For a position that rarely makes headlines, Rigoberto Sanchez just made a pretty loud statement.
The Indianapolis Colts announced a two-year contract extension for the Hawaii alumnus, keeping the punter in Indianapolis through at least the 2028 season. The deal cements Sanchez's standing as one of the NFL's most reliable specialists — a quiet constant on a Colts roster that has cycled through plenty of changes around him.
Sanchez has long been the kind of player that special teams coordinators dream about: consistent, durable, and unbothered by the spotlight. In a league where punters are routinely replaced the moment their hang time dips, earning a multi-year extension is a genuine vote of confidence from the front office. Indianapolis isn't just keeping Sanchez around — it's building around him.
For Rainbow Warrior fans, the extension is a reminder of just how deep Hawaii's NFL footprint runs. Sanchez is one of nine active UH alumni currently on NFL rosters heading into the 2026 season, a group that spans positions, conferences, and coasts. The list includes linebackers (Tru Edwards with the Rams, Darius Muasau with the Giants, Jahlani Tavai with the Jaguars, Keith Kirkwood with the Ravens), a pair of interior offensive linemen (Kohl Levao with the Jets, Ilm Manning with the Seahawks), defensive tackle Jonah Laulu with the Raiders, and offensive tackle Jordan Murray — Sanchez's teammate with the Colts.
That Murray and Sanchez are both suiting up for Indianapolis is its own kind of story. The Colts have become, quietly, something of a Hawaii outpost in the AFC South.
But this week belongs to Sanchez. Punters don't get parades, and they rarely get press releases. When they do, it usually means they've done something right for a long time — which is exactly the case here. Indianapolis has made its call: Rigo stays, and the Rainbow Warriors have another alumnus locked into the league well into the back half of the decade.
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