Marques Colston

Marques Colston - From Saints Receiver to Investment Architect of Athlete Access

Marques Colston isn’t just remembered as the reliable wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints; he has quietly redefined the athlete’s playbook for business. Drafted 252nd overall and now the founder of a private equity firm that has raised $100 million, Colston’s journey is a blueprint of legacy-building by design - proving that real wealth isn’t inherited or sensationalized - it’s strategically grown in the shadows. That is Tall Cotton.

Quiet Stardom on the Field

Colston’s NFL career is a testament to performance over hype. Drafted in 2006, he quickly became the Saints’ all-time leading receiver, captaining their 2010 Super Bowl win. Over ten strong seasons, he earned over $40 million in salary, retiring quietly yet securely in 2015. His football footprint was immense - though his voice on the field was never loud. 

From Playing to Pioneering: Champion Venture Partners

Post-retirement, Colston chose purpose over applause. In 2024, he co-founded Champion Venture Partners, alongside former MMA athlete Nick Edwards, aiming to democratize private equity for athletes by investing in growth opportunities across real estate, sports tech, and wellness. 

“It’s about building a vehicle that suits the athlete - fair, accessible, and impactful,” Colston explained in interviews, sharing that $100 million in equity has already been raised to date. 

He frames investment not as a payday, but as access: liquidity, financial literacy, and agency - for athletes and underserved communities.

Strategic and Scalable Impact

Colston doesn’t chase vanity projects. Champion Venture Partners balances high-growth startups with foundational businesses - real estate, tech, fan services, even stadium logistics. 

In podcasts and panels, Colston outlines a leadership style forged on the field - strategy born from split-second decisions, team awareness, and foresight. “Creating separation is a mindset,” he shared, turned now into a business maxim. 

Ownership Across Football’s Layers

Even before his investment pivot, Colston had begun building ownership infrastructure:

• Majority owner of the Harrisburg Stampede (American Indoor Football).
• Part-owner of the Philadelphia Soul and Albany Empire (Arena Football League).

He’s also served as adjunct professor at the University of New Orleans, handshake speaker, and mentor - embedding business into his personal brand. 

Philanthropy & Teaching Legacy

Giving back remains front and center in Colston’s narrative. As an ambassador for Son of a Saint, he supports fatherless youth through life skills and mentoring. 

He lectures on financial transitions, prepared leadership, and legacy - connecting athletic discipline to wealth stewardship.

Estimated Net Worth

As of early 2025, Colston’s net worth is estimated at $40 million - a sum that represents legacy, not flash. 

This net worth is built on disciplined career earnings, investments, and now meaningful equity access via Champion Venture Partners.

Legacy: Redefining the Athlete’s Afterlife

Colston’s narrative flips the script on athlete post-career risk.

• He turned football earnings into a platform of equity and accessibility.
• He built a fund that doesn’t just earn - but empowers.
• He champions financial agency instead of relying on handed-down lessons.

He demonstrates that legacy is not in fame, but in infrastructure.

Marques Colston & The Tall Cotton

The Tall Cotton preserves the stories that matter - those rooted in equity, strategy, and community. Marques Colston stands tall among them.

He didn’t retire to headlines - he emerged to build structures.

He didn’t inherit capital - he created access.

He doesn’t just stand tall - he plants tall cotton field by deliberate field.

Read. Learn. Then ask:

“What’s my version of The Tall Cotton?”

Because true legacy isn’t inherited - it’s planted, nurtured, and harvested over time.