The Colts and Texans rivalry just got even more interesting with a starter switching teams ahead of the 2025 season

The Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans have had a lot to say about each other over the last few years. The loudest players from the Colts in the back-and-forth have been linebackers Zaire Franklin and E.J. Speed. And now Speed will be part of the rivalry on the other sideline in 2025.  Colts starting linebacker EJ […]

Destin Adams NFL News Writer
Add as preferred source on Google
Jan 6, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans shares an embrace with Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen after a game at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images

The Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans have had a lot to say about each other over the last few years. 

The loudest players from the Colts in the back-and-forth have been linebackers Zaire Franklin and E.J. Speed. And now Speed will be part of the rivalry on the other sideline in 2025. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DHymbNtxjUa

Colts starting linebacker EJ Speed signed with the Texans 

Jan 5, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts linebacker E.J. Speed (45) reacts after breaking up a pass and nearly making an interception during a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Grace Hollars/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

The Colts drafted Speed in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He has spent the past six seasons in Indianapolis, where he appeared in 92 games and made 32 starts. 2024 was his first chance to be a full-time starter, with him starting in all 15 games he appeared in and recording a career-high 142 total tackles. 

Some fans may see Speed going to the Texans and think this is an "I couldn't beat them, so I joined them" situation. That really isn't the case, I think it's much simpler at the end of the day. Speed is from Texas; he played high school and college football in the state. In many ways, this will be a homecoming for Speed.


Multiple people have speculated that the Colts and Speed were likely heading toward a split this offseason. With him signing a one-year, 5 million deal, it seems safe to assume the Colts didn't make an aggressive push to re-sign the LB. We will have to wait and see what this signing means for the rivalry. Speed will play his former team twice next season, one of which will be a return to Lucas Oil Stadium. Franklin and Speed were notably very close during their time here, and he has already reacted to the news that his partner in crime on the field is not returning to the team.