive Unselfish Leadership Award at the annual team banquette, accentuating his skills and positive influence on the team.

McCollum’s final year of college in 2020 made him a crowd favorite. Serving as the offensive team captain in five games, he earned the Southeastern Conference Offensive Lineman of the Week honors for the week ending on December 7, 2020. As his final act in the college football world, McCollum declared for the 2021 NFL Draft on January 6, 2021.

The subsequent months shaped a roller-coaster ride for McCollum, with ups and downs coming his way. On May 14, 2021, he was signed as an undrafted college free agent by the Houston Texans. Later that year, on October 6, the Detroit Lions signed him off the Texans’ practice squad. Setting his foot in the Lion’s den didn’t last long since he re-signed with them on March 10, 2022, only to be waived off on August 15.

All’s well that ends well. The tide turned in favor of McCollum when the Pittsburgh Steelers claimed him off waivers from Detroit on August 16, 2022. Despite being waived on August 30 and getting signed to the practice squad the next day, he earned his place back in the team. Although he was released on September 30, he was re-signed to the practice squad just four days later. This resilience resulted in his signing of a reserve/future contract on January 10, 2023.

Tragedy struck again on August 29, 2023, when McCollum was released by the Steelers. However, he dusted off the disappointment and earned his place back in the practice squad on September 13. Later, on January 17, 2024, he signed a reserve/futures contract with the Steelers, thereby fortifying his professional career.

Apart from the ebbs and flows in his professional journey, McCollum’s life is tainted by a reckless driving incident and evasion from a campus police officer back on September 15, 2018. However, he overcame this obstacle as all charges against him were eventually dropped.

Despite the hurdles, setbacks, and transient victories, Ryan McCollum remains dedicated to his football career. His journey reflects his robust spirit and unyielding passion for the sport. Every day, he harnesses his potential and strives to make his mark in the world of professional football.