Ryan Kelly
Getty
Ryan Kelly has called it a career
Former Indianapolis Colts center Ryan Kelly has announced on social media that he will be retiring after 10 seasons in the NFL.
Ryan Kelly
10 seasons. What an incredible ride it was. 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
Indianapolis selected Kelly with the 18th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft and played 9 seasons with the organization. In his time with the Colts, the center earned four Pro Bowl nods and was a second-team All-Pro in the 2022 season.
Before being drafted by Indy, Kelly played four seasons of collegiate football with the Alabama Crimson Tide.
The center was last with the Minnesota Vikings on a two-year deal. With his retirement, Ryan Kelly will forfeit the remaining half of his contract.
In his last season in the NFL, Kelly was graded as one of the best centers in the league by Pro Football Focus. The center was the fourth-best in pass block (77.7) and fifth-best in run block (82.6), with Kelly given the fourth-best overall grade from the publications (82.2).
Now, after 10 seasons, Ryan Kelly will hang up the gloves. While the player has announced his decision, a one-day contract to retire as a member of the Indianapolis Colts is not out of the window.
Ryan Kelly Receives Tribute From Colts
Ryan Kelly
GettyRyan Kelly played 9 of his 10 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts
Ryan Kelly received a quick tribute from the team that drafted him 10 years ago. The Indianapolis Colts posted on social media: congrats Ryan, with a blue heart emoji.
The Minnesota Vikings also released a tribute on social media for the center, congratulating the newly retired player: Congratulations on your 10-year career, @ryan_kelly70.
The center played 121 games in his career, starting all of them. In his 9 years with the Colts, Kelly allowed 14 sacks. In his single season with Minnesota, the center allowed just one sack.
How Did the Colts Replace Ryan Kelly?
Tanor Bortolini
GettyIndianapolis Colts OL Tanor Bortolini
While losing Ryan Kelly was a blow for the Indianapolis Colts, they didn’t take long to find a replacement.
Tanor Bortolini, originally a guard, made the switch to center and seemed to excel at his new spot.
“The Colts’ offensive line somewhat fell apart late in the season due to injuries, but before that, it was arguably the best front in the NFL. Indianapolis replaced center Ryan Kelly… with Tanor Bortolini … [and] played at a very high level in 2025,” Zoltan Buday wrote for PFF.
“In fact, Bortolini was one of the top breakout players in the league, regardless of position. The Wisconsin product finished his first season as a full-timer starter with an 82.6 PFF overall grade, which ranked third among centers.”
Now entering his third season in the NFL, Bortolini can be the next long-term center as Ryan Kelly was and could earn accolades as the newly retired player did.
Pro Football Focus named the Colts’ offensive line as the second-best in the league.