With both the UFL and NFL in their offseason lulls, it's the perfect time to dive into some offseason content. As the UFL awaits the next wave of NFL signings for the 2026 player acquisition cycle, we're taking a look back at how each NFL team has utilized spring football as a developmental pipeline during the modern era of spring football since 2022. We continue the series with the Indianapolis Colts, highlighting every spring league player the organization has signed over the past four years.
2022 Cycle:
With the reboot of the USFL the Colts did not sign any spring football players during the first signing cycle.
2023 Cycle:
After not signing any spring football players in 2022, the Colts would sign two players from the USFL in 2023. D.J. Montgomery (Michigan Panthers), and La’Michael Pettway (Birmingham Stallions) both earned contracts during the preseason, with Pettway getting released at the conclusion of training camp. Montgomery, who had a previous stint in 2022 with Indianapolis rejoined the team in 2023. He’d appear in several games for the team in 2023, remaining with the team through the 2025 season. The colts opted to not re-sign him after this past season and remains a free agent.
2024 Cycle:
Post merger of the XFL, and USFL the Colts would sign three players from the newly formed UFL. Levi Bell (Michigan Panthers), and Mike Panasiuk (St. Louis Battlehawks) both signed contracts for the team, ultimately getting released at the conclusion of training camp. The team would sign defensive lineman Josiah Bronson (Memphis Showboats) to their practice squad during the season, where he’d remain with the team for about six weeks before his release.
2025 Cycle:
In 2025, the team signed Marcus Haynes (San Antonio Brahmas) who’d be released at the conclusion of training camp.
The Colts have signed six players over the last five seasons, with Wide Receiver D.J. Montgomery providing the most value to the team. Currently the Colts have no players with spring football ties on the roster going into training camp for the 2026 season.The Colts have yet to sign any players from the UFL so far this signing cycle so far. UFL to NFL signings will continue once the teams begin training camp, later in July.