Freeney to Be Inducted Into Colts Ring of Honor

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Former Syracuse All-American and NFL All-Pro Dwight Freeney will be inducted into the Indianapolis Colts Ring of Honor at Lucas Oil Stadium during the 2019 season, the Colts announced yesterday.

Freeney played 11 seasons (2002-12) with the Colts after being selected by the team in the first round (11th overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft.

"From the first day Dwight Freeney stepped on the field we knew he was special," said Colts owner & CEO Jim Irsay. "Sixteen seasons later, Dwight exceeded every expectation we had and became one of the game's best pass rushers ever. More importantly, he was a leader in the locker room and a gentleman off the field who represented the Horseshoe with honor."

As a Colt, Freeney was a three-time Associated Press First Team All-Pro and a seven-time Pro Bowl selection. He was a member of the Colts' Super Bowl XLI championship team during the 2006 campaign and played in two more Super Bowls, one as a Colt and one as a member of the Atlanta Falcons.

Over 16 NFL seasons, Freeney played in 218 career games (157 starts) with the Colts, San Diego Chargers (2013-14), Arizona Cardinals (2015), Falcons (2016), Seattle Seahawks (2017) and Detroit Lions (2017). He totaled 341 tackles (292 solo), 63 tackles for loss, 125.5 sacks, 16 passes defended, 47 forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries. He retired from the NFL as a member of the Colts in 2018.

Freeney finished his career tied for 17th in NFL history in sacks and fifth in forced fumbles. He saw action in 163 games (143 starts) for the Colts and tallied 307 tackles (267 solo), 48 tackles for loss, 107.5 sacks, 14 passes defended, 44 forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. He ranks second in team history in career sacks.

At Syracuse, Freeney was just as dominant as he was in the pros. The Bloomfield, Connecticut native racked up 34 career sacks from 1998-2001 and set the Orange single-game record by sacking Virginia Tech's Michael Vick 4.5 times in 2000.

As a senior in 2001, Freeney turned in one of the finest campaigns by a defensive player in program history. He led the nation with a school-record 17.5 sacks. He also forced eight fumbles. For his efforts, Freeney was named a consensus All-American and the BIG EAST co-Defensive Player of the Year. He was also a finalist for the Lombardi, Nagurski and Bednarik Awards.

Freeney will become the 16th inductee into the Colts Ring of Honor, a fraternity that includes Orange legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison, who was inducted in 2011.

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