The Indianapolis Colts announced on Thursday that they have released kicker Matt Gay after two seasons with the team. The Colts save $2.75 million against the salary cap with the move, which also results in a $4 million dead money charge for the team. Gay’s release makes Spencer Shrader the lone kicker on the Colts’ roster.

This decision was surprising since Gay still has two years left on his four-year, $22.5 million contract, which he signed as a free agent before the 2023 season, making him the highest-paid kicker at the time.

Gay was a fifth-round pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2019,  playing there one season but producing his career lowest numbers. He went on to spent three seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, helping them win the Super Bowl in the 2021 season, before joining the Colts.

Over 33 games with the Colts, Gay made 64 of 78 field goals (82.1 percent) and 68 of 69 PATs (98.6 percent. During the 2024 season, Gay made 31-of-37 field goal attempts for 83.8%. Across six seasons in his career, Gay has made 165-of-193 field goal attempts for an overall 85.5% completion rate. He’s made 206-of-214 extra point attempts.

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