“We’re just so honored and blessed that we get to call him our son,” Melanie Colson, Junior Colson’s adoptive mother, remarked. This indeed showcased her gratefulness for having him in her life. With his adoptive mom and dad, Steve Colson’s support, the Chargers linebacker has shaped his successful NFL trajectory. Junior Colson has become a formidable player in the league since the Los Angeles Chargers drafted him as the third-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

He made a return in the week 14 game against the Chiefs after being sidelined for four games due to an ankle injury. Interestingly, in his six regular-season games, Colson, 22, secured 7 solo tackles and overall 14  tackles. It showcased his football skills. Despite his transitions from soccer in Haiti to football in Tennessee, he demonstrated his dominance on the field. Even during his days at Michigan, securing the Big Ten Conference titles and winning the national championship in 2023 with 95 tackles truly solidified his status in the football world. Clearly, it wouldn’t have been possible for him without the steadfast support of his adoptive parents.

Who are Melanie and Steve Colson?

Junior Colson shares a healthy bond with his new parents, Melanie and Steve. And, of course, he feels grateful for having them in his life. Despite going through a tough adoption process, Steve and Melanie adopted NFL LB from an orphanage in Haiti in May 2012.

After the serious disaster- the 2010 earthquake, they both adopted him as their son. But, impressively, before becoming the Colsons, Junior already met them during their mission trip to Port-au-Prince two years earlier.

Colson’s mom herself revealed the same during an interview with a Michigan Rivals reporter back in May 2020. “Our church offered up a mission trip, We actually met Junior on that trip, but he was already being adopted by another family,” she stated.

It was really a hard moment for the Colsons to know that another couple was also in the same process of adoption. But, it was their fate or coincidence that Steve and Melanie received a call from Junior’s orphanage. And, surely, it changed Junior’s life.

Previously, in the same interview, Melanie also expressed her exhilaration and gratefulness to adopt him as her son. “We got a call from the orphanage director, and the family had said that they knew they would lose the money they paid for the adoption, but they believed with all their hearts that Junior was not their son,” Melanie stated.

Not only this, she further emphasized the moment when other families said, “Junior wasn’t their son.” She continued further, “They were willing to risk losing all of that because he wasn’t theirs. When we were there, we said we were willing to adopt older children. We said yes. We are very grateful to the family that said Junior wasn’t their son.”

Not only his adoptive mom, but his dad Steve also expressed his feelings about taking Junior home. Back in April 2024, in a candid discussion with Tyler Palmateer, a Tennessean reporter, he explained how he adopted him after that major earthquake.

“We didn’t really know him until after the earthquake, but learning a little bit about his story and the fact that he went through it, that was obviously heartbreaking that he had to endure it,” he added. Not only this, he later expressed his thrilling feeling for fostering, Junior. “But we were glad that he was safe in the orphanage and that we had the opportunity to adopt him,” he further remarked.

Interestingly, Junior is not Colson’s only foster child. The couple also adopted 11 other kids from the Tennessee state in 4 years. Impressively, all stay with the Colson family on a temporary basis.  It indeed showcased the generousness of Junior’s adoptive parents in giving a new life to the orphans.

Melanie and Steve Colson also made great efforts to shape Junior’s football journey. From learning the Creole language for communicating with him to appointing a personal football trainer for him, it demonstrates their affection for him. And, interestingly, getting the US parents as his adoptive parents was his real dad’s last wish.

How did Junior fulfill his father’s final wishes?

Colson’s early life was filled with several adversities and hurdles as he lost his dad at an early age. But, he stayed motivated till the date that he fulfilled his dad’s last wish. Probably it helped him shape his football journey. His real dad pushed him to live in an orphanage in Port-au-Prince, run by his uncle. And, to fulfill his dad’s final wish, Junior Colson moved to the orphanage. Hence leaving behind his mom and the rest of his family.

Even earlier, during an interview with Detroit Free Press in June, 2020NFL player Colson himself expressed his gratitude for his late dad who encouraged him to get a better life. “I got a lot more opportunities here in America than I would ever get in Haiti. … I got a better life, I got a better education. My dad basically helped set me up for success. He wanted me to succeed. That’s why he’s on my mind every single day. “I’ve got to succeed,” he stated. It indeed showcased that with his parents’ support, he is moving forward in his life.