© Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports
Colts' DeForest Buckner Claims Signing Extension Was a 'No Brainer'
Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner is optimistic for the future after signing his contract extension.
As the organization looked toward the 2024 season, the Indianapolis Colts wanted to focus on keeping their own players.
General manager Chris Ballard has continually mentioned growing and keeping their own. Head coach Shane Steichen also preached about the importance of continuity within the building. With the top decision makers on the same page, the Colts moved forward with their strategy.
It started with keeping their free agents, as players like Michael Pittman Jr., Grover Stewart, and Kenny Moore II received long-term extensions. The Colts also worked to keep other players from hitting the market, as Zaire Franklin was extended a year before his contract was up. Indy was making a concerted effort to keep their core together for the foreseeable future.
When you think about the core of the Colts, one of the players that immediately comes to mind is DeForest Buckner. With one year remaining on his current deal, Ballard and the Colts were not going to risk letting their Pro Bowl defender reach the open market.
The Colts and Buckner agreed to a two-year, $46 million extension on Monday, keeping Buckner with the Colts through the 2026 season. For Buckner, he did not have to think very hard about the decision to return.
Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (99) reacts in the first quarter at Bank of America Stadium.
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
"It was an easy decision on my part – on coming back and staying with the team and this organization," Buckner revealed on Tuesday. "Just my relationship with Chris (Ballard). Every season I’ll stop by at the end of the season, and we’ll have a one-on-one. We’ll talk about how the season went and little things like that. He asked me if I was still happy being here, and I said, ‘Of course.’ I love the relationships I’ve built, my teammates, the way this team is going. I can see it.
"So it was really easy for me to make that decision and then also my family. My family has been thriving here. It was a no brainer for me.”
Bringing Buckner to Indy from the San Francisco 49ers back in 2020 has been a massive success for the Colts. Since the Colts traded for Buckner, the defensive tackle has racked up 281 tackles, 42 tackles for loss, 32.5 sacks, 87 QB hits, six forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and 16 passes defended. Buckner also has two Pro Bowl appearances and a First-Team All-Pro nod since coming to Indy.
Not only has Buckner been one of the most important Colts on the field, but he fits what the Colts want in their locker room. They want fearless, unselfish leaders who want to win more for their teammates than themselves. The loyalty and passion that a player like Buckner brings to a team is infectious and helps build a winning culture.
"For me personally, I’m just a loyal person – that’s the way I am," Buckner remarked. "I’m not saying anybody else is loyal for jumping ship or whatever it is, it doesn’t matter. Everyone has their own reasoning for why they do things – I’m just talking about me personally. I came here – Chris (Ballard and) the Irsay’s brought me here to do a job. My mindset was I’m going to do it to the best of my ability and my job isn’t done here yet."
Buckner has been through many ups and downs since becoming a Colt. A playoff appearance in his first year in Indy was followed by a late-season collapse, a tumultuous year with a former player turned TV analyst turned head coach, and a year that ended 15 yards short of the postseason. Many on the outside would not blame a player like Buckner for wanting to go somewhere else and chase a Super Bowl ring.
But through all of that, Buckner has never wavered or requested a trade. He has never wished to be anywhere else but Indy. And now, after seeing the resilience and progress made by this team in 2023, Buckner has confidence the Colts are on the right track.
"I can see the projection of where this team is going," Buckner admitted. "Sometimes the grass isn’t always greener. I could make a mistake in asking for a trade or whatever and going somewhere else and all of a sudden what I potentially saw this team could go and they’re doing it. I go somewhere where I thought it was great and I’m back at square one."
Buckner knows the Colts are not at square one and instead are a young, ascending team knocking on the door of their first division title since 2014. Buckner believes in how Ballard is building this team and Steichen's vision for how to get to the top. That type of buy-in from one of the best players on the team is crucial, and Steichen cannot be happier to have Buckner back for the long haul.
"I can’t say enough good things about him," Steichen said about Buckner. "I mean, he is the definition of a pro, is what he is. Everything he does, he does with a sense of purpose, he does it with urgency. The way he takes care of his body, the way he performs week in and week out not only in the meeting rooms and the practice field but on game days – obviously he shows up and makes a ton of plays. To get him back and secured for the next couple years is huge for our franchise.”
Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (99) attempts to sack Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) during the second quarter at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
Now talking about the Colts being on the right track sounds good but does not mean anything in the grand scheme of things. The Colts need to prove that they are capable of getting over the hump and competing with the best in the AFC. While they came close last season, falling short to the Houston Texans in Week 18 last season proved there is still work to do.
The results on the field will ultimately speak for itself, but Buckner is confident the Colts have the players in place to make a run. Players like Pittman and Jonathan Taylor have grown up to be playmakers while guys like Anthony Richardson and Josh Downs are budding with potential. Growing players combined with veteran leadership could lead this Colts team into new territory.
“When I got here a lot of our keystone players that we had here were young," Buckner explained. "Obviously, Chris is invested in the guys that we have in the building. He shows his belief in us, and those guys aren’t young anymore – they’re experienced veterans now and it’s time for all of us to take that next step. To get over that hump and really punch our ticket at the end of the season into the playoffs and really start taking this team to new heights.”
If the Colts reach new heights in 2024, Buckner will likely play a big hand in turning those expectations into reality. While Bucker may have just turned 30 a month ago, the Pro Bowler has shown no signs of slowing down. And now, with a new contract, Buckner has even more motivation to prove the Colts made the right decision in keeping him around.
"They obviously rewarded me for my time here and being consistent over the past season and the leader that I am," Buckner noted. "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.
Want more Colts content? Check out the latest episode of the Horseshoe Huddle Podcast!
Follow Horseshoe Huddle on Facebook and X, and subscribe on YouTube for multiple Colts live-stream podcasts per week.
