The Colts on Tuesday signed free agent defensive tackle Jerry Tillery.
The 6-foot-6, 295 pound Tillery spent the first three-and-a-half seasons of his NFL career with the Los Angeles Chargers; the former first-round pick, selected No. 28 overall by the Chargers in the 2019 NFL Draft, appeared in 54 games (29 starts) for the Chargers and recorded 10.5 sacks, 106 tackles, 33 quarterback hits and 12 tackles for loss.
After leaving the Chargers in 2022, Tillery spent time with the Las Vegas Raiders, Minnesota Vikings and, most recently, the Kansas City Chiefs. In 2025, Tillery appeared in 17 games for the Chiefs and tallied 2.5 sacks, 20 tackles and two quarterback hits.
In his seven-year career, Tillery has played in a total of 117 games (53 starts), with career totals of 14 sacks, 195 tackles, four passes defensed, three fumble recoveries, 46 quarterback hits and 17 tackles for loss.
Tillery played collegiately at Notre Dame from 2015-18, overlapping with current Colts guard Quenton Nelson from 2015-17.
View photos highlighting the career of defensive tackle Jerry Tillery, who joins the Indianapolis Colts after signing in free agency.
Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (22) runs against Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jerry Tillery (99) during an NFL football game Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jerry Tillery is seen during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jerry Tillery motions to fans as he walks to practice during Back Together Weekend at the team's NFL football training camp, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in St. Joseph, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jerry Tillery (99) tries to block a pass as Seattle Seahawks guard Christian Haynes (64) and center Federico Maranges (62) double team him during an NFL preseason football game Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jerry Tillery (99) rushes against Chicago Bears center Drew Dalman (52) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Friday, Aug. 22, 2025 in Kansas City, Mo. The Bears defeated the Chiefs, 29-27. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jerry Tillery, right, rushes against Chicago Bears center Drew Dalman, center, as Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, left, throws during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Friday, Aug. 22, 2025 in Kansas City, Mo. The Bears defeated the Chiefs, 29-27. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) is sacked by Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jerry Tillery (99) as Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum (64) watches during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is sacked by Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jerry Tillery, left, during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jerry Tillery is seen against the Baltimore Ravens during an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jerry Tillery (99) tackles Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) during an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Kansas City Chiefs players celebrate after Chiefs defensive tackle Jerry Tillery, holding the ball, recovered a fumble during the second half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann),
Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (22) runs against Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jerry Tillery (99) during an NFL football game Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jerry Tillery is seen against the Washington Commanders during an NFL football game Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) scrambles for yardage past Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jerry Tillery (99) and defensive end Chris Jones (95) during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 6, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Chris Jones (95) and defensive tackle Jerry Tillery (99) in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Houston Texans center Jake Andrews (60) and Texans offensive tackle Tytus Howard (71) block Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jerry Tillery (99) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jerry Tillery (99) lines up against the Los Angeles Chargers during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jerry Tillery puts his helmet on during the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jerry Tillery arrives at the stadium before an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jerry Tillery is seen during an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
