Joe Collier was born on June 7, 1932 in Rock Island, Illinois, USA. He was married to Shirley Ann Ketelaar. He died on May 6, 2024 in Littleton, Colorado, USA.
After spending two seasons as an assistant coach with the Boston Patriots of the brand new AFL, he joined the Buffalo Bills in 1962 as a defensive coach. He was promoted to head coach in 1966.
Graduated from Northwestern University where he played for the Wildcats, earning first-team All-American honors in 1952 and 1953.
In 1952, his junior season at Northwestern University, he broke Big Ten Conference records by catching seven touchdown passes and accumulating 650 receiving yards.
Graduated from Rock Island High School in Rock Island, Illinois.
Was a Western Illinois University assistant coach from 1957 to 1959.