The NFL will welcome a familiar face back to the game in the 2026 season, with Nasir Adderley making a remarkable return to football at the age of 28.
Adderley retired at just 25 years old when his contract with the Los Angeles Chargers expired in 2023 after four seasons and 44 starts.
But now, the safety – who was a second-round draft pick by the organization – is back in the game, agreeing to terms with the Indianapolis Colts.
He is the third safety the Colts have signed in free agency, following Jonathan Owens – Simone Biles’s husband – and Juanyeh Thomas through the door. The team lost two players, Nick Cross and Rodney Thomas II, in that position in free agency back in March.
The Colts have had to get inventive in the offseason given that they don’t have a first-round draft pick this year – they traded it away in the move to bring in Sauce Gardner from the New York Jets.
Daniel Jones will return as the team’s quarterback. He was magnificent last year, relishing a fresh start after his New York Giants era was derailed, until he tore his Achilles.
Nasir Adderley is returning to the NFL after agreeing a deal with the Indianapolis Colts
Adderley made 44 starts with the Los Angeles Chargers before retiring in 2023 at age 25
His season-ending injury pretty much curtailed the Colts campaign for 2025, too.
The team were 8-2 when Jones went down and ended the season on 8-9, missing out on the playoffs in the process.
The Colts have also spent big on keeping hold of star wide receiver Alec Pierce, as well.
He agreed a four-year contract worth up to $116million to remain with the Colts and continue his partnership with Jones.
When that deal was struck, the Colts traded wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. to the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are still waiting for absolute confirmation that Aaron Rodgers wants to continue as the team’s quarterback.
