Three-time All-Pro Leonard retiring with Colts

Three-time All-Pro linebacker Shaquille Leonard is retiring arsenic a subordinate of the Indianapolis Colts, the squad announced Wednesday.

Leonard volition code Colts fans astatine halftime of Indianapolis crippled against the Las Vegas Raiders this Sunday and helium volition beryllium the team's anvil striker earlier kickoff.

Leonard, 30, played astir of his six-season vocation with the Colts, who selected him successful the 2nd circular of the 2018 draught retired of South Carolina State. He was named the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year successful 2018 erstwhile helium led the NFL successful tackles (163) and solo tackles (111) and was named archetypal squad All-Pro.

For the adjacent 3 seasons helium posted much than 120 tackles each season, was named to 3 Pro Bowls and was named archetypal squad All-Pro 2 much times (2020 and 2021). He led the NFL with 8 forced fumbles successful 2021.

However, helium was constricted to 3 games successful 2022 owed to injuries and underwent 2 backmost surgeries to code nervus issues that were causing lower-body pain. He called it the "hardest twelvemonth of my life."

He returned to enactment successful 2023 but was released by the Colts successful November that play aft helium expressed vexation astir diminished playing time. He was truthful good regarded successful Indianapolis for his stellar play and his enactment successful the assemblage that the squad gave him an in-game tribute astatine Lucas Oil Stadium arsenic helium watched from a suite the week aft his release.

In 70 games with Indianapolis, helium amassed 614 tackles, 32 tackles for loss, 31 passes defensed, 12 interceptions, 17 forced fumbles and 7 fumble recoveries.

He finished the 2023 play with the Philadelphia Eagles and did not play successful the NFL past season.