Ex Colts player has been picked to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024

The NFL announced tonight that former Indianapolis Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024.

The Class of 2024 will be solemnly honored in Canton, Ohio in August.

“Dwight built himself into one of the game’s most feared pass rushers with his trademark spin move,” stated Jim Irsay, Colts owner and CEO.”He provided Colts fans with many thrilling moments as one of pro football’s all-time greats, and he truly deserves this honor.”

Freeney becomes the third Colts defensive lineman to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, following Art Donovan (1968) and Gino Marchetti (1972). Freeney was originally drafted by Indianapolis in the first round (11th overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft from Syracuse. He was a member of the Colts’ Super Bowl XLI championship squad and was inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor in 2019. In 2018, Freeney retired from the NFL while playing for the Indianapolis Colts.

Over 16 NFL seasons, Freeney appeared in 218 games (157 starts) for the Colts (2002-2012), San Diego Chargers (2013-14), Arizona Cardinals (2015), Atlanta Falcons (2016), Seattle Seahawks (2017), and Detroit Lions (2017). He recorded 341 tackles (292 solo), 63.0 tackles for loss, 125.5 sacks, 16 passes defensed, 47 caused fumbles, and four fumble recoveries.Freeney was a three-time Associated Press First Team All-Pro and a seven-time Pro Bowl pick.

Freeney is ranked 18th in NFL history for sacks and seventh in forced fumbles (since 1994). He also played in 22 postseason games (19 starts), recording 38 tackles (30 solo), 6.0 tackles for loss, 11.0 sacks, one pass defensed, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. Freeney is tied for sixth in league history for career postseason sacks.

During his 11 seasons with Indianapolis, Freeney appeared in 163 regular season games (143 starts) and recorded 307 tackles (267 solo), 48.0 tackles for loss, 107.5 sacks, 14 passes defensed, 44 caused fumbles, and three fumble recoveries. He has the second-most career sacks in franchise history. Freeney recorded at least one sack in 77 games and had 25 multi-sack games, both of which rank second in franchise history. He had seven seasons of 10.0 or more sacks, including a career-high 16.0 sacks in 2004 (the second-most in single-season team history). As a rookie in 2002, Freeney set the Colts rookie sack record with 13.0.

Linebacