Shaquille (Shaq) Leonard, one of the greatest HBCU NFL players of the modern era was spotted on the sideline of a high school football game in his hometown of Lake View, South Carolina over the weekend. The NFL free agent and all-time leading tackler in the history of South Carolina State University football wasn’t there just to support his former team, the former NFL defensive Rookie of the Year was holding a clipboard, coaching up players on his former high school team, The Lake View Gators.
The X.com account, Andrew Prue posted a video to the social media platform showing Shaq Leonard, wearing a gold Lake View high shirt coaching players as they broke down a huddle and headed back to the field. The post indicates that he was coaching as part of the staff.
The caption reads:
COACH MANIAC! ? Former #Colts Pro Bowl LB & Free Agent Shaq Leonard (@dsleon45) is helping his local high school in SC as a part of the @lvhs_gators coaching staff. Gators won tonight 37-0 The SC State All Time tackle leader will be inducted into the @SCStateAthletic HOF next Fri
Currently an NFL free agent, Leonard was waived by the Indianapolis Colts in November of 2023, by the start of December, Leonard had been signed by the Philadelphia Eagles where he played in five games, recording 23 tackles and one sack. Leonard went unsigned over the 2024 offseason a few seasons removed from signing a $99.25 million extension with the Colts in 2021 where he became to highest paid player at his position.
Shaq Leonard spoke with the Indianapolis Star’s Kyle Smedley ahead of NFL training camp and was candid about signing with a team in 2024 and the overall status of his career.
“If it happens, it happens. If it don’t, it don’t. I think throughout my career I’ve had a great career, even if I do step away from it. … I’m enjoying life and just waiting on that opportunity.” Leonard told the Star. “If it happens, it happens. If it don’t, it don’t. I think throughout my career I’ve had a great career, even if I do step away from it. … I’m enjoying life and just waiting on that opportunity.”
If we have see the final play of Shaq Leonards’ NFL career, he will leave the game with as impressive an NFL resume as he did in his legendary HBCU football career. In 75 regular-season games , Leonard racked up 637 tackles, 31 passes defensed, 17 forced fumbles, 16 sacks and 12 interceptions in six seasons in the league.
Shaq Leonard hasn’t been a stranger in his hometown since going pro either. The self proclaimed “country boy” has made a habit of giving back to his hometown vis his Maniac Foundation, which has upgraded a community park, given tout urkeys at Thanksgiving, and put on his annual youth football camp in Lake View, South Carolina.
With the HBCU football legend’s NFL career in the currently balance, it seems like Shaq Leonard might have already entered the next chapter of his football journey, and its no surprise that it’s back home on the same football field where he grew into a star player.