Darius Leonard is making a huge change in 2022. After being known professionally as Darius since being drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in 2018, Leonard said at training camp on Tuesday that he would like to go by his middle name, Shaquille, moving forward.
The All-Pro linebacker wanted reporters to call him that name since it’s the name that most people in his life call him. He spoke on that when he logged on to Twitter.
“I went by Shaquille my whole life and I understand that it’ll be a hard change to be called Shaquille after being called Darius for 4 years. It’s not a huge deal and it wouldn’t be any hard feelings if you called me Darius. Shaquille is my middle name that I’ve went by since 95,” Leonard tweeted.
Leonard is set to start camp on the physically unable to perform list (PUP) after having back surgery last month.
Leonard said there is currently no timetable for his return to action, though he is not expected to miss significant time in the upcoming season.
Leonard had 122 total tackles, four interceptions, and eight forced fumbles in 16 games last season. In four seasons with the Colts, he has been a first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowler three times and won the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year Award in 2018.
