Shaq Leonard will be back on the field of Lucas Oil Stadium this week to have one final special moment as a member of the Colts
Darius Leonard is returning to Indiana for a very special occasion this week
There will never be another Shaquille Leonard, or better known as Darius Leonard. His time with the Indianapolis Colts was cut way shorter than many had hoped due to the worst thing in sports, injuries. He was on a Hall of Fame-type trajectory before injuries derailed his career, and now he joins a long list of “What If” stories in the franchise’s history with the likes of Andrew Luck, Bob Sanders, and others.
The Maniac has been out of the league for over a year now, and he has decided it is time to retire from the NFL officially. Colts fans will be excited to hear that, despite the ending of his time with the team not being ideal, his love for the franchise has never left. He is showing that by deciding to retire as a member of the Colts, he will be honored in Lucas Oil Stadium at halftime of the team’s upcoming Week 5 matchup vs. the Las Vegas Raiders.
Darius Leonard is retiring as a member of the Colts this week
Shaquille Leonard’s NFL career accolades
- 2018 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year
- 3X Pro Bowler (2019, 2020, 2021)
- 3X First Team All-Pro (2018, 2020, 2021)
- Colts Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee (2022)
Leonard is returning to Lucas Oil Stadium this week, a place that erupted each week when he ran out of the tunnel, and at one point was filled with people wearing his jersey. I suspect we will see a lot of 53 jerseys in the audience again this week, as Leonard will officially retire from the NFL and be honored by the team at halftime.
As part of the team’s announcement, they resurfaced a statement made by their late owner Jim Irsay, who shared the following after Leonard’s retirement: “Colts Nation will always remember The Maniac’s palpable energy on the field with each tackle, interception, punchout, and fumble recovery.” Like Mr. Irsay said, Colts Nation will never forget Leonard and his time with the team.
On top of being an elite NFL LB from he moment he stepped on the field as a rookie, he was also an elite person in the locker room and out in the community. I will never forget him honoring a community commitment through his foundation by handing out Thanksgiving turkeys to families in need the very next day after being released by the Colts. A true class act through and through, who will forever be a Colt. He may be retiring this week, but who knows, maybe we will see The Maniac added to the team’s notorious Ring of Honor sometime down the line as well.
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