INDIANAPOLIS – Indianapolis Colts faces Anthony Castonzo today announced his retirement from the NFL. The 10-year-old veteran started all 144 regular season games and eight postseason competitions in which he appeared with the Colts since he was selected by the team in the first round (22nd overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft.
Anthony Castonzo’s statement:
“As a child, it was my dream to play in the NFL. I played my first full season of tackle football in the second series. Now, I played my last. Now that I am sitting here, after 10 years of career in the NFL, I am extremely proud of all hard work and sacrifice that allowed me to turn this dream into an objective and, finally, into a reality unlike anything I could have even imagined.
More than anything, I want to thank everyone who supported me along the way, especially those who believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. So, thanks to the GMs who believed in me. Thanks to all the coaches who taught me so much in my 25 years of football. Thanks to the fans who are so dedicated to the game that we all love. Thanks to my teammates who became friends and to those I now call brothers. Thanks to all the strength coaches, coaches and medical staff who gave me the plan to build (and sometimes rebuild) the best player I could be. Thanks to all the support staff who helped make my daily work experience a joy. And thanks to my family who are each of these things and more.
I was fortunate to have been drafted by the Colts ten years ago. I was even more fortunate to spend my entire career here in Indianapolis. Indianapolis Colts is a special organization with special property that fills the organization with special people at all levels. I really believe that this is the best organization in all sports. I have been fortunate to be able to call myself Colt for the past ten years and will consider myself a Colt for the rest of my life.
I gave football a lot, but it gave me a lot more. I close the book on the football chapter of my life, full of memories and moments that I wouldn’t trade for anything. So, thanks, last but not least, to football. “
Statement by Colts owner and CEO Jim Irsay:
“The Colts have been blessed with many talented strikers throughout our rich history and Anthony Castonzo is among the best to represent Horseshoe. For 10 seasons, Anthony has consistently dealt with major pass rushers in one of the most difficult positions to play in. He the leader of our offensive line quickly developed and set a standard for preparation, strength and conditioning and play. Anthony deserves a great deal of credit for helping our offensive line mature in one of the best NFL units. He will be sorely missed, but we appreciate AC’s contribution to our organization and congratulate him on a fantastic career. “
Statement by Colts General Manager Chris Ballard:
“Anthony has been a pillar of this team for the past 10 seasons. He played one of the most difficult positions in the game at an extremely high level for a long time. Anthony was a veteran leader in our locker room and we will be sorely missed. We are grateful for all your contributions to Horseshoe. We love AC and we know that he will succeed in the next phase of his life. “
Statement by Colts head coach Frank Reich:
“I was a technical assistant to the Colts when Anthony was selected in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft. From day one, I knew he would be a special player. Anthony has a brilliant mind and he was a technician both in the field and in the study of films. He is a great leader who has put as much energy into improving his teammates as in improving his own game. I appreciate the opportunity to see you grow as a professional from the beginning of your career to the end. I wish him the best in his post-football career. “
In 2020, Castonzo debuted in 12 matches and was part of an offensive line that drew with the second lowest number of allowed sacks (21.0). The Colts recorded four games this season without allowing a sack, which tied for fourth in the NFL. The attack also ranked among the top 10 in the league in points per game (28.2, ninth), runs over 10 yards (64, sixth) and first downhill runs per game (22.8, tied for 10th). Castonzo helped pave the way for running back Jonathan Taylor, who became only the fifth rookie in the franchise’s history to reach 1,000 yards in a single season. Taylor finished third in the NFL in running yards (1,169) and scrimmage yards (1,468) this season.
In 2019, Castonzo started all 16 games for the sixth time in his career. He was part of the only offensive line in the NFL to initiate the same five strikers in all 16 games of the regular season. The group tied with the ninth lowest number of bags allowed (32.0) in the league. Castonzo helped the Colts record a rush attack in the top 10 for the first time since 2001, with the team bragging about the league’s seventh-ranked rushing attack (133.1 yards per game). The average of 4.52 yards per transport from Indianapolis was the fifth highest total for a single season in the franchise’s history. In addition, Colts Marlon Mack’s running back (1,091 running yards) became the first Indianapolis player to record a 1,000-yard racing season since 2016.
Castonzo started 11 regular season games and two postseason matches on the left tackle in 2018. He was part of an offensive line that led the NFL with six games with no allowed sacks. The Colts also allowed the least number of bags (18.0) in the league. In weeks 5-12, quarterback Andrew Luck tried 239 passes without being fired, which was the third longest streak in NFL history. The unit recorded five consecutive games with no allowed sacks, which tied for the third largest number of games in league history since 1982. Castonzo started both postseason disputes in Indianapolis and helped the Colts race to a franchise record of 200 yards during the AFC Volta Wild Card.
In 2017, Castonzo started all 16 games. In 2016, he opened race tracks for running back Frank Gore to record the team’s first 1,000-yard running season since 2007. Castonzo participated in 1,090 offensive snaps in 2014, which led all NFL players. He assisted an attack in Indianapolis that set a single season franchise record for net yards (6,506) and net pass yards (4,894) in 2014.