Joe Collins (American football)

Joseph Collins was an American football player for the University of Notre Dame in 1908 and 1909. During his time at Notre Dame, Collins discovered and recommended Knute Rockne to the football team's coach, Frank Longman.

He later played at the professional level for the Akron Indians, after being recruited by the team's coach, Peggy Parratt. In 1914, Harry Turner, the captain of the Canton Professionals (renamed the Canton Bulldogs in 1915), died when his spine broke during a tackle on Collins. Turner's death marked the first fatal accident involving a major professional football team in Ohio.

• Phinizy, Cole (1979). "We Know Of Knute, Yet Know Him Not". Sports Illustrated. 3 (Annual): 3. Archived from the original on January 19, 2013.
• Roberts, Milt (1979). "Peggy Parratt MVP" (PDF). Coffin Corner. 1 (6). Professional Football Researchers Association: 1–5. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 22, 2012.
• PFRA Research. "Parratt Stays on Top 1914" (PDF). Coffin Corner. Professional Football Researchers Association: 1–3. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 26, 2012.