No matter how much success you find in the NFL as a player, careers can be brutal and short-lived. One day, you can be at the top of the world, and the next, you are out of the league. The grueling gauntlet of the NFL takes such a toll on players' bodies that we regularly see some of the best players to ever play the game retire after only a handful of seasons.
That is exactly what happened with former Eagles defender Shaquille Leonard. One of the best linebackers of his generation, Leonard, who last played in Philadelphia in the final stretch of the 2023 season, just announced his retirement from the NFL at the age of 30, according to the Indianapolis Colts' team site.
Shaquille Leonard Announces Retirement After Illustrious Career
Although he's an ex-Eagle, Leonard spent most of his career with the Colts, the team that drafted him 36th overall in 2018. It's only fitting that his retirement will be celebrated during Indianapolis' Week 5 clash against the Las Vegas Raiders.
While most NFL fans will remember him with his iconic nickname, "Maniac", and his relentless playmaking that earned him three first-team All-Pro honors and three Pro Bowls, Eagles fans will remember him from the time he snubbed the Dallas Cowboys to sign with the Eagles during the 2023 season.
Leonard had expressed his frustrations with the Colts during the season, leading to his eventual waiving. Upon his release, the Cowboys and the Eagles were desperately trying to land the star linebacker amid a slew of injuries to their defensive unit, including Nakobe Dean and Zach Cunningham. Thanks to Leonard's connection with head coach Nick Sirianni from their Indianapolis days, the former NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year chose the Eagles.
Yet, Leonard wasn't able to fix things for the Eagles' defense as the unit completely collapsed in the final few weeks of the regular season and the postseason that ended prematurely. Leonard's time in Philadelphia was limited to five games (three starts) and a disappointing wild-card round exit.
The four-year stretch Leonard had between 2018 and 2021 as a Colt is as good as any defender has had in recent years. As Pro Football Focus commented below the Colts' retirement video on X, Leonard was one of just three linebackers with an 80.0-plus grade in run defense, pass rush, and coverage during that stretch, highlighting his unparalleled all-around skill set.
Leonard's prime was cut after he had to undergo back surgery in the 2022 offseason to correct nerves being impinged by his disks. Despite recovering from the ailment, Maniac never quite looked the same on the field. How the former Eagles linebacker will always be remembered, however, is as a ferocious leader wreaking havoc all over the field.