Colts waive former All-Pro linebacker Shaquille Leonard in surprise move
Shaquille Leonard's time with the Colts has ended.
The Colts released their 28-year-old former All-Pro linebacker on Tuesday, incurring a potential $27.7 million dead cap hit if another team does not sign him.
"Indy, I want to thank you for accepting me and my family with open arms," Leonard said on X/Twitter. "These past 6 years has been nothing but incredible! Through he good times and bad (times) y'all stood by my side. I apologize for not bringing that trophy back to the 317. The energy in Lucas Oil has been nothing but amazing and I thank you for every memory. I'm thankful to play for such an amazing fan base. I love you guys and wish the Colts nothing but the best! Maniac out."
The decision shows a quick fall for a three-time All-Pro who just last season won the franchise's Walter Payton Man of the Year and Ed Block Courage awards.
"Colts Nation will always remember The Maniac's palpable energy on the field with each tackle, interception, punch-out and fumble recovery," Colts owner Jim Irsay said on X/Twitter. "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 has been vocal about his lack of playing time this season as he's worked his way back from a second surgery to correct a nerve issue in his back. The Colts have been playing him mostly on base defense while using E.J. Speed more on passing downs, when Leonard used to make his trademark splash plays.
After playing at least 93% of defensive snaps in each of his first four years, Leonard has seen that number drop to 64% this season. Colts coaches had described it as part of a plan to get him to a full year out of his second back surgery, but when that point arrived in November, Leonard did not feel his familiar role would return.
Leonard arrived as a second-round pick out of South Carolina State in the 2018 draft. He broke on the scene immediately, leading the league with 163 tackles as a rookie and winning Defensive Rookie of the Year and being named a first-team All-Pro.
Leonard followed that up with first- or second-team All-Pro selections the next three seasons. He became known for his splash plays, and from 2018-21, he provided 15 sacks, 17 forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries and 11 interceptions.
The Colts made Leonard the highest-paid linebacker in the game with a five-year, $98.5 million contract in the summer of 2021. Leonard rewarded them that season by having a hand in a league-high 15 turnovers, even as he played through a nagging ankle injury.
But the following offseason, doctors discovered a nerve issue in his back that was shooting pain into his ankle. He underwent surgery in June 2022 and sat out training camp, but he admittedly rushed back to practice when the regular season began. He played parts of two games before opting for a second surgery.
Leonard made it back from that surgery to practice in full form once training camp began this year, but he hasn't looked like his previous explosive self. That, combined with a fifth-year breakout from Speed, led to a reduced snap count for Leonard. He struggled to make as many splash plays in that limited time, finishing this season with two tackles for loss, zero sacks and zero turnovers.
The Colts will pay Leonard $15.7 million in base salary this season, unless another team claims him on waivers and absorbs the remaining weeks. After this year, they will have dead-cap hits of $8 million next year and $4 million in 2025.