Kofi Inkoom
The Indianapolis Colts have waived former All-Pro LB Shaquille Leonard.
In a post on X (formerly twitter ) made Tuesday afternoon, Leonard expresses his gratitude for the city.
“Indy, I want to thank you for accepting me and my family with open arms. These past 6 years has been nothing but incredible!” Leonard said in the post. “Through the good times and the bad times, y’all stood by my side. I apologize for not bringing that trophy back to the 317. The energy in Lucas Oil has been nothing but amazing and I thank you for every memory.”
Concluding his tweet with an expression of fondness, Leonard extended heartfelt wishes to the Colts
“ nothing but the best “
Throughout this season, he has openly discussed his restricted playing time, a result of his ongoing recovery from a second back surgery addressing a nerve issue.
The Colts have predominantly deployed him in base defense, favoring E.J. Speed in passing situations where Leonard was once celebrated for his impactful plays.
Selected in the 2018 draft’s second round from South Carolina State, Leonard made an immediate impact, leading the league with 163 tackles in his rookie year.
This stellar debut secured him the titles of Defensive Rookie of the Year and a first-team All-Pro.
Following that impressive start, Leonard maintained his high-performance standards with first- or second-team All-Pro honors for the next three seasons.
Renowned for his game-changing plays, Leonard significantly contributed with 15 sacks, 17 forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries, and 11 interceptions from 2018 to 2021.