The Indianapolis Colts have re-signed kicker Blake Grupe on a one-year contract worth up to $1.4 million, initiating a competition for the starting kicker position ahead of the 2026 NFL season. This move follows the season-ending knee injury suffered by Spencer Shrader early in the 2025 campaign, which forced the team to seek alternatives at the kicker spot. Grupe, a former New Orleans Saints kicker, impressed the Colts by converting every field goal and extra point during his brief five-game stint last season.
Kicking Challenges Sparked Early Season Changes
After Shrader’s ACL and MCL tear against the Las Vegas Raiders, Indianapolis initially turned to Michael Badgley, but he struggled with inconsistencies, particularly on extra points, causing the Colts to part ways with him. Facing a critical need, they signed Blake Grupe in December 2025, who delivered flawless accuracy, making 11 of 11 field goals and 10 of 10 extra points in his appearances. Despite Shrader’s solid performances before his injury—including a 13-for-14 field goal record and a clutch 45-yard game-winning kick against the Denver Broncos—the Colts are determined to finalize the kicking role through open competition.
Grupe’s Key Moments Highlight Kicker Potential
One of Grupe’s standout performances came during the debut of quarterback Philip Rivers as a starter after coming out of retirement. In a narrow 18-16 loss to the Super Bowl-bound Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field, Grupe delivered a career-long 60-yard field goal with 47 seconds remaining, showcasing his leg strength under intense pressure in a hostile environment. This kick marked a personal milestone and underscored his value to the Colts amid ongoing uncertainty about the team’s kicking reliability.
The #Colts and K Blake Grupe have agreed to terms on a one-year deal worth up to $1.4 million, per his agent Mike Delle Donne. Grupe was 11-for-11 on field goals in five games after Indy signed him in December. pic.twitter.com/8iXrQ2FgSk — Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 8, 2026
CAREER LONG FOR BLAKE GRUPE 🎯📺CBS pic.twitter.com/1oCQukF0tx — Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) December 15, 2025
Background on Colts’ Previous Kicker Issues
The Colts have experienced ongoing difficulties securing a consistent and reliable kicker in recent years. They invested heavily in Matt Gay in 2023 with a historic four-year, $22.5 million contract, the largest ever for a free agent kicker at that time. Although Gay initially performed well, his accuracy declined in 2024, notably missing six field goals from 50 yards or more. This inconsistency contributed to the Colts’ disappointing performance, especially after their Week 11 bye in 2025, which coincided with struggles from Badgley and ultimately led to the team’s collapse late in the season.
Anticipating a Competitive Kicking Battle in Indianapolis
With Spencer Shrader fully recovered and eager to reclaim his position after his unfortunate injury, and Blake Grupe proven under pressure during his brief tenure, the Colts now face a high-stakes competition for the kicking job. Grupe’s story is compelling, having found success immediately after being released by the Saints in late November 2025. Indianapolis’ decision to bring him back signals their intent to resolve their kicking uncertainty once and for all and build reliability in a position that has historically been undervalued yet pivotal.
As the Colts prepare for the 2026 season, the duel between Grupe and Shrader will be crucial not only for who wears the kicking responsibilities but also for the team’s overall success. Finding stability at kicker will be essential to avoid the costly mistakes that contributed to previous losses and could help the Colts maintain competitiveness in a demanding AFC South division.
The #Colts and K Blake Grupe have agreed to terms on a one-year deal worth up to $1.4 million, per his agent Mike Delle Donne. Grupe was 11-for-11 on field goals in five games after Indy signed him in December. pic.twitter.com/8iXrQ2FgSk
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 8, 2026
CAREER LONG FOR BLAKE GRUPE‼️
📺CBS pic.twitter.com/1oCQukF0tx
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) December 15, 2025
