Zaire Franklin of the Indianapolis Colts is dissatisfied with his performance and how the team concluded the 2023 season.
The Indianapolis Colts were on the edge of making the playoffs this season when they were defeated by the Houston Texans in Week 18.
Whatever your thoughts are on the notorious fourth-and-one play that sealed the Colts’ fate, the loss was difficult for both players and coaches. While many on the outside did not believe the Colts could make it that far, others within the organization were confident they could make a postseason run. It will take some time to recover after coming so near and then failing to complete the task.
“I’m still hurting to be honest with you,” said linebacker Zaire Franklin this week. “So, I’m not feeling too good about everything right now.”
In 2023, Franklin was a bright spot on the Colts defense. He had another outstanding season, finishing second in the NFL in tackles with 179. Franklin also broke the single-season tackle record for the second year in a row. But, in his opinion, it wasn’t nearly enough.
“To be honest, I didn’t hit many of my goals,” Franklin said. “The goals I set for myself were difficult. I was able to help the team win by making several winning plays. To be honest, goal number one was to make the playoffs and start all of the games. I understand that some of those things were beyond my control. Some things require me to go back to the drawing board.”
Franklin concluded the season with 179 tackles, three tackles for loss, two caused fumbles, and six passes defensed. It’s an outstanding individual season for a sixth-year player who was drafted in the seventh round and was only supposed to contribute on special teams. Franklin, on the other hand, has established himself as a tackling machine and one of the NFL’s greatest off-ball linebackers.
Franklin, on the other hand, is not satisfied. He realizes there is more he can accomplish, more he can do to help this squad succeed. The linebacker wishes to advance and be ranked among the league’s finest.
“I feel like there’s another step that I need to take,” Franklin admitted. “There’s another level I can access.” As I stated last year, my true goal was not the franchise (record), but the NFL (for tackles). And I didn’t make it. So, for me, it’s just going back to the drawing board and pushing myself to be the best player, teammate, friend, and leader I can be and be better for the team next year.”
So, what will Franklin’s next step be in his NFL career? Each season, he has raised his game to new heights. Franklin’s statistics demonstrate that he is deserving of Pro Bowl and All-Pro consideration.
Franklin is also the undisputed defensive leader of the Colts and one of the team’s top leaders. Franklin analyzes the team before games and is one of the most powerful voices in the locker room.
However, Franklin is still looking for his first Pro Bowl and All-Pro selection. He has only made the playoffs twice in his NFL career, winning once as a rookie in 2018. Franklin must continue to fight and elevate his game to help the Colts not only make the playoffs but also win games there next season.
“For me, it’s those game-changing plays,” Franklin said when asked what he needed to work on. “It’s funny, I had a conversation with (E.J.) Speed once, and I just told him, ‘No matter what level of success you achieve, you’re always fighting for the next thing.'” That’s just the way life is. That’s the fight of a lifetime, that path we’re on.
“You’re always fighting for something, and now that I’ve established myself as one of the best, why not try to be No. 1?” Why not try a different game? Why not attempt to be a guy who causes mayhem every time you want to get your way?”
Franklin has always pushed himself to achieve more, conquering obstacles along the way. Franklin was a seventh-round pick in 2018 and was not even guaranteed a spot on the Colts’ roster. Franklin, on the other hand, fought hard to secure a spot on the special teams, eventually becoming one of the best on the unit and a special teams captain.
He wasn’t finished there, either. Franklin advanced from special teams and reserve linebacker to starting linebacker at SAM in 2021. When Shaquille Leonard or Bobby Okereke were injured, Franklin was ready to step up.
Franklin took over as the full-time starter at MIKE in 2022, after Leonard suffered further injuries. Franklin is currently the Colts’ top linebacker and leader following back-to-back record-breaking seasons. His desire to grow year after year and continuously add to his game is a big reason he’s gotten this far.
But, as Franklin would say, his and the Colts’ defense’s work is far from done. The Colts made strides on defense this season, most notably with the pass rush, which produced 51.0 sacks, placing seventh in the NFL and setting a single-season franchise record. In addition, the team forced 24 turnovers, up from 21 the previous season.
Gus Bradley’s defense underperformed in a couple areas as well. Indy allowed 24.4 points per game, ranking seventh in the NFL. The Colts also gave up far too many explosive plays with a rookie secondary that had communication issues at times. While the Colts’ development in some areas is encouraging, there is still much opportunity for improvement.
“You can’t take for granted just the progress and the steps that we did make this year,” Franklin said. “The reality is that we battled hard against it. This year has been full of ups and downs and challenges. I’m proud of what we accomplished and what we endured. This team and this locker room make me proud. It’s something to build on, and we’ll be back better than ever next year.
“Just seeing what we’re capable of, it inspires you, it gives you motivation to know what could be, but at the same time you’ve got to look at yourself in the mirror and understand that you are what you put on tape and we’ve got to grow from that.”
This year’s experience will help the Colts improve even more. They are one of the NFL’s youngest teams, lead by head coach Shane Steichen, who has instilled in the locker room a culture of accountability and resiliency. If they want to join the premier teams in the NFL, everyone on the club must continue to grow, from the top to the bottom.
And Franklin intends to do the same this offseason as he has every year of his NFL career.
“I’ve got a lot of film to get to,” Franklin said. “I have a lot of self-reflection to do.” But acknowledge that the desire and fight are undeniably present.”
Expect Franklin to have another career year in 2024.
