Shaquille Leonard Announces NFL Retirement with Colts, Former All-Pro LB Won 2018 DROY

One of the greatest defensive players of the recent generation is ending his career where it all began.

Three-time first-team All-Pro linebacker Shaquille Leonard is retiring as a member of the Indianapolis Colts, the team announced on Wednesday. Leonard was named the 2018 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year after being selected by the Colts with a second-round draft pick.

Leonard burst onto the scene and made an immediate impact from the moment he took the field for the Colts. As a rookie, he led the NFL with 111 solo tackles and 163 total tackles on his way to earning the first of his three first-team All-Pro honors. He earned his first of his three Pro Bowl selections in his sophomore season in 2019, including being named second-team All-Pro.

Nicknamed "The Maniac" for his ferocious playing style, Leonard began his career with four straight seasons with over 100 tackles. In 2021, he led the league with eight forced fumbles.

Unfortunately, Leonard's career took a turn when he underwent offseason back surgery prior to the 2022 campaign. He missed the first three weeks of the year, and in his first game back, he suffered a concussion and a broken nose that caused him to miss three more weeks. He played just two more games that season before suffering a setback in his back injury that forced him to miss the rest of the year.

The Colts used Leonard sparingly during the 2023 season and waived him in November. He joined the Philadelphia Eagles the following month and stayed with the team for the rest of the year. He went unsigned and didn't play in the NFL in 2024.

Leonard ends his career with 637 total tackles, 16 sacks, 31 passes defended, 12 interceptions, 17 forced fumbles and seven fumble recoveries. Despite playing for just six seasons in the NFL, he will go down as one of the all-time greats.