James Collins has over 30 years of experience in the NFL and served as the President of the Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society (PFATS) for three years (2018-20). Collins and his staff were selected the NFL Athletic Training Staff of the Year by the same organization in 2009. Collins enters his fifth season as the Director of Football/Medical Services for the Los Angeles Chargers and has been with the organization for 25 years.
Born in Lothian, Md., Collins was an aviation physiology technician in the U.S. Navy from 1980-84. He played basketball at Morris Brown College and earned a degree in physical education with an emphasis in Athletic Training from San Diego State University. Continuing his education, Collins earned his Master's in sports administration from Fresno Pacific University in May 2019.
Collins was a Chargers intern in 1986 and promoted to assistant athletic trainer in 1987. He also worked as an orthopedic tech and surgical assistant for the OASIS Medical Group. In 1991, Collins was hired as an assistant in Denver and spent five seasons with the Broncos. He later spent time as the head athletic trainer with the World League's London Monarchs (1995 season) and Philadelphia (1996-98) before rejoining the Chargers as the head athletic trainer in 1999.
Collins is a member of the National Athletic Trainer's Association and served on the NFL's Injury and Safety Panel from 1995-2016. At present, he serves on each of the NFL's Medical Committees as a representative of PFATS. From 2005 to 2007, he served on the NATA Hall of Fame selection committee. He was formerly the AFC's representative for the Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society. In 2004, Collins was honored as a "Distinguished Alumnus" by San Diego State's Exercise and Nutritional Sciences Department.
In 2012, Collins helped coordinate the opening of the Chargers Courage House at Casa de Amparo, a safe house for abused kids. In 2013, he was selected to the executive board at Casa de Amparo as a liaison to the Chargers.
Collins is married to his wife, Teri. Together they have four children: James III, Kitty, Jet and Tiara.
