Indianapolis Colts News

Longtime NFL executive Bill Tobin, a former general manager of the Chicago Bears and Indianapolis Colts, has died at the age of 83.He later worked as a scout from 2003-22 for the Cincinnati Bengals, who announced Tobin's passing on Friday."He was a true NFL success story," Bengals president Mike Brown said. "He was a good person and I considered him a good friend. With Bill, I respected everything he said. I just took it as a given. He had an eye for players and what they would develop into. If he said the guy was a good player, then he was a good player; that's all I would need to know. We will miss him."Tobin served as GM of the Bears from 1987-92 and held the same role with the Colts from 1994-96. He was the Detroit Lions' director of player personnel from 2001-02."Rest in peace, Bill Tobin, our GM from '94-96," Colts owner Jim Irsay wrote on Twitter. "Bill was a tough, old-time football man, starting as a player in the old AFL. He lived a magical life associated with the game he loved, and our league will miss him. My love and prayers for Bill's family."During his 27 years in NFL front offices with Chicago, Indianapolis and Detroit, Tobin's teams drafted eight future Hall of Famers, according to the Bengals' news release. That includes two Colts' first-rounders, running back Marshall Faulk in 1994 and receiver Marvin Harrison in 1996.

Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner signed a two-year extension through 2026."DeForest has been the epitome of what it means to be a Colt the last four years," Colts general manager Chris Ballard said in a statement Monday. "As one of the premier defensive tackles in the league, he is a destructive force on our defensive line. DeForest is one of the pillars of our locker room. His hard work, consistency and approach to the game are vital to the success of our team. We are fortunate to have DeForest and the caliber of man he is representing our organization. I'm excited for him and his family on this much deserved contract extension."Under terms of the new deal, Indianapolis will pay Buckner a total of $46 million for the 2025 and 2026 seasons after the final year of his four-year, $84 million deal expires at the end of the upcoming season, according to ESPN and NFL Network.The 30-year-old Buckner joins the top five at his position in terms of annual average salary.

The Indianapolis Colts re-signed safety Julian Blackmon to a one-year contract on Tuesday.Financial terms of the deal were not reported by the Colts, but multiple media outlets previously reported it was worth up to $7.7 million, with $3.2 million guaranteed."This was home, man. This is the place where it started, and this is the place where I want to finish, if I can," Blackmon said, per The Athletic. "Everybody knows how free agency went this year for safeties, and so we just wanted to be patient with the whole process."This is the place that made the most sense for the next step because, like you said, it's a one-year deal, and for me, I feel like my value is worth more than one year, but unfortunately we all saw how the (safety) market went."

Safety Julian Blackmon is returning to the Indianapolis Colts on a one-year deal, ESPN and NFL Network reported Tuesday.Blackmon's new contract is worth up to $7.7 million, with $3.2 million guaranteed, per NFL Network's report.Blackmon was a free agent after his rookie contract expired. In four years with the Colts, he has compiled 214 tackles, seven interceptions, 17 pass breakups, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and one sack.

The Indianapolis Colts made it official Friday with the signing of 2023 Comeback Player of the Year, quarterback Joe Flacco.Terms were not disclosed but reports last week said the one-year deal to back up starter Anthony Richardson was worth up to $8.1 million.The 2013 Super Bowl MVP while with the champion Baltimore Ravens, Flacco was out of the league last season until the Browns, amid a rash of injuries to their quarterbacks, signed him to the practice squad on Nov. 20.Flacco, 38, ended the season as Cleveland's starter, and the Browns won four of his five regular-season starts, the last four in succession. He threw for 1,616 yards and 13 touchdowns with eight interceptions in those five games and completed just over 60 percent of his pass attempts.The Browns, the runners-up in the AFC North, lost 45-14 to the Houston Texans in the wild-card round of the playoffs. Flacco threw for 307 yards and a touchdown, but he was intercepted twice.

The Indianapolis Colts announced the signing of free agent defensive tackle Raekwon Davis on Friday.Terms were not disclosed, but earlier reports said the 26-year-old landed a two-year deal for $14 million.Davis spent his first four NFL seasons with the Miami Dolphins, who drafted him in the second round in 2020.

