For years, Indianapolis Colts fans have grown to know and love defensive tackle DeForest Buckner for his performance on the field and his character off of it. Buckner is one of the league's best DTs, but he's also gained a well-deserved reputation as a leader.
Currently, the Colts defense is having to power through without Buckner, who is currently injured, and to put it plainly, it's a big loss. He leads all defensive tackles in quarterback pressures and tackles-for-loss this season, and his missed tackle rate (just 4.5 percent) is among the lowest, too.
Buckner is battling to come off injured reserve from a Week 9 neck injury, but in the meantime, his presence is still felt in the locker room. As noted, he's become known for his leadership, which is why he's been named a team captain for seven years, and he's been recognized by the league for his outstanding character on and off the field, too, with another possible award coming his way this year.
Colts DT DeForest Buckner has been nominated for the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award
The Colts announced that DeForest Buckner has been nominated, for the fifth year in a row, for the NFL's Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award. The last Colt to win the award was Frank Gore in 2016; last year, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen won.
The award is meant to celebrate players who exemplify "fair play, respect for the game and opponents, and integrity in competition." It was named after Art Rooney, who originally founded the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1933. Each team nominates one player, and from those 32 players, eight finalists will be chosen. The winner is selected through a vote of current NFL players.
Though Buckner has been nominated multiple times, he's never been a finalist. But there's no denying that he deserves it; Buckner is well-respected throughout the league, not just for being a standout athlete, but for being a great person, too.
“You hear so many good things about him just as a man – what he stands for, his work ethic," former defensive coordinator Gus Bradley has previously said of Buckner. "But I think until you’re around him on a day-in and day-out basis, where you see it’s consistent – there’s no up or down with the man. He comes to work, he’s a true pro regardless of the situation."
Last season, Buckner was the recipient of the NFL's Ed Block Courage Award for the Indianapolis Colts, with his teammates choosing him for his courage both on and off the field. He's become a beloved member of the Indianapolis team due to his strong work ethic, his mentorship of younger players, his strong character, and more.