Wide receiver Alec Pierce announced on Monday on The Pat McAfee Show that he has agreed to re-sign with the Colts, ensuring the NFL's top downfield threat and a relentless, game-changing playmaker remains in Indianapolis for the long term.

"I knew where my heart was," Pierce said on Monday. "I love the city of Indianapolis."

Pierce signed his extension following a 2025 season in which he led the NFL in yards per catch for the second consecutive year, averaging 21.3 yards per catch. He set career highs in targets (84), receptions (47) and yards (1,003), and became the first player to score six-plus receiving touchdowns and average 20-plus yards per reception in consecutive seasons since Pro Football Hall of Famer James Lofton in 1983-84.

Over the course of the last two seasons, Pierce has surged to the top of the NFL's wide receiver rankings thanks to his speed, ability to haul in contested catches and overall natural athleticism and feel for the game.

"I think he's made huge strides in his game," head coach Shane Steichen said at the 2026 NFL Combine. "Obviously he's a big home run threat for us as we know, but the intermediate stuff, the way he's coming in and out of breaks, at the top of routes, the comebacks, the one-on-ones on the outside, running in-breaking stuff, I mean, he's made a lot of strides in all those areas. And even the 50-50 balls down the field, I mean, he's making those 70 percent of the time now. You throw it up and you got a chance to go make a play, so it's been awesome to see."

In 2024, Pierce averaged a whopping 22.3 yards per reception and brought in a career-high seven touchdowns, two of which were 60-plus-yard receptions. Pierce set a career-long 66-yard touchdown in Week 18 of the 2025 season with a reception from rookie quarterback Riley Leonard.

"I think he just has a natural feel, too, at tracking the ball," Steichen said. "I think he was naturally born with tracking the football down the field. And obviously if you put it in his vicinity, he's able to rotate his body certain ways...and go make those plays."

The Colts selected Pierce in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft after wide receivers coach Reggie Wayne attended the Cincinnati Bearcat's Pro Day and saw Pierce's potential. Pierce's viability as a true downfield threat took some time to materialize at the pro level, but the Colts' belief in the young wide receiver never faltered. The Colts have reaped the benefits as Pierce has grown into himself over the course of the last two seasons, and now for the foreseeable future, they will continue to do so.

"Alec Pierce, I've always believed in," Colts general manager Chris Ballard said. "He's excellent. He's a really freaking good player, and he makes some really good plays for us. And he's still young. He's 25 years old."