‘No Brainer’: Colts defensive tackle is excited regarding the future after signing

As the Indianapolis Colts prepared for the 2024 season, they intended to prioritize keeping their own players.

General manager Chris Ballard has repeatedly stressed the need of expansion and retention. Shane Steichen, the head coach, also emphasized the need of consistency inside the building. With the senior decision makers on the same page, the Colts proceeded with their strategy.

It began with retaining their free agents, as players such as Michael Pittman Jr., Grover Stewart, and Kenny Moore II signed long-term contracts. The Colts also sought to keep other players off the market, as Zaire Franklin was extended a year before his contract expired. Indy made a deliberate attempt to maintain their core intact for the foreseeable future.

When you think of the Colts’ core, one of the first players that springs to mind is DeForest Buckner. With one year remaining on his current contract, Ballard and the Colts were unwilling to chance losing their Pro Bowl defender to the open market.

On Monday, the Colts and Buckner agreed to a two-year, $46 million contract deal, which will keep Buckner with the team until the 2026 season. Buckner’s choice to return did not require much thought.

“It was an easy decision on my part – coming back and staying with the team and this organization,” Buckner said on Tuesday. “Only my relationship with Chris (Ballard).” Every season, I’ll pop by at the conclusion and have a one-on-one. We’ll discuss how the season went and other minor details. He asked if I was still happy being here, and I answered, ‘Of course.’ I appreciate the relationships I’ve formed, my teammates, and the direction this team is taking. I can see it.

“So it was really easy for me to make that decision, as well as for my family. My family has thrived here. For me, it was an obvious choice.

The Colts’ acquisition of Buckner from the San Francisco 49ers in 2020 has proven to be a huge success. Buckner has made 281 tackles, 42 tackles for loss, 32.5 sacks, 87 quarterback hits, six forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and 16 passes defended since joining the Colts. Buckner has also made two Pro Bowl appearances and been named First-Team All-Pro since joining the Colts.

Buckner has not only been one of the most significant Colts on the field, but he also fits in with the Colts’ locker room philosophy. They want fearless, selfless leaders that want to win for their teams rather than themselves. Buckner’s loyalty and love for his squad are contagious and contribute to the development of a winning culture.

“For me personally, I’m just a loyal person; that’s who I am,” Buckner said. “I’m not suggesting anyone else is loyal for jumping ship; it doesn’t matter. Everyone has their own reasons for doing things; I’m just talking about mine. I came here because Chris Ballard and the Irsays invited me to undertake a work. My thinking was, “I’m going to do it to the best of my ability, and my work here isn’t done yet.”

Buckner has experienced numerous ups and downs since becoming a Colt. A playoff appearance in his first year in Indianapolis was followed by a late-season collapse, a turbulent year with a former player turned TV commentator turned head coach, and a season that fell 15 yards shy of the playoffs. Many outsiders would not blame a player like Buckner for wanting to move on and pursue a Super Bowl ring.

Despite all of this, Buckner has never wavered or asked a trade. He has never longed to be anywhere other than Indianapolis. And now, after seen this team’s resilience and progress in 2023, Buckner is confident the Colts are on track.

“I can see the projection of where this team is going,” Buckner confessed. “The grass isn’t always greener. I may make a mistake by asking for a trade or going somewhere else, and all of a sudden this team is doing what I predicted. I go somewhere that I thought was fantastic, and I’m back at square one.”

Buckner understands that the Colts are not starting over, but rather are a youthful, ascending team on the verge of winning their first division title since 2014. Buckner believes in Ballard’s team-building approach and Steichen’s ambition for reaching the top. That level of commitment from one of the team’s greatest players is critical, and Steichen can’t be happier to have Buckner back for the long term.

“I can’t say enough good things about him,” Steichen said of Buckner. “He is the epitome of a professional. He approaches whatever he does with a sense of purpose and intensity. The way he takes care of his body, the way he performs week after week, not only in the meeting rooms and on the practice field, but also on game days – he clearly shows up and makes a lot of plays. Getting him back and protected for the next few years is critical for our franchise.”

Now, talking about the Colts being on the right track sounds wonderful, but it doesn’t mean anything in the big picture. The Colts must demonstrate that they are capable of getting over the hump and competing against the best in the AFC. While they came close last season, falling short against the Houston Texans in Week 18 demonstrated that there is still work to be done.

The outcomes on the field will speak for themselves, but Buckner believes the Colts have the pieces in place to make a run. Pittman and Jonathan Taylor have matured into playmakers, while Anthony Richardson and Josh Downs are young and promising. Growing talent, along with senior leadership, might propel this Colts squad into new territory.

“When I got here a lot of our keystone players that we had here were young,” Buckner said. “Clearly, Chris is invested in the people we have in the building. He displays his belief in us, and those guys are no longer young; they are experienced veterans, and it is time for all of us to take the next step. To go over that hurdle and truly punch our ticket to the playoffs at the conclusion of the season, and really start bringing this squad to the next level.”

If the Colts achieve new heights in 2024, Buckner will most likely play a significant role in making those dreams a reality. While Bucker only turned 30 a month ago, the Pro Bowler has shown no signs of fading. Buckner now has even more motive to prove the Colts were correct in keeping him.

“They obviously rewarded me for my time here and being consistent over the past season and the leader that I am,” Buckner said. “I want to continue to show my faith in them because they’ve shown their faith in me.”

Buckner has rewarded the Colts and their fans for their faith in him for over four years. Chances are, the rewards will keep on coming. If Buckner has anything to say about it, the rewards will also contain some postseason hardware.