Hofstra University Athletics

A football student-athlete from 2001 to 2005 and team captain as a senior, Willie Colon was a standout offensive lineman for the Pride.

A two-time All-Atlantic 10 selection, Colon had a breakout season as a senior that saw him earn First Team All-America honors from the Associated Press, the Walter Camp Football Foundation, and the American Football Coaches Association. He also picked up Third Team All-America accolades from The Sports Network and Football Gazette. In addition, Colon was named to the All-ECAC team following his final season as well. During his tenure, Hofstra averaged more than 100 yards of rushing offense three times and more than 350 yards of total offense each season. 

Colon was a fourth round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2006 National Football League Draft. During his seven seasons with Pittsburgh, he made two Super Bowl appearances, winning Super Bowl XLIII.  He started 62 regular season games and four  playoff games for Pittsburgh, including three consecutive seasons of starting all 16 games. In 2013, the Bronx, New York, native returned home after signing with the New York Jets. He started 38 games over his three seasons with the team before retiring from the NFL in 2016.

After retiring from the NFL, Colon began a new career in sports broadcasting. He has made many appearances on ESPN, NFL Network, FOX Sports, and CBS Sports. He is currently a morning show host on Morning Men with Mad Dog Sports at SiriusXM. He is also an analyst for the New York Jets with SportsNet New York. He is a co-founder of the Willie and Aikisha Colon Foundation. The foundation is committed to bettering underserved and underprivileged communities, focusing on the founders’ home communities of South Bronx, New York, and Jackson, Mississippi. They focus on education, economic development, physical and mental wellness, and sports. The Willie and Aikisha Colon Foundation also partners with Lupus Research Alliance annually for the Willie Colon Golf Outing, benefitting the Jean Davis Lupus Research Grant. This is a grant started in honor of his mother, Jean Davis Colon.

Colon and his wife, OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) reality television star Aikisha Holly Colon, have two children. Colon holds a degree in interdisciplinary studies from Hofstra.