Stephen HolderJul 29, 2025, 07:52 AM ETCloseStephen joined ESPN in 2022, covering the Indianapolis Colts and NFL at large. Stephen finished first place in column writing in the 2015 Indiana Associated Press Media Editors competition, and he is a previous top-10 winner in explanatory journalism in the Associated Press Sports Editors national contest. He has chronicled the NFL since 2005, covering the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2005-2013 and the Colts since 2013.
He has previously worked for the Miami Herald, Tampa Bay Times, Indianapolis Star and The Athletic.Follow on X
Stephen HolderJul 29, 2025, 07:52 AM ET
CloseStephen joined ESPN in 2022, covering the Indianapolis Colts and NFL at large. Stephen finished first place in column writing in the 2015 Indiana Associated Press Media Editors competition, and he is a previous top-10 winner in explanatory journalism in the Associated Press Sports Editors national contest. He has chronicled the NFL since 2005, covering the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2005-2013 and the Colts since 2013.
He has previously worked for the Miami Herald, Tampa Bay Times, Indianapolis Star and The Athletic.Follow on X
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TheIndianapolis Coltshave locked up one of their most important players for years to come.
Left tackleBernhard Raimann, a former tight end at Central Michigan who has blossomed into one of the team’s most indispensable players, signed a contract extension, the team announced Tuesday.
The extension is for four years and is worth $100 million, a team source confirmed.
“I haven’t really had time to sit down and think about it,” Raimann said after Tuesday’s training camp practice. “That seems like a dream come true right now, but I’m sure that tonight, seeing my wife, sitting down with my wife for the first time, I’ll take it all in.”
Raimann, a 2022 third-round draft pick, was entering the final year of his rookie contract, but the extension keeps him off the market next spring. He has shown dramatic improvement in each year of his career and last season took a leap that demonstrated he could man the critical position for the foreseeable future.
The Colts think Raimann still has more room for growth.
He has played at offensive tackle only since his junior year in college, during the COVID-shortened 2020 season (six games).
“Bernhard has worked extremely hard, and this contract extension is a testament to his character, dedication and persistence,” GM Chris Ballard said in a statement. “He exemplifies each of our team’s four pillars and is a leader in our locker room. I’m excited for him and his family on this well-deserved contract extension.”
The Austrian-born Raimann came to the United States as an exchange student in his junior year of high school, but he had already been introduced to football in his home country.
That led to his quick ascension and an opportunity to play in college.
Despite his quick development in Indianapolis, there was some doubt about whether this deal might get done as Raimann suggested last week that the respective sides were far apart in negotiations.
Source: Espnnfl
