Indianapolis, IN — The Indianapolis Colts have played complementary football for the majority of the 2025-26 season thus far, the first time in recent memory that they’ve been able to play high-level football in all three phases.
There have been lulls at times, with the most recent example coming in a Week 12 loss in Kansas City as Indy’s offense collapsed to the tune of four consecutive three-and-outs from the fourth quarter on, ultimately losing that game 23-20 in overtime. One unit, however, has
hardly dealt with a shortcoming, let alone a full-blown meltdown.
Special teams coordinator Brian Mason has turned his unit into one of the league’s best, offering supplemental help to both its offense and defense. From the return game to the kicking game, Mason’s special teams unit is doing all it can to gain an edge.
It wasn’t always like this, though. Not to suggest that any of Mason’s special teams units in Indianapolis have been the weakest link of the three phases in question, but as a first-time NFL coordinator, some acclimation was needed. After the groove was found, however, it’s been smooth sailing ever since.
Here’s how each of Brian Mason’s Colts special teams units have fared amongst the rest of the league statistically since he joined the coaching staff ahead of the 2023-24 season:
Returning
2023: 22.2 average kickoff return (18th); 9.2 average punt return (T-17th)
2024: 29.3 average kickoff return (6th); 9.8 average punt return (T-14th)
2025: 29.0 average kickoff return (1st); 10.8 average punt return (12th)
*Kickoff format has changed numerous times throughout the 2020s; now known as the ‘Dynamic Kickoff”
Kicking
2023: 80.5% field goal (27th); 97.2% extra point (14th)
2024: 83.8% field goal (20th); 100% extra point (T-1st)
2025: 91.7% field goal (T-5th); 93.9% extra point (24th)*
*Kicker Spencer Shrader was 13-14 on FGAs and 14-14 on XPs before suffering a season-ending torn MCL, ACL. Michael Badgley has been the team’s placekicker since.
Punting
2023: 42.3 net average punt yards (T-21st); 9.5 yards per punt return allowed (15th); 30.9% punts inside 20 (27th)
2024: 43.8 net average punt yards (11th); 12.7 yards per punt return allowed (T-27th); 29.7% punts inside 20 (21st)
2025: 47.9 net average punt yards (2nd); 4.7 yards per punt return allowed (T-2nd); 56.0% punts inside 20 (1st)
For nuance’s sake, a more efficient offense absolutely helps its punt unit out. For example, inefficient offenses oftentimes have their drives halted before midfield, thus making punts inside the 20-yard line much more difficult. Furthermore, there’s more field, therefore more time and space for the opponent’s punt return unit to operate. Football is a team sport after all, but this is just one layer of how a special teams unit can be in advantageous situations, or how its offense and/or defense does the opposite with poor play of their own.
Given that the Colts have, for the most part, played high-level, complementary football for the majority of the season through 12 weeks, it makes sense that Brian Mason’s already solid special teams operation has only improved.
The tricky thing going forward is that WR/specialist Ashton Dulin will miss some time as he works back from a hamstring injury suffered in the Colts’ Week 12 loss, according to head coach Shane Steichen. Colts fans are fully aware of the impact that Dulin has on any given game, but somehow, he still manages to remain an unsung hero after all these years.
Brian Mason had just recently reminded folks of Dulin’s greatness, taking the time to rehash what makes him the underappreciated player that he’s always been.
“Ashton Dulin is one of the three best special teams players in the NFL,” Mason proclaimed to the local media on last week’s midweek media availability. “He always plays in great body positioning. He makes great decisions. He plays with great fundamentals and technique.”
The former Zionsville, IN, product (Mason) has some work cut out for him in terms of replacing Dulin, but thankfully, the Colts signed former All-Pro special teamer George Odum to their practice squad just last week. Odum is 32 years old nowadays and has seen his special teams snap counts dwindle since his All-Pro second team nod during his first year in San Francisco, not logging a snap yet this season. Odum walked just one season prior to Mason arriving ahead, but there’s likely some avenue that can get him back into the fray.
