Former Indianapolis Colts center Ryan Kelly has retired after 10 seasons in the NFL.
One of the most decorated offensive linemen in Indianapolis Colts history has retired after 10 years in the NFL.
Former Colts center Ryan Kelly took to social media on Friday to announce that he is stepping away from the game of football.
"10 seasons. What an incredible ride it was," Kelly posted on X (formerly Twitter). "I was blessed to be around some of the greatest people this sport has to offer. I always wanted to leave each place better than how I found it and with that I can hang my hat. Forever grateful for my family and brothers! Cheers."
Kelly released a more lengthy statement on Instagram, thanking the Colts and Minnesota Vikings organizations, as well as his former teammates and family. He reflected on what football and those relationships meant to him.
Last offseason, Kelly departed Indianapolis in free agency for the Vikings after nine seasons, four Pro Bowls, a Second-Team All-Pro honor, and the team's last two playoff runs.
The Colts made Kelly the 18th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft after a storied career at Alabama, and he started every game as a rookie. It was a sign of things to come that the team was finally serious about fixing an offensive line that had been in dire need of repair for years.
Two years later, the Colts drafted Quenton Nelson and Braden Smith to team up with Kelly, and the group formed one of the most formidable offensive lines in the NFL, with Kelly as its leader. With Kelly leading the way, the Colts finally had an identity: the "Run The Damn Ball" era was born.
From 2019 through 2024, the Colts averaged 129.2 yards per game on the ground and ranked in the top 10 of the league four times.
Kelly played 121 career games with the Colts and another eight with the Vikings in 2025, starting each.
According to Pro Football Focus, Kelly had seven seasons in which he allowed one or zero sacks, despite struggling with injuries at times. He was routinely ranked in the top half of the NFL among centers, receiving top-10 grades in 2018, 2019, and 2023.
After Kelly and his wife, Emma, suffered a miscarriage of their daughter, Mary Kate, in 2021, the couple focused on philanthropy and helping expectant families along their journey to parenthood. Kelly was even recognized as a finalist for the 2025 NFLPA Alan Page Community Award as a result.