Most Indianapolis Colts fans recall the sudden departure of a fan favorite player from the team just a few years ago.
That player is Isaiah Rodgers Sr., who uses that very unfortunate experience as motivation to continue this second-chance chapter of his NFL career.
Isaiah Rodgers’ current jersey number is tied to his suspension back when he was with the Colts
The Colts drafted Isaiah Rodgers Sr. in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. His ability as a return specialist seemed to be his most likely role with the Colts, and it helped him get on the field early in his career. He eventually would earn the opportunity to prove himself on defense as well.
By year three, he was starting the majority of the games he appeared in at CB and was entering the 2023 season as the projected day one starter for the first time in his career. Sadly, that never came to fruition with the news of Rodgers being suspended by the NFL for violating the league’s gambling policy. Rodgers was found to be betting on elements of Colts games and, as a result, was forced to miss the 2023 season and was released by the Colts.
For some people, that could have been the end of their NFL career, especially for a former sixth-round pick and mainly depth piece like Rodgers was for the majority of his three-year career at that point. Instead, he served his suspension in 2023 and was reinstated by the league ahead of the 2024 season. He ended up joining the Philadelphia Eagles and was a part of their Super Bowl win this past year. He used that year and experience to sign a new deal with the Minnesota Vikings and has a chance to be a day one starter for their defense. He has worked his way all the way back to the spot he earned in 2023, and he has chosen the jersey number two as a reminder of how thankful he is for this second chance he has earned.