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Adderley joins Colts, ending 3-year retirement

Safety Nasir Adderley signed with the Colts on Tuesday, two months after he announced he was ready to return to the NFL after retiring following the 2022 season.

Published April 14, 2026, 8:55 PM
Updated May 17, 2026, 10:38 PM120
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Adderley joins Colts, ending 3-year retirement

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Safety Adderley joins Colts, ending retirement (1:03)

Safety Adderley joins Colts, ending retirement (1:03)

  • Stephen HolderApr 14, 2026, 02:42 PM ET

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      Stephen joined ESPN in 2022, covering the Indianapolis Colts and NFL at large. Stephen finished first place in column writing in the 2015 Indiana Associated Press Media Editors competition, and he is a previous top-10 winner in explanatory journalism in the Associated Press Sports Editors national contest. He has chronicled the NFL since 2005, covering the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2005-2013 and the Colts since 2013. He has previously worked for the Miami Herald, Tampa Bay Times, Indianapolis Star and The Athletic.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Former Los Angeles Chargers safety Nasir Adderley is coming out of retirement, signing Tuesday with the Indianapolis Colts to compete for a roster spot after spending the past three seasons away from the NFL.

Adderley surprisingly retired after the 2022 season at age 25. But in February, he announced his intention to attempt a return to the NFL, writing in a social media post that "health, family, and entrepreneurship were my top priorities, and I'm proud of what I've been able to accomplish."

He added, "The freedom to manage my own schedule was very important to me, but what I didn't realize was how much I'd miss having football in my life. The competition, the brotherhood, and just being involved in the game that means so much to me and my family. Therefore, I am officially announcing my intention to return to the NFL."

The Colts, seeking depth in their secondary, recently conducted a workout with Adderley, according to a team source. Team officials were encouraged by how well he performed and decided to sign him, the source said, though there are no specific expectations from the team on how this effort will play out.

Adderley is now 28 and hasn't dealt with major injuries in his career after his rookie season in 2019. The former second-round pick played in 50 games for the Chargers, making 44 starts and recording three interceptions.

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