The Colts have been nominated for Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year
The work the Indianapolis Colts' do through their "Kicking The Stigma" initiative has been incredible. And it has landed them as a finalist for the ESPY's Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year. The Colts are joined by three other professional sports teams as finalists for this year's award: the Angel City Football Club (NWSL), the Miami […]
The work the Indianapolis Colts' do through their "Kicking The Stigma" initiative has been incredible.
And it has landed them as a finalist for the ESPY's Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year.
The Colts are joined by three other professional sports teams as finalists for this year's award: the Angel City Football Club (NWSL), the Miami Heat (NBA), and the Philadelphia Eagles (NFL).
Kicking the Stigma
The Colts and the Irsay family launched the "Kicking the Stigma" initiative in 2020. The Colts' official website explains the initiative by saying the following:
"An initiative to raise awareness about mental health and remove the stigma often associated with mental health disorders.
Kicking The Stigma's focus is two-fold: Raising awareness about the prevalence of mental health disorders in our communities and raising and distributing funds to nonprofits and other organizations to expand treatment and research in Indiana and beyond.
– Colts.com on Kicking the Stigma
This initiative has allowed multiple Colts players and players around the NFL to speak on a topic that for years was something players bottled up inside. The following are some of the players who have partnered with the initiative since its launch in 2020.
- DeForest Buckner, Indianapolis Colts
- Ryan Kelly, Indianapolis Colts
- Hayden Hurst, Los Angeles Chargers
- Solomon Thomas, New York Jets
- Peyton Manning, NFL Hall of Famer
- Tony Dungy, NFL Hall of Famer
- Darren Waller, Former NFL Player
- Shaquille Leonard, Formerly of the Indianapolis Colts