The Colts are keeping one of their most dependable specialists in place.
On Thursday, Indianapolis announced it has re-signed Rigoberto Sanchez to a contract extension that will put him among the NFL’s top five highest paid punters. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported the deal is a two-year extension, which will keep the pending free agent in Indianapolis through the 2028 campaign.
Sanchez’s run with the Colts has now stretched into a ninth season after he originally joined the team as an undrafted rookie out of Hawaii in 2017. Over that span, he has developed into one of the league’s better punters and, by the numbers and the eye test, one of the strongest at his position.
He may not have the biggest leg in the sport, but Sanchez has made his name with precision. Last season, 50% of his punts were pinned inside the 20-yard line, a career high. That kind of placement matters, especially with half of Indianapolis’ games coming indoors at Lucas Oil Stadium, where his style fits neatly with the home setup.
In 2025, Sanchez handled 44 punts for the Colts and averaged 48.8 yards per punt, which ranked eighth in the NFL. He also chipped in on kickoffs nine times while helping out the special teams unit. PFF graded him as the league’s ninth-best punter with a +76.7 overall mark.
He still hasn’t made a Pro Bowl, but the Colts are clearly betting on the value he brings every week. Sanchez isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
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Indianapolis has already adjusted around him, with other linebackers handling the MIKE duties Allen was expected to take on. That does not close the door on his role long term, but it does create a temporary picture that looks different from what the Colts had in mind when they drafted him. For a defense trying to find its footing, the next stretch of camp will matter for Allen, and for how quickly the Colts can settle the heart of the linebacker group. [Read more 🡒]