INDIANAPOLIS – For all the contractual negotiations that went on around the league involving the most sought-after free agent wide receiver in the NFL over the past week, the Colts held an advantage that went beyond Alec Pierce’s desire to continue on the journey he started in Indianapolis four years ago.
After four years with the Colts, how could he pass up living a little over an hour’s drive for his younger brother’s final college basketball season? Caden Pierce will join Matt Painter’s Purdue roster next fall.
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“Shoutout to my little brother, going to Purdue, that’s a big thing,” Pierce told reporters Wednesday during his press conference two days after inking a new four-year deal worth up to $116 million to stay with the franchise that took him in the second round in 2022. “I can’t leave the state when I’ve got my little brother down the road.
“It’s going to be his last year of college basketball, so that’s going to be pretty special.”
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Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years
Jan 4, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) is pushed out of bounds by Houston Texans cornerback Ja’marcus Ingram (42) during the second half at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
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Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years
Jan 4, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) is pushed out of bounds by Houston Texans cornerback Ja’marcus Ingram (42) during the second half at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
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Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years
Dec 22, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers in the second quarter of the game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
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Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) catches a pass Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, during a game against the Denver Broncos at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
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Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years
Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Montaric Brown (30) breaks up a pass intended for Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, during a game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
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Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) signals a first down during a game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The Colts defeated the Cardinals 31-27.
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Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years
Dec 28, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) warms up before a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images
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Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years
Jan 4, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) catches a touchdown pass against the Houston Texans during the first half at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
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Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years
Oct 12, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) carries the ball against the Arizona Cardinals during the fourth quarter of the game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
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Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years
Nov 23, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) makes a catch against the Kansas City Chiefs in the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
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Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years
Sep 7, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) celebrates after making a catch during the second half against the Miami Dolphins at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
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Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years
Nov 30, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) makes a catch in front of Houston Texans cornerback Kamari Lassiter (4) for a touchdown during a game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Grace Hollars-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images
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Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years
Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Montaric Brown (30) breaks up a pass intended for Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, during a game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
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Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years
Feb 2, 2022; Mobile, AL, USA; National squad wide receiver Alec Pierce of Cincinnati (82) and National squad wide receiver Romeo Doubs of Nevada (7) and National squad tight end Jeremy Ruckert of Ohio State (88) during National team practice for the 2022 Senior Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports
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Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years
Oct 31, 2020; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Memphis Tigers defensive back John Broussard Jr. (9) reacts as Cincinnati Bearcats wide receiver Alec Pierce (12) catches a pass for a touchdown in the first half at Nippert Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
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Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years
Sep 25, 2022; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) catches a pass in front of Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Jaylen Watson (35) during the second half at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
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Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years
Cincinnati’s Alec Pierce (12) runs towards Notre Dame’s Cam Hart (5) during the Notre Dame vs. Cincinnati NCAA football game Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend.
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Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years
Cincinnati Bearcats wide receiver Alec Pierce (12) catches a pass as East Carolina Pirates cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian (21) tackles him in the first half of the NCAA football game between the Cincinnati Bearcats and the East Carolina Pirates at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium in Greenville, NC, on Friday, Nov. 26, 2021.
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Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years
Cincinnati Bearcats wide receiver Alec Pierce (12) bobbles a pass before bringing it in under pressure from Tulsa Golden Hurricane safety Brandon Johnson (8) in the first quarter of the NCAA American Athletic Conference game between the Cincinnati Bearcats and the Tulsa Golden Hurricane ay Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019.
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Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 06: Alec Pierce #14 of the Indianapolis Colts catches a touchdown pass during the fourth quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium on October 06, 2024 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
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Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (11) and wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) celebrate a touchdown by Pierce on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023, during a game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn.
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Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 04: Alec Pierce #14 of the Indianapolis Colts catches a touchdown pass over Kelvin Joseph #1 of the Dallas Cowboys in the third quarter at AT&T Stadium on December 04, 2022 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
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Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years
Cincinnati Bearcats wide receiver Alec Pierce (12) collects a pass during warm ups ahead in the of the College Football Playoff semifinal game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at the 86th Cotton Bowl Classic, Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
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Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years
Cincinnati Bearcats wide receiver Alec Pierce (12) catches a pass during Cincinnati Football Pro Day, Thursday, March 24, 2022, at the Sheakley Athletic Complex in Cincinnati.
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Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) walks up the field during the pregame warm-up Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, ahead of a game against the Buffalo Bills at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
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Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years
Cincinnati’s Alec Pierce (12) leaps by Notre Dame’s JD Bertrand (27) during the Notre Dame vs. Cincinnati NCAA football game Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend.
Notre Dame Falls To Cincinnati
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Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years
Sep 8, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) catches a long pass under coverage from Houston Texans safety Jimmie Ward (20) during the second half at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images
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Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) makes a catch during Colts Camp at Grand Park on Sunday, August. 4, 2024, in Westfield Ind.
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Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) catches the ball during pregame warm-up before the game against the Detroit Lions on Saturday, August 20, 2022 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
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Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) makes a catch in front of Washington Commanders cornerback Benjamin St-Juste (25) on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022, during a game against the Washington Commanders at Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
The younger Pierce committed to Purdue nearly a month ago after choosing to sit out the 2025-26 college season in order to preserve his remaining year of eligibility following a three-year stint at Princeton.
The 2023-24 Ivy League Player of the Year as a sophomore, who two years ago averaged 16.6 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game, continues to attend Princeton and is set to graduate in May with an undergraduate degree in economics. Purdue was his first major Division I visit as Caden mulled his transfer options over the fall and winter, taking in West Lafayette for a Nov. 28 game against Eastern Illinois.
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He also visited fellow powerhouses Duke, UConn, Louisville and Gonzaga – with UConn, in particular, having potentially offered a short stint from another NFL option for his brother, as the Patriots were reportedly extremely interested in pursuing the older Pierce before Alec re-signed with the Colts.
“I was ultimately going into every visit fully with an open mind,” Caden Pierce told IndyStar last month. “l felt when I was on campus at Purdue with the coaches and the guys on the team, it felt like home and a program I wanted to be a part of. Being from the Midwest, Purdue is an unbelievable basketball program and has that history that’s part of the program and culture.”
The Pierces are Glen Ellyn, Ill. natives, and Alec spent the last couple weeks in his boyhood home as he mulled over his highly lucrative future and watched from afar as the Colts juggled attempting to both bring back Pierce as well as starting quarterback Daniel Jones – whose performance in the first half of 2025 elevated Alec toward a breakout season.
The Pierce family — parents Greg and Stephanie, sons Justin, Alec and Caden — have all been high level athletes. Alec plays receiver for the Colts.
Pierce spent the days at home with his father, Greg, while his mother, Stephanie, traveled to Thailand with Alec’s other brothers as they represent Team USA in 3-on-3 FIBA Champions Cup action starting Friday. Half a world away, the middle Pierce brother will be watching, all while his own sports career takes off in a way he could’ve only ever dreamed.
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Just don’t ask the 50-50 ball master to lace up against his brothers.
“You don’t want to see me play basketball,” said Pierce, who at 6-foot-3, is four inches shorter than his brothers. “They’re a lot taller than me.”
Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cover the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts WR Alec Pierce on his brother, Caden, playing basketball at Purdue