Linebacker Shaquille Leonard has been waived by the Colts, according to an announcement made on Tuesday. Colts owner Jim Irsay expressed his gratitude to Leonard for his contributions to the team, while Leonard took to social media to bid farewell to Indianapolis. In his message, Leonard thanked the city for welcoming him and his family and reflected on the incredible experiences he had during his six years with the team.
During his time with the Colts, Leonard achieved the honor of winning defensive rookie of the year and being named a first-team All-Pro. Despite these accomplishments, back injuries limited his playing time last year, and he has seen a significant decrease in his playing time this season.
Leonard is owed over $6 million for the remainder of this season and is under contract through 2026. Any team claiming him would inherit that contract, but if he goes unclaimed, he will be free to sign a new deal with any team as a free agent. Despite the end of his time with the Colts, Leonard expressed his love and gratitude to the fan base and wished the team the best in the future.