Shaquille Leonard has endured a difficult week, as the Colts released the veteran linebacker midway into his sixth season in the league. However, the disappointing news did not stop Leonard from continuing to give back to the Indianapolis community during Thanksgiving week.
Just hours after the Colts announced that they were releasing him Tuesday, Leonard showed up and volunteered his time to give away turkeys to needy people.
“I’m all about giving back,” Leonard said, via James Boyd of The Athletic. “Through tough times, good times, no matter what it is.”
Leonard has been a key member of the Colts ever since the team drafted him in 2018, as the linebacker won the Defensive Rookie of the Year in his first season. Although his production dropped this season, leading to Indianapolis’s decision to move on, Leonard’s commitment to the community evidently remained the same.
#Colts LB Shaq Leonard joked that he felt like Craig from the movie “Friday” since he got cut on his day off, but he still showed up to pass out turkeys to the Indy community for Thanksgiving.
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) November 21, 2023
“I’m all about giving back. Through tough times, good times, no matter what it is.” pic.twitter.com/EGm72Y0J7n
The 28-year-old Leonard acknowledged that he didn’t ask for his release, so his sudden free agency is a surprise. However, he did say that volunteering to hand out turkeys helped him move on.
“When I found out [Tuesday], I was heartbroken,” he said, via WXIN in Indianapolis. “Just seeing the fans on social media, and now just seeing the smiles on their faces, they’re bringing joy to me.”