Quarterback Joe Flacco, last season's league Comeback Player of the Year while leading the Cleveland Browns into the postseason, has reportedly agreed to a one-year contract with the Indianapolis Colts.Flacco, who turned 39 years old in January, will serve as the backup and a mentor to Indianapolis' Anthony Richardson, according to the report by ESPN. Richardson missed 13 games in his rookie season due to injuries. The deal could earn Flacco as much as $8.7 million.The 2013 Super Bowl MVP while with the champion Baltimore Ravens, Flacco was out of the league last season until the Browns, amid a rash of injuries to their quarterbacks, signed him to the practice squad on Nov. 20.Flacco ended the season as Cleveland's starter, and the Browns won four of his five regular-season starts, the last four in succession. He threw for 1,616 yards and 13 touchdowns with eight interceptions in those five games, and completed just over 60 percent of his pass attempts.The Browns, the runners-up in the AFC North, lost 45-14 to the Houston Texans in the wild-card round of the playoffs. Flacco threw for 307 yards and a touchdown, but he was intercepted twice.

The Indianapolis Colts and star wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. are in agreement on a new three-year contract worth $71.5 million, the Schultz Report and NFL Network reported Monday.The deal includes $46 million guaranteed, per the report. Pittman becomes the eighth-highest paid WR in the league in average annual value.The Colts placed the franchise tag on Pittman last week but beat the deadline to reach a long-term deal by four months.

Linebacker Zaire Franklin agreed to a three-year, $31.26 million contract with the Colts on Monday.Franklin's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, trumpeted the agreement, which replaces the final year on his deal (2024) worth $3.36 million.Franklin has 345 total tackles in three seasons, more than any player in the league except Jaguars linebacker Foye Oluokun, who joined Jacksonville after a breakout season with the Atlanta Falcons in 2021.

The Indianapolis Colts placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. on Tuesday ahead of the NFL deadline.Pittman Jr. will be paid $21.82 million for the 2024 season if he doesn't sign a long-term contract extension before July 17.Using the non-exclusive tag blocks Pittman's exit to free agency but permits him to discuss a contract with other teams. If Pittman signs an offer sheet, the Colts are granted refusal rights and could match the deal to retain their leading receiver. Not matching the deal would net the Colts two first-round picks in return.

The domestic violence charges against Indianapolis Colts tight end Drew Ogletree were dismissed Tuesday, with prosecutors in Hendricks County, Ind., electing not to proceed.Judge Stephenie LeMay-Luken dismissed the case with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled at a later date.Ogletree was arrested Dec. 29 and charged with one count of domestic battery resulting in moderate bodily injury and one count of domestic battery committed in the physical presence of a child younger than 16 years old, per arrest records from the Hendricks County Jail.The charges followed an alleged fight with a woman, who told police at the time that Ogletree "body slammed" her to the ground."While preliminary investigations may have led to an arrest, that was only the start of the investigation process," said a statement issued on behalf of Ogletree. "Law enforcement officials continued their investigation into the facts of this case, and after completing their review of the evidence, the Hendricks County Prosecutor dismissed the case. Andrew has always maintained his innocence and he has been fully exonerated."

INDIANAPOLIS -- Colts general manager Chris Ballard closed the door on the potential departure of wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. in free agency.Ballard, asked Wednesday if Indianapolis' leading receiver could hit free agency if no long-term contract agreement is reached before Tuesday's franchise tag deadline, was adamant the exit is already closed."No," Ballard said."We've had talks with his agents. We'll work hard to get the deal done. (The franchise tag) is a tool we can use. I'm not going to say we're not going to use it, I'm not going to say we are."Pittman had a team-best 109 receptions, 1,152 yards and four TD catches in 2023. Using the franchise tag would guarantee a one-year salary of $21.8 million for the 2024 season.Ballard remains in daily contact with owner Jim Irsay after his medical emergency, and said head coach Shane Steichen also maintains close contact with Irsay.

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay took to social media Tuesday to reveal that his health is improving after he was hospitalized for a severe respiratory illness."On the mend. Grateful for all the messages of love and support," Irsay wrote on Twitter.The Colts released a statement on Jan. 9 saying Irsay was undergoing treatment for the illness.On Dec. 8, per a police report, the 64-year-old was found unresponsive in his home in Carmel (Ind.), prompting emergency personnel to administer Narcan, which is commonly used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.