Marques Colston

Colston's father, James, played briefly in the Canadian Football League. Marques began playing football at a very young age. James Colston died when Marques was 14. Colston attended Susquehanna Township High School, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and was a letterman in football and track. In football, he won All-Conference honors as a wide receiver/defensive end. Colston graduated from Susquehanna Township High School in June 2001.

Colston had 14 receptions for 335 yards (23.9 avg.) and three touchdowns as a freshman. In 2002, he made 47 grabs for 614 yards (13.06 avg.) and three scores. As a junior in 2003, Colston led the team with 51 receptions for 910 yards (17.8 average) and seven touchdowns. Colston redshirted the 2004 season due to a shoulder injury, but in 2005 was named to the All-Atlantic 10 First Team after making a career-high 70 receptions for 976 yards (13.9 avg.) and five touchdowns. In four seasons at Hofstra, Colston appeared in 40 games (37 starts) and recorded 182 catches for a school-record 2,834 yards and 18 touchdowns.

The New Orleans Saints selected Colston in the seventh round (252nd overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft. Colston was the 32nd wide receiver drafted in 2006.

On July 14, 2006, the New Orleans Saints signed Colston to a three-year, $1.10 million contract that includes a signing bonus of $24,600.

He made his professional regular season debut in the New Orleans Saints' season-opener at the Cleveland Browns and made four receptions for 49-yards and scored his first career touchdown. He made his first career touchdown reception on a 12-yard pass by quarterback Drew Brees during the third quarter. On October 29, 2006, Colston caught six passes for 163 receiving yards and had a season-high two touchdown receptions during a 35-22 loss against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 8. The following week, Colston made a season-high 11 receptions for 123 receiving yards and one touchdown during the Saints' 31-14 victory at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 9. In Week 10, Colston recorded 10 catches for a season-high 169 receiving yards during a 38-31 loss at the Pittsburgh Steelers. His performance marked his third consecutive game with over a hundred receiving yards. Colston sprained his left ankle during a Week 11 31-16 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals and missed the next two games. Colston finished his rookie season with 70 receptions, 1,038 receiving yards, and eight touchdowns in 14 games and 12 starts.

Against the San Francisco 49ers on October 28, 2007, Colston caught a career-high three touchdown passes from Drew Brees and guided the Saints to a victory. For the 2007 season, Colston set a team record for receptions (98), besting the previous mark set by Joe Horn. Colston also tied Horn's record for touchdown receptions in a season (11).

On July 23, 2008, Colston signed a three-year contract extension with the Saints through the 2011 season. In 2008, Colston suffered a broken thumb after a hit by Ronde Barber on a quick slant pass in the Saints' week 1 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This sidelined Colston for four weeks and Lance Moore moved up into the starting receiver position. Two games back from injury, in London against the San Diego Chargers, Colston made a huge 54-yard catch, and was eventually brought down by Antonio Cromartie. He recorded a 70-yard touchdown catch the next week against the Green Bay Packers as the Saints won the game 51–29. Colston finished the season with five scores for 760 receiving yards on 47 receptions.

On October 18, 2009, during a week 6 game against the New York Giants in a battle of undefeated teams, Colston caught eight receptions for 166 yards, as the Saints defeated the Giants 48–27. The game was predicted to be a fair, even game between the Giants and the Saints, who were both undefeated at the time, but the Saints quickly crushed the Giants, gaining 493 yards of total offense and scoring seven touchdowns, 48 points and topping the 40-point mark for the third time that season. Colston helped the Saints win the Super Bowl XLIV with 7 receptions for 83 yards in 2009. He scored nine times that season and recorded 1,074 receiving yards.

During the 2010 season, Colston had another solid season with 1,023 receiving yards with 7 touchdowns.

In 2010, Colston bought a home in Luling, Louisiana.

During the 2011 season, Colston continued his productivity with the Saints, and caught 80 receptions for 1,143 yards with 8 touchdowns, had a receiving average of 14.3 yards, only lost 2 fumbles, and helped lead the Saints to a 13–3 regular season record. Colston had multiple +100-yard receiving games, which occurred during week 6, week 10, week 14 (game 13), week 17 (game 16) and the first playoff game during the Wild Card Round against the Detroit Lions on January 7, 2012.

On March 13, 2012, Colston signed a five-year, $40 million contract extension with the Saints. On October 7, 2012, Colston broke Joe Horn's record for most touchdown catches by a Saints wide receiver, catching three touchdowns to make 52 for his career. On November 11, 2012, he tied Deuce McAllister's team record for total touchdowns with his 55th career touchdown.

In 2014, Colston caught 59 passes for 902 yards and five touchdowns as the Saints missed the playoffs.

Colston was the majority owner of his hometown Harrisburg Stampede who played in American Indoor Football and the Professional Indoor Football League. In 2014, he bought a share of the Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League. Colston has pursued an executive MBA program at George Washington University, and he has made a series of investments in startup companies operating in the health and sports sectors.

In 2015, Colston caught 45 passes for 520 yards and four touchdowns, all career-lows. He was released by the Saints after the season. He did not sign with a team for the 2016 season.