A former All-Pro football player is retiring from the NFL.

Darius “Maniac” Leonard retiring from the NFL as a member of the Indianapolis Colts.

Earlier today, the Indianapolis Colts website announced that former All-Pro linebacker Darius “Shaq” Leonard has officially retired from the NFL as a Colt. He will officially announce his retirement during the halftime of the Week 5 game against the Las Vegas Raiders. Leonard, drafted by the Colts in the second round of the 2018 NFL draft, led the league in tackles during his rookie season. He was named a first-team All-Pro and Defensive Rookie of the Year, and later, in the following offseason, he was voted into the Top 100 player list. His distinctive energy, commanding presence, and exceptional motor skills earned him the nickname “Maniac.”

During his time with the Colts, he achieved remarkable success, earning rookie DPOY, three All-Pro honors, and three Pro Bowl selections. His impressive statistics include 614 tackles, 15 sacks, 17 forced fumbles, 12 interceptions, and 31 pass deflections. However, due to a series of injuries, he was released from the Colts in 2023. He later joined the Philadelphia Eagles, where he continued to contribute, adding 23 more tackles and another sack to his impressive career.

Following the 2023 season, the Eagles chose not to re-sign Leonard, and he has not signed with another team since. This raises questions about whether the former All-Pro had any remaining contributions to make to a league he had dedicated his life to. Today, we received the answer we were seeking with the announcement of his retirement.