On this installment of The Person Behind the Pads Podcast, JJ Stankevitz sits down with Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner about balancing being an elite NFL player and involved father and the challenge of spending time with his kids during the season in addition to the respect he has for his wife and connecting with other players in the locker room who are also fathers.

Indianapolis Colts Podcasts will bring you exclusive interviews and in-depth breakdowns every week with our lineup of shows, including Instant Reaction, The Colts Show with JJ Stankevitz, The Jack Doyle Podcast and Inside Football with Rick Venturi. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts, and you can watch episodes on YouTube as well.

<p>Indianapolis Colts Podcasts will bring you exclusive interviews and in-depth breakdowns every week with our lineup of shows, including Instant Reaction, The Colts Show with JJ Stankevitz, The Jack Doyle Podcast and Inside Football with Rick Venturi. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts, and you can watch episodes on YouTube as well.</p>

Indianapolis Colts Podcasts will bring you exclusive interviews and in-depth breakdowns every week.

Indianapolis Colts Podcasts

Indianapolis Colts Podcasts will bring you exclusive interviews and in-depth breakdowns every week with our lineup of shows, including Instant Reaction, The Colts Show with JJ Stankevitz and Inside Football with Rick Venturi. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts, and you can watch episodes on YouTube as well.

<p>Indianapolis Colts Podcasts will bring you exclusive interviews and in-depth breakdowns every week with our lineup of shows, including Instant Reaction, The Colts Show with JJ Stankevitz and Inside Football with Rick Venturi. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts, and you can watch episodes on YouTube as well.</p>

DeForest Bucker: Person Behind the Pads

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/7ba4b680-60e1-4a48-9d80-affe014ccada/transcript

JJ Stankevitz is joined on this week's podcast by rookie linebacker Bryce Boettcher, who was selected in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft...and the 13th round of the 2024 MLB Draft. Boettcher explains what it felt like to get drafted after his two-sport path (0:47) and what it was like facing Tyler Warren in college (6:45). JJ and Bryce then run through five questions to get to know him (7:52).

Football vs. baseball & 5 questions with Bryce Boettcher | The Colts Show

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/8353e3cb-3e50-4180-b048-b44e0142dbd5/transcript

The Last Word, the off-season radio home for the Indianapolis Colts, is back this week with Casey Vallier and Matt Taylor. They started off by talking about their initial thoughts of the 2026 Colts schedule (1:43). Matt Taylor was joined by Chris Gahl, Executive Vice President & Chief Business Officer for Visit Indy about the Colts possibly hosting the NFL Draft (11:56). Lastly, Casey and Matt talk about what is more likely to happen – the NFL establishing a 4-team international division or the NFL playing 16 international games a year with every team playing overseas on an annual basis (31:37).

Colts 2026 Schedule Breakdown | The Last Word

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/9eec4cf0-6d07-4b9d-ae53-b44a0135884e/transcript

Casey Vallier is joined by Colts Ring of Honor wide receiver Bill Brooks to break down the Colts’ 2026 schedule.

The guys begin by discussing the Colts’ trip to London to face the Washington Commanders, marking the team’s third international game in the last four seasons (:21), then dive into the Colts’ two primetime matchups — a Week 2 Sunday Night Football showdown at the Kansas City Chiefs and a Week 11 Thursday Night Football matchup against the Houston Texans (6:11).

Next, Casey and Bill examine how spread out the AFC South games are compared to previous seasons (12:16), identify what they believe is the toughest stretch of the schedule during the first five weeks (14:10) and discuss where the most favorable stretch of games could come for the Colts (15:22).

The episode wraps up with the guys sharing which matchup on the schedule intrigues them the most heading into the 2026 season (16:57).

2026 Indianapolis Colts schedule release | Instant Reaction

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/9ea43e11-3234-43f7-8d8c-b44a00ee34c9/transcript

DeForest Bucker: Person Behind the Pads

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