The Indianapolis Colts have signed former Chargers safety Nasir Adderley, who unexpectedly retired from football in 2022 at the age of 25 to prioritize his health. Adderley was a second-round pick in 2019 and started for three seasons with the Chargers.
Nasir Adderley walked away from football in 2022; why Colts signed him
INDIANAPOLIS--The Colts are offering a chance to a former NFL starter who once walked away from the game.
Indianapolis has signed former Chargers safety Nasir Adderley, a 2019 second-round pick who started in Los Angeles for three seasons before deciding to walk away from the game unexpectedly after the 2022 season.
Adderley was only 25 at the time, coming off his rookie deal and headed into free agency, but he retired, citing a desire to prioritize his health.
But he decided to try to make a comeback this year.
Tight end Tyler Warren of Penn State was selected 14th overall in the 2025 NFL draft.
Defensive end Laiatu Latu of UCLA was selected 15th overall in the 2024 NFL draft.
Quarterback Anthony Richardson of Florida was selected fourth overall in the 2023 NFL draft.
Defensive end Kwity Paye of Michigan was selected 21st overall in the 2022 NFL draft.
Wide receiver Phillip Dorsett of Miami was selected 29th overall in the 2015 NFL draft.
Defensive end Bjoern Werner of Florida State was selected 24th overall in the 2013 NFL draft.
Offensive tackle Anthony Castonzo of Boston College was selected 22nd overall in the 2011 NFL draft.
Running back Donald Brown of Connecticut was selected 27th overall in the 2009 NFL draft.
Wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez of Ohio State was selected 32nd overall in the 2007 NFL draft.
Defensive end Dwight Freeney of Syracuse was selected 11th overall in the 2002 NFL draft.
Wide receiver Reggie Wayne of Miami was selected 30th overall in the 2001 NFL draft.
Quarterback Peyton Manning of Tennessee was selected first overall in the 1998 NFL draft.
Offensive tackle Tarik Glenn of California was selected 19th overall in the 1997 NFL draft.
Wide receiver Marvin Harrison of Syracuse was selected 19th overall in the 1996 NFL draft.
Defensive tackle Ellis Johnson of Florida was selected 15th overall in the 1995 NFL draft.
Linebacker Trev Alberts of Nebraska was selected fifth overall in the 1994 NFL draft.
Wide receiver Sean Dawkins of California was selected 16th overall in the 1993 NFL draft.
Linebacker Quentin Coryatt of Texas A&M was selected second overall in the 1992 NFL draft.
Linebacker Cornelius Bennett of Alabama was selected second overall in the 1987 NFL draft.
Cornerback back Leonard Coleman of Vanderbilt was selected eighth overall in the 1984 NFL draft.
Guard Ron Solt (66) of Maryland was selected 19th overall in the 1984 NFL draft.
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Tight end Tyler Warren of Penn State was selected 14th overall in the 2025 NFL draft.
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Tight end Tyler Warren of Penn State was selected 14th overall in the 2025 NFL draft.
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Defensive end Laiatu Latu of UCLA was selected 15th overall in the 2024 NFL draft.
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Quarterback Anthony Richardson of Florida was selected fourth overall in the 2023 NFL draft.
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Defensive end Kwity Paye of Michigan was selected 21st overall in the 2022 NFL draft.
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Wide receiver Phillip Dorsett of Miami was selected 29th overall in the 2015 NFL draft.
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Defensive end Bjoern Werner of Florida State was selected 24th overall in the 2013 NFL draft.
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Offensive tackle Anthony Castonzo of Boston College was selected 22nd overall in the 2011 NFL draft.
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Running back Donald Brown of Connecticut was selected 27th overall in the 2009 NFL draft.
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Wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez of Ohio State was selected 32nd overall in the 2007 NFL draft.
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Defensive end Dwight Freeney of Syracuse was selected 11th overall in the 2002 NFL draft.
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Wide receiver Reggie Wayne of Miami was selected 30th overall in the 2001 NFL draft.
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Quarterback Peyton Manning of Tennessee was selected first overall in the 1998 NFL draft.
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Offensive tackle Tarik Glenn of California was selected 19th overall in the 1997 NFL draft.
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Wide receiver Marvin Harrison of Syracuse was selected 19th overall in the 1996 NFL draft.
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Defensive tackle Ellis Johnson of Florida was selected 15th overall in the 1995 NFL draft.
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Linebacker Trev Alberts of Nebraska was selected fifth overall in the 1994 NFL draft.
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Wide receiver Sean Dawkins of California was selected 16th overall in the 1993 NFL draft.
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Linebacker Quentin Coryatt of Texas A&M was selected second overall in the 1992 NFL draft.
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Linebacker Cornelius Bennett of Alabama was selected second overall in the 1987 NFL draft.
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Cornerback back Leonard Coleman of Vanderbilt was selected eighth overall in the 1984 NFL draft.
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Guard Ron Solt (66) of Maryland was selected 19th overall in the 1984 NFL draft.
Adderley, now 28, announced his decision to return to the NFL in February, and he's spent the two months since that time looking for an opportunity.
"Health, family and entrepreneurship were my top priorities, and I'm proud of what I've been able to accomplish," Adderley wrote on his social media accounts. "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."
Adderley becomes a wild card in an open competition for roster spots at a safety position with one starting spot available after the departure of Nick Cross. Indianapolis brings back 2025 seventh-round pick Hunter Wohler, signed former Cowboys safety Juanyeh Thomas and added veteran Jonathan Owens, but there is clearly a spot open.
Adderley started at free safety for the Chargers, but that spot is manned by Camryn Bynum, a key leader for the defense who led the team with four interceptions in 2025.
Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cover the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts sign S Nasir Adderley; he walked away from Chargers in 2022
Nasir Adderley retired from football in 2022 to prioritize his health.
Before joining the Colts, Nasir Adderley was a second-round pick in 2019 and started for three seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Nasir Adderley was 25 years old when he retired from football.
As a former starter with NFL experience, Nasir Adderley could provide valuable depth and skill to the Colts' defense.
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