The Indianapolis Colts looked to be trending toward the 2025 playoffs halfway through the regular season. Then injuries hit, and competition got tougher, and things, well...fell apart. Instead of the postseason, many players began making their vacation plans in December. It was a quick fall.
Some former Colts players, though, are still trying to get a Super Bowl ring. One, specifically, is on a team with an elite defense, but what makes things worse is that the team plays in the same division as Indy. That would be the Houston Texans, who haven't lost since November 2.
Linebacker E.J. Speed left Indianapolis after last season and found his way to Houston. Speed was chosen in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL draft by Indianapolis, and he became a full-time starter in 2023. In 2024, he started 15 games, had 142 tackles, and five passes defended.
Former Indianapolis Colts linebacker E.J. Speed still playing for the Super Bowl
Indy must have felt that Speed would be a bad fit in new defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo's defense, though, and decided to go in a different direction. As far as team success, Speed must be much happier with the Texans.
Houston is set to face the New England Patriots in the Divisional Round on Sunday. The Texans have a fighting chance to beat anyone they play because of their elite defense. In fact, they defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card Round even though Texans quarterback CJ Stroud fumbled five times.
Speed started nine games for Houston in 2025, but his defensive snap count diminished to 44 percent this year compared to 98 percent in 2024. It is doubtful if Speed is overly upset by that, however, as his team is continuing to play deep into January while his former team is home watching the playoff games.
The inside linebacker is only signed through 2025, though, and the Indianapolis Colts need to revamp their off-ball linebacker group this offseason. Speed has no guarantee to return for the Texans, so maybe there is a chance he finds his way back to the Colts.
He wouldn't offer anything in terms of pass rush, but Lou Anarumo's system doesn't really require that. He was solid in coverage, though far from great. Still, he was better than Colts starters Zaire Franklin and Germaine Pratt in that aspect. No matter if the Texans win a Super Bowl or not, there could be a chance that E.J. Speed will be back in Indy in 2026.