Indianapolis, IN
Ex-Indianapolis Colts Star LB Gets Brutally Honest About ‘Stepping Away’ From Game For Good – Gridiron Heroics
After spending the first five and a half seasons of his career with the Indianapolis Colts, Shaquille Leonard ended up moving on in the middle of the last season. Rather, it was the Colts who decided to move on from the former three-time All-Pro linebacker after waiving him in November of last year.
The Philadelphia Eagles signed Leonard as a free agent, but after a rather forgettable half-season with the squad, the 28-year-old now remains teamless as he navigates the waters of free agency.
Shaquille Leonard Has Nothing But Love for Indianapolis Colts
Despite his rather unceremonious exit from the team, Leonard’s loyalty to Indianapolis remains unwavering. Speaking at a recent philanthropic event in the city, the former Defensive Rookie of the Year professed his undying love for Indianapolis:
“Indianapolis gave me so much,” Leonard said, via Kyle Smedley of Journal & Courier. “For six and a half years, it’s been my home. I just want to give back as much as I possibly can to a town that means so much to me.”
As it turns out, not even the fact that the Colts waived him last season was enough for Leonard to turn his back on Indianapolis. Not after all that he’s been through with his beloved city.
Leonard also made it abundantly clear that he has no bad blood with the Colts organization, despite their unfortunate parting of ways:
“You’re blessed to be able to treat people with respect,” Leonard said. “I feel like I carried myself in the right way. I respect them and their decision to walk away from me. It doesn’t take away from our relationship as people. It’s just a blessing to know that they’re in my corner and they’re always gonna be there if I need them.”
Nothing but class from this fine man.
Time’s Up for Shaquille Leonard?

At this point in his career, Leonard is still working hard to find his next team. At the same time, however, the veteran has come to terms with the fact that this could be the end of the road for him:
“I’m moreso just sitting back, getting the body healthy, and whenever the opportunity presents itself, we’ll give it a try,” Leonard said. “I just continue to be me by working hard.
“If it happens, it happens. If it don’t, it don’t. I think throughout my career I’ve had a great career, even if I do step away from it. … I’m enjoying life and just waiting on that opportunity.”
If Leonard ends up calling time on his career, then he will undoubtedly look back on it without any regrets.
For More Gridiron Heroics Content
Follow us on X at @GridIronHeroics. You may also reach out to us via GH@SportsHeroics.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in college and NFL news, click here!
Our Partners

Mayfield Sports Marketing
Call Mayfield Sports Marketing at 262-366-8188 to schedule Green Bay Packers players or alumni for your corporate appearance or product promotion. Our booking agents will work on your behalf to get you the best price for your desired sports speaker.
Mayfield Sports Marketing has earned a reputation of being the one to call for booking top athletes to speak at events and trade shows. To learn more about Packers players or alumni appearance costs and booking fees, please call us today. www.MayfieldSports.com.
Indianapolis, IN
State police arrest man in connection with two Monument Circle attacks
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indiana State Police have arrested a man in connection with two attacks, including one deadly, near Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis earlier this month.
29-year-old Michael Willis is facing two counts of attempted murder. Police say that the attacks happened on June 19 and June 26, both happening on N Senate Ave. near Monument Circle.
According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by News 8, on June 19, Willis was walking in the area near Monument Circle around 2 a.m. when he approached a person laying down and repeatedly stomped on them. Police say that this first victim was transported to the hospital in critical condition.
The first victim died on Sunday due to their injuries sustained from Willis’s attack, documents say.
Police also say that on June 26, Willis attacked a different person at the same location near Monument Circle. Police believe that the second victim was repeatedly kicked and stomped on while they were lying down as well. This second attack also took place around 2 a.m.
Indiana State Police detectives shared surveillance photos of Willis from the attacks with other police agencies in an attempt to identify him. Police say Willis was identified by a Greensborough Police Sergeant after Willis had asked the sergeant to use his cell phone.
