It took a lot for the Indianapolis Colts to go from a 4-12-1 team in 2022, to a 9-8 team that was one game away from the playoffs in 2023. The Colts brought in new head coach Shane Steichen and that started a shift in the culture for Indianapolis. However, Indianapolis also saw some great performances from a ton of players.
Michael Pittman Jr. thrived as the team’s top receiving option, Jonathan Taylor and Zack Moss dominated on the ground, the offensive line bounced back, Gardner Minshew did a great job filling in at quarterback, and the defense saw several different guys have elite years. While some of these players got the praise they deserved, others were overlooked.
Kevin Patra, in a recent piece for NFL.com, named the unsung hero for each team during the 2023 season. Patra defined an unsung hero as “players whose contributions WEREN'T noted with Pro Bowl nods or All-Pro selections. Some names you know, some are appreciated by only hardcore fans and some are simply surprise difference-makers who don't get the attention they deserve.”
For the Colts, guys like Zaire Franklin and Bernhard Raimann were acknowledged, but the official selection was Kenny Moore II.
Kenny Moore II named unsung hero of Colts in 2023
Whenever it’s time to name an underrated or unsung player, Kenny Moore II is always brought up. Patra even acknowledged that, referring to Moore as “perennially underrated.” It has become so much of a theme throughout Moore’s time in the NFL that he pushed back on the narrative after he made his first Pro Bowl.
While this could be viewed as the easy answer, it’s still pretty accurate. Kenny Moore II had one of the best seasons of his career. He had 93 tackles, eight for a loss, and three interceptions, two that were returned for a touchdown. As Patra highlighted, Moore’s “10.0 target EPA ranked seventh among all slot defenders, per Next Gen Stats. Never afraid to stick his nose into the fray, Moore finished with 26 run stops, tied for most among nickel corners in 2023.”
While Moore might be considered unsung, he’s hoping for the recognition in a contract this offseason. He’ll be a free agent and he proved this year that he’s still arguably the best nickel in all of football. Whether it’s in Indy with the Colts or somewhere else, Moore should be getting a nice contract this summer.