Riley Leonard’s journey from Durham to South Bend and now to the NFL came full circle when the Indianapolis Colts selected him in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. After transferring from Duke to Notre Dame, Leonard quickly adjusted to a new offensive scheme, leading the Fighting Irish with resilience and maturity. Though injuries limited his time on the field, his leadership and raw potential were enough to capture NFL attention.
Colts general manager Chris Ballard described Leonard as “a high-ceiling player with all the tools—tough, smart, and coachable.” While he won’t start immediately behind veteran Gardner Minshew and second-year man Anthony Richardson, Leonard is expected to compete for a developmental role and possibly serve as a long-term backup or surprise starter down the line.
At Notre Dame, Leonard impressed scouts with his athleticism, arm strength, and willingness to study the playbook deeply. He completed 62% of his passes and added over 400 yards rushing in a shortened season.
Irish head coach Marcus Freeman called Leonard “a true competitor who left it all on the field.” For Colts fans and Irish Nation alike, the hope is that Leonard becomes yet another Notre Dame success story under the NFL spotlight.
