The Indianapolis Colts lost one of their gunners and a core special teamer in free agency to the Atlanta Falcons.
The Indianapolis Colts continue to change greatly in certain areas this offseason, as they have lost another key piece of their special teams.
Running back Tyler Goodson has signed a free-agent contract with the Atlanta Falcons.
Goodson, 25, saw occasional work in Indianapolis on offense, but became an integral part of special teams coordinator Brian Mason's kickoff and punt units.
Since 2024, Goodson has played 160 snaps on offense compared to 301 on special teams. He was one of Indy's two gunners on the punt team, opposite Ashton Dulin.
Goodson made 11 special teams tackles over the last two seasons and also returned 11 kickoffs for 297 yards (27.0 avg.).
Along with Goodson, fellow Colts core special teamers Segun Olubi and Rodney Thomas II have found new homes in free agency this offseason.
Goodson originally came into the NFL as an undrafted rookie out of Iowa in 2022, signing with the Green Bay Packers. He spent his rookie season on the practice squad and was waived the next summer during preseason roster cuts, when he was quickly scooped up by the Colts.
In three seasons and 33 games in Indianapolis, Goodson ran the ball 54 times for 264 yards (4,9 avg.) and a touchdown, and also caught 19 passes for 103 yards (5.4 avg.) and another touchdown.
He found his footing on special teams after he was a part of one of the most infamous plays in recent Colts history as a first-time player in 2023.
Indianapolis Colts running back Tyler Goodson (31) lies on the turf after missing a catch on fourth down Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, during a game against the Houston Texans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.In the final game of the regular season, a win would give the Colts the AFC South title and a trip to the playoffs, but a loss would send them home for the year. The Colts were down by six points with 1:06 left in the game. They had the ball on 4th-and-1 at the Houston Texans' 15-yard line. Quarterback Gardner Minshew dropped back to pass and swung the ball to his left for Goodson. Minshew's pass was inaccurate, but it hit Goodson's hands. The ball fell incomplete, and the Colts' season was over.
Minshew was already considered an unserious starting quarterback option by that point, but it turned Goodson, a player in his first season of action, into an immediate source of Colts fans' fury.
He took responsibility for his role in the play in the locker room after the game, vowing to never make such a mistake again. Goodson rebounded from that moment to become a beloved member of the locker room and vital in a different area of the roster.
Goodson joins defensive end Samson Ebukam as former Colts to join the Falcons this offseason.