Dwight Freeney, a former defensive end for the Indianapolis Colts, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024, the NFL announced tonight. This August, the Class of 2024 will be formally inducted into Canton, Ohio.
With his signature spin move, Dwight developed into one of the most feared pass rushers in the league, according to Jim Irsay, owner and CEO of the Colts. As one of the all-time greats in professional football, he gave Colts fans a lot of exciting moments, and he really deserves this honour.
Freeney becomes the third Colts defensive lineman to be selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, joining Art Donovan (1968) and Gino Marchetti (1972). Freeney was originally selected by Indianapolis in the first round (11th overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft out of Syracuse. He was a member of the Colts’ Super Bowl XLI victory and was inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor in 2019. Freeney retired from the NFL as a member of Indianapolis in 2018.
With the Colts (2002–2012), San Diego Chargers (2013–14), Arizona Cardinals (2015), Atlanta Falcons (2016), Seattle Seahawks (2017), and Detroit Lions (2017), Freeney participated in 218 career games (157 starts) over 16 NFL seasons. In all, he recorded 125.5 sacks, 16 passes defensed, 47 caused fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries, and 341 tackles (292 solo).
Freeney was selected to the Pro Bowl seven times and was a three-time member of the Associated Press First-Team All-Pro.
Freeney is ranked seventh in forced fumbles and 18th in sacks in NFL history (since 1994). Together with his 38 solo tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss, 11.0 sacks, one pass defensed, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery, he played in 22 postseason games (19 of which he started). In league history, Freeney is tied for sixth in career postseason sacks.
Freeney played in 163 regular season games (143 starts) during his 11-year tenure in Indianapolis. He finished with 307 tackles (267 solo), 48.0 tackles for loss, 107.5 sacks, 14 passes defensed, 44 caused fumbles, and three fumble recoveries. His career sack total ranks second on the team ever.
Freeney has 25 multi-sack games and at least one sack in 77 games, both of which are second-most in franchise history. Seven seasons saw him record at least 10.0 sacks, with a career-high 16.0 sacks in 2004 ranking second in franchise history. With 13.0 rookie sacks in 2002, Freeney set a record for the Colts.
Joining Freeney in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024 are linebacker Randy Gradishar, punt returner/kick returner/wide receiver Devin Hester, wide receiver Andre Johnson (played for Colts in 2015), defensive tackle Steve McMichael, defensive end Julius Peppers and linebacker Patrick Willis.
