DeForest Buckner is one of the toughest, most ruthless and intimidating players you'll see on a football field.
The defensive tackle, standing at 6-foot-7 and weighing 295 pounds, cuts an imposing figure, especially in full pads and a helmet. He's known around the NFL for his physicality and grit, and is widely recognized as one of the toughest men on the Colts' roster.
Off the field, though, Buckner gives a bit of a different impression. He's tough and determined, but he's also the guy that makes his teammates wear the Oregon Duck costume when their college teams lose to his alma mater, the guy that will crack jokes with reporters and the guy who sports a warm and friendly smile on his face more often than not.
He's the kind of leader that notices if a teammate seems out of sorts and makes the time to sit down with them, and the kind of person who wholeheartedly donates both his time and his money to causes close to his heart without needing, or wanting, any recognition for it.
In his 10 years in the NFL, Buckner has dedicated his time to a multitude of organizations in a variety of ways, but few resonate with him the way Kicking the Stigma does.
Launched by the Irsay family and the Colts in 2020, Kicking the Stigma aims to raise awareness for the mental health crisis in Indiana and combat the feelings of shame associated with mental illness. The initiative also works to encourage everyone, professional athletes or not, to ask for help if they are struggling with mental health and inspire people to speak up and share their stories.
"It's been an issue that hasn't really been highlighted until recently," Buckner said. "I feel like the Irsay family has done a great job with attacking this issue that we have, that a lot of people don't want to admit (or) be vulnerable to having to struggle mentally.
"Especially as ballplayers, we all have those times where we face adversity and we struggle mentally, whether it's with our own play or the pressure of it all in this business, whether it's family or any of that."
Buckner has gone through his own struggles in his career and was able to rely on his wife, Ashlyn, to help him through those tough times. He wasn't afraid to admit when he was struggling and was able to find his support system. Because of that, Buckner has been able to succeed at the highest level – and wants to make sure other people are able to get the support they need and find that same kind of success.
"Just having that weight off my shoulders mentally, I was able to let all of that go and really focus on me and my job and just being able to thrive and push through it," Buckner explained. "Being able to support any way I can, to let people know that it's okay not to be okay, and it's okay to have those feelings and go through those things."
Buckner makes a conscious effort to spread that message to his teammates; as a leader and a captain, he feels it's his responsibility to check in his guys and make sure they know they can always talk to him – and that he'll understand where they're coming from.
"I want them to be able to come to me naturally, whatever's on their chest they can get it off," he said. "Sometimes, a lot of times, bottling all that up, you only hurt yourself. So being able to release some of that steam and some of that pressure, whatever you're going through, to a friend, it always helps.
"You see us on TV or on the field and we're idolized as superheroes, big strong football players and all of that. But at the end of the day, we're all human. We all have the same struggles, or similar struggles. We can be vulnerable too."
It's not just with his teammates that Buckner prioritizes mental health either. With three young children of his own, he wants to make sure his kids know how to understand and manage their emotions – and that's another reason why he feels so called to support Kicking the Stigma.
"My wife and I talk about it all the time, having a healthy space for our kids to really express their emotions," Buckner said. "Just helping them understand why they're feeling that way and really being patient and talking through it with them...that's been a big one, one of the other big reasons why I support this."
Kicking the Stigma was created in 2020, the same year Buckner joined the Colts. Since its inception, Kicking the Stigma has hosted Beyond the Sidelines, put on a Kicking the Stigma-themed game and organized activities during training camp to further promote the cause and the organization. Buckner has been an active participant in just about every event, with a front row seat to the impact that Kicking the Stigma is making on the rest of the NFL.
"Every time we have a joint practice here, we have these little things where we put stuff together to support the cause, and the other team is always open to do it, to really chip in," Buckner said. "And just whether it's on TV or any of that, just a lot of people, even certain guys around the league coming out talking about how they struggle with mental health, being a lot more vulnerable to the public, their team, whatever it is. It's been pretty cool to see since I've been in the league."
The Colts' Week 5 game against the Las Vegas Raiders will be the 2025 Kicking the Stigma game – and it's especially fitting given that former Colts linebacker Shaquille Leonard, who was a prominent advocate for Kicking the Stigma, will be officially retiring as a member of the Colts at halftime. Buckner and the rest of the Colts will wear Kicking the Stigma gear pregame, and fans will have multiple opportunities to learn about mental health and celebrate local mental health professionals.
The Kicking the Stigma game is always a special one to the Colts and the Irsay family. But this year, Buckner said, it's even more meaningful as the Colts have dedicated the 2025 season to carrying on late owner and CEO Jim Irsay's life and legacy after he passed away in May.
"I think it's amazing how he was willing to be vulnerable and show people that he's human, like we all are," Buckner said. "So it definitely means a lot this season."
