INDIANAPOLIS — The next big piece in the Colts’ purposeful demolition of their own roster has been removed.
Indianapolis has traded Pro Bowl-caliber defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the San Francisco 49ers for a fourth-round draft pick, getting what it could in return for a player who was clearly frustrated with the state of the franchise.
Buckner has done little to hide his dissatisfaction the past two weeks.
He has given the Colts everything he could. Buckner, picked up in a trade before the 2020 season, played through a dislocated joint in his hand, a torn UCL in his left elbow, a badly sprained ankle, a recurring back issue and a herniated disc in his neck that threatened his career in 2025.
Frustrated and furious after the team’s collapse in 2022, Buckner was convinced to stay by former general manager Chris Ballard, who pitched a vision for Indianapolis that saw Buckner leading the defense for a contender.
“I have no regrets or anything about coming to Indy,” Buckner said. “I love Indy, my family was able to grow here, we built a lot of great relationships here in the building and outside. I have no regrets."
Ballard’s vision never materialized.
Even though Buckner fought hard to make it happen.
Buckner was the linchpin for a pass rush that produced 26 sacks in the first eight games of the 2025 season, helping the Colts get off to a 7-1 start. When he suffered the herniated disc in Pittsburgh, Indianapolis produced only 13 sacks in the remaining nine games, although Buckner flew to Panama for stem cell treatments to return for one game near the end of the season.
Ultimately, Buckner underwent surgery on the neck, telling reporters at the time that the herniated disc had forced him to question his football mortality for the first time. Buckner rehabilitated his body in the offseason, hoping the Colts could recapture the magic of the first half of the 2025 season.
When it became clear they could not in a franchise-altering loss to the Titans, Buckner finally let his frustration show.
“I’m sick and tired of the same song and dance every year,” Buckner said.
Buckner was even more frustrated after Sunday’s 16-10 loss to Minnesota.
Typically cordial with the media, Buckner was instead short and terse when asked about his feelings on the team’s skid.
“I don’t know. I’ll let you guess,” Buckner said. “Yeah, frustrated. It’s the same thing. We lost.”
The big defensive tackle also had few answers for what the Colts might do to turn things around in 2025.
“Couldn’t tell you,” Buckner said.
Buckner will no longer have to worry about that now.
Indianapolis has traded the 32-year-old to a contender, picking up draft capital in exchange for giving Buckner a chance to pursue his ultimate goal. The Colts made the playoffs in his first season in Indianapolis, then never went back.
“All I care about is winning,” Buckner said. “That’s my main thing. Winning and being able to compete for Super Bowls.”
Trading Buckner has been expected since Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon fired general manager Chris Ballard, a move that indicated a complete and total rebuild was on the way.
Indianapolis signaled its intentions by dealing eight-time Pro Bowl guard Quenton Nelson on Tuesday afternoon, the first of what is expected to be many moves.
Buckner was one of the most valuable assets the Colts had to offer. With Buckner now in San Francisco, the question is how much Indianapolis will be able to get for the rest of the players on the roster, led by superstar running back Jonathan Taylor.
Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cover the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: DeForest Buckner is latest Colts to get traded; what it means