Police then approached Willis and detained him. Police say that when Willis was detained, he was wearing the same clothes that were seen in the surveillance footage of both attacks. Officers also noticed blood on Willis’s socks.
In an interview with detectives about the July 26 attack, Willis at first said that he was only “nudging” the victim. Police say that according to Willis, he was trying to wake the victim up because he was concerned about them.
Later in the interview, Willis admitted to attacking both victims. Willis said that he was frustrated that he had been homeless and unemployed for around the past 6 months. According to police, Willis also said that the people in the area were “mean and rude” to him.
Police say that Willis told detectives that he was the only person involved in these attacks.
Willis is currently in custody of the Marion County Jail.
Indianapolis, IN
Where to find cooling stations in central Indiana
INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana is under a heat advisory with temperatures in the 90s throughout the week.
Many cooling centers will open throughout the state for those that need to find relief from the heat. Hoosiers looking to find cooling centers in their area can contact Indiana 211. To learn more, call 211 or (866) 211-9966.
Avaliable cooling centers can also be found by clicking here.
Marion County
For those living in Indianapolis, Indy Parks has several cooling centers across the city.
Those Cooling Centers are:
- Broad Ripple Park Family Center
- Brookside Park Family Center
- Christian Park Family Center
- Frederick Douglass Park Family Center
- Garfield Park Burrello Family Center
- Krannert Park Family Center
- Grassy Creek Environmental Education Center
- Pride Park Family Center
- Rhodius Park Family Center
- Riverside Park Family Center
- Stanley Strader Park Family Center
- Washington Park Family Center
- Windsor Park Family Center
- Watkins Park Family Center
- Thatcher Park Family Center
For addresses and hours of operations of these cooling centers, click here.
Beech Grove will also have two cooling Centers for residents starting Monday, June 29. Those hours and locations are:
- Beech Grove Senior Center, 602 Main St
- 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday through Friday
- Hornet Park Community Center, 5245 Hornet Ave
- 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday through Friday
Other Central Indiana Cooling Centers
For addresses and hour of operations of cooling centers below, click here.
Marion
- St. Martin Community Center
- Grant County Family YMCA
- Grant County Rescue Mission
Kokomo
- The Kokomo Rescue Mission
- The Excel Center in Kokomo
Peru
- Community Resource Center
- Miami County Courthouse
- Miami County Health Department
- Miami County YMCA
- Peru City Hall
- Peru Public Library
- Peru Schools Administration Building
Indianapolis, IN
Heat Advisory and Warning for central Indiana
INDIANAPOLIS (WRTV) — The National Weather Service out of Indianapolis has issued a Heat Advisory for all of Central Indiana and a High Heat Warning for parts of northern Indiana. The Advisory and Warning will go into effect at 12 PM on Monday and will run through 8 PM Thursday.
WRTV
A Heat Advisory means that temperatures in the 90s with dew points in the 70s, will lead to Heat Index values reaching 106. Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses.
Stay cool:
Drink plenty of fluids, check up on relatives and neighbors, and stay in an air-conditioned room when possible. If outside for extended periods of time, make sure to take frequent breaks in the shade as much as you can.
-
Maine3 minutes agoMaine driver to honor friend Kyle Busch during Celebration of America 300
-
Maryland8 minutes agoMaryland man sentenced for making online threats toward Black and Muslim communities
-
Michigan15 minutes agoMichigan Lottery Daily 3, Daily 4 results for June 29, 2026
-
Massachusetts18 minutes agoMillions of gallons of wastewater discharged into Merrimack River due to broken pipe
-
Minnesota23 minutes agoDriver in fatal crash near Belview, Minnesota, was fleeing law enforcement
-
Mississippi30 minutes agoMississippi gas prices drop ahead of Fourth of July weekend
-
Missouri33 minutes agoGas prices falling in Missouri despite U.S. conflict with Iran
-
Montana38 minutes agoJune 29 recap: Missoula and Western Montana news you may have missed today

