Wide receiver T.Y. Hilton. Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

It's easy to forget how dominant newly retired T.Y. Hilton used to be

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated Mar 18, 2026 11:43 PM ET

T.Y. Hilton is officially calling it a career.

Perhaps he could have called it in 2022, because that was the last time he played a down of NFL football. A longtime member of the Indianapolis Colts, Hilton played three games for the Dallas Cowboys in 2022.

He caught seven passes for 121 yards.

Those numbers pale in comparison to his run with the Colts from 2012 through arguably 2020, when he was one of the top wide receivers in the league.

The Colts selected Hilton in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft out of FIU. In 10 seasons in Indianapolis, he caught 631 passes for 9,691 yards and 53 touchdowns.

"After an incredible journey, it's time for me to retire from the game of football and begin a new chapter," Hilton posted to X. "Thank you to Mr. Irsay, his family and the entire Colts organization for believing in a kid from Miami and giving me the opportunity to live out my dream wearing the horseshoe."

pic.twitter.com/IgJS8dENZh
— TY Hilton (@TYHilton13) March 18, 2026

Hilton had five 1,000-yard-plus seasons in Indianapolis, doing so in four consecutive seasons from 2013 to 2016.

In 2016, Hilton led the NFL in receiving yards with 1,448. He earned a Pro Bowl nod in four straight seasons from 2014 to 2017.

T.Y. Hilton is an Indianapolis Colts legend

"To my teammates -- thank you for the brotherhood," Hilton said. "The early mornings, long practices and the battles on Sundays are memories I'll carry with me forever."

Hilton also took the time to thank the fans in Indianapolis, who undoubtedly loved him. He was lovingly nicknamed "The Ghost" because of his ability to make opposing defenses look like they were seeing ghosts against him.

"Your support meant everything to me from day one," Hilton said.

Hilton may not be an NFL Hall of Famer when all is said and done, but he was certainly a legend in Indianapolis for being a sneaky-elite wideout from 2012 to 2021.

Andrew Kulha

Andrew Kulha is probably the only sports writer you know who also doubles as a mortician. Spooky! @KulhaSports

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