3-time All-Pro LB Shaquille Leonard to retire with Colts

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Three-time All-Pro linebacker Shaquille Leonard officially will retire from the NFL this weekend.

The Indianapolis Colts announced Wednesday that Leonard will call it a career at halftime of their home game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. He will hold a press conference that morning at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Leonard played parts of his first six seasons with the Colts, who selected him in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He promptly won the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and was named as a first-team All-Pro that season after leading the league in tackles with 163.

Leonard, 30, was named as a first-team All-Pro in both 2020 and 2021 and was named to three Pro Bowls (2019-21). He led the NFL with eight forced fumbles in 2021.

Leonard became the highest-paid linebacker in the league in August 2021 when he signed a five-year, $98.5 million extension. He was released by the Colts in November 2023 after he became frustrated with his playing time.

“Colts Nation will always remember The Maniac’s palpable energy on the field with each tackle, interception, punchout, and fumble recovery,” late Colts owner and CEO Jim Irsay said in a statement after Leonard’s release. “Off the field, he’s a servant leader and assisted numerous families in both his hometown and the Indianapolis community. We’re thankful for Shaq and the contributions he made to our organization. We wish him and his beautiful family the best moving forward.”

Leonard, who finished his career with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023, totaled 637 tackles, 17 forced fumbles, 16 sacks and 12 interceptions in 75 games (71 starts).

–Field Level Media