Shaquille Leonard just called out who he blames for his abrupt ending with the Colts, and it confirms the fan base’s suspicions
Former Colts All-Pro linebacker Shaquille Leonard just pointed the finger at one of his former coaches blaming him for how his time with the franchise ended.
The Indianapolis Colts have seen multiple legends represent the horseshoe, and they have earned fans’ support on and off the field. One of the biggest fan favorites was Shaquille Leonard, who some may remember as Darius Leonard.
Sadly, his time with the Colts ended abruptly in a shocking release, and now, multiple years later, the linebacker is speaking out and pointing the finger at one of his former coaches for betraying him.
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Remembering Shaquille Leonard’s shocking release by the Colts
After being drafted in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft, Leonard ended up earning three Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections during his six years with the Colts. He took the league by storm, leading the NFL with 163 total tackles and 111 solo tackles as a rookie, and ended up being named the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year, beating out Los Angeles Chargers’ first-round pick Derwin James.
He began at a legendary pace, looking to be on track to not only become a Colts all-time legend but also a future Hall of Famer. Sadly, like so many players, injuries derailed his career, and after appearing in 58 games over his first four years, he played only 12 games in his last two seasons in Indianapolis, including just three in 2022.
After missing nearly all of the 2022 season, Leonard made his return in 2023, but it was pretty evident that the injury was having long-term effects on him as a player. Ultimately, this led to the Colts releasing the legendary linebacker, and even after hitting an all-time low, Leonard showed up to support the Indianapolis community and Colts fans by handing out turkeys during the Thanksgiving season.
Shaquille Leonard tried to hold Gus Bradley accountable as a coach
This new coordinator doesn’t know me, know my personality. I’m going ot hold you accoutable (Gus Bradley) just like you should hold me accoutable, and they didn’t like that. Once that season started they told me no matter what you do no matter what you say you won’t play on third down. Well what was I good at? Making plays on third down.
This mother (explicit) (Gus Bradley), you see thats my first time cussing this whole time, after a loss giving out player of the games and wanted me to rock with that. Nah coach we don’t do that, if we lost then we lost as a team, there is no player that is the player of the game after a loss. They didn’t like that I was holding them accoutable.
Shaquille Leonard
Former Colts LB
Leonard shares that he noticed pretty early on that he and Bradley didn’t quite see eye to eye. And as time went on, it became clear that Bradley was not fond of the big personality linebacker who, according to Leonard, held the veteran coach accountable, something he says Bradley did not take well to.
It is interesting because the Colts fan base has always felt that Bradley was not hard enough on players and the team as a coach, and Leonard basically shares the same sentiment, having been in the locker room and played under him as a defensive coordinator.
Shaquille Leonard thinks former Colts defensive coordinator Gus Bradley betrayed him
Now we go play against Jacksonville, and you know we never win in Jacksonville. Two rookie c0rners get they beat on the same route two differnt times for touchdowns, I come to the sideline and in a clam demeansor saying mans thats coaching.
Next thing I remember I get back to the facility and they say hey man coach is mad at you, and I say for what. Because you said thats coaching, and I said it is. So I went up to him and said hey man I heard you have a problem with what I said, I didn’t scream at you I just told you thats coaching, and he said what makes you think its coaching. I said if someone makes a one mistake in a ball game you come to the sideline you coach it up, so you don’t make it agian.
He said you know well I’m not going to (explicit) with you no more, straight like that. And you know once he said that it is (explicit) you too then I was just trying to help. And then he said why didn’t you get on him, because i’m his teammate, as a teammate i’m going to him telling him you are alright, you are good, beacuase he’s a rookie. You as a coach are supposed to step on his toes, I’m not about to step on his toes during a game.
Shaquille Leonard
Former Colts LB
Leonard went on to share just how much the end of his career in Indianapolis affected him, not only as a player but also mentally. He shared that he feels to this day that Bradley stabbed him in the back and tried to taint his name to a franchise that he gave his blood, sweat and tears too.
Colts fans already don’t look back on the Bradley era well in Indianapolis, and hearing Leonard’s thoughts on him as a coach and a player definitely seems to confirm many of the suspicions about the defensive coordinator. His time in Indy didn’t end the way he wanted. Leonard still supports the franchise and his former teammates as a fan. However, you can tell listening to him that he definitely feels some type of way about how he was treated on the way out of Indianapolis.
Hopefully, time can heal these wounds because even though it wasn’t for a long time, fans will always remember Leonard’s time on the field in a positive light. It wouldn’t be shocking if one day they felt the need to make him a Ring of Honor member. Even though it isn’t discussed in the same way as Andrew Luck’s, nine surgeries in six years robbed Leonard of a Hall of Fame-caliber career.
To hear more about Leonard talking about his time in Indy with fellow former Colt Eric Ebron, check out the full show below.
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