The Indianapolis Colts used the fifth overall pick in the 1985 NFL Draft on USC standout Duane Bickett, betting on a 6-foot-5, 251-pound athletic marvel who could redefine the right outside linebacker position. The move paid immediate dividends; Bickett stepped into the starting defense on day one and took the league by storm, amassing 141 tackles and 6.0 sacks to earn the 1985 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award.

Bickett’s versatility made him the central brain and primary disruptor of the Colts' late-1980s defense. An equal mix of edge pass rusher and instinctual coverage linebacker, he posted five seasons with at least 5.0 sacks in horseshoe blue. His individual peak arrived in 1987, when he compiled 8.0 sacks in just 12 games to earn both Pro Bowl and Second-Team AP All-Pro honors, anchoring an Indianapolis defense that captured the AFC East division title.

Remarkably durable across his nine active seasons in Indiana, Bickett started every single one of his 137 regular-season games for the franchise. Whether sniffing out screen passes, dropping back into hook zones, or collapsing pocket edges, his high football IQ and relentless effort made him one of the most respected linebackers of his era,

After racking up 50.0 sacks, nine interceptions, and 14 fumble recoveries in Indianapolis, Bickett spent the final three years of his 12-season NFL career with the Seattle Seahawks and Carolina Panthers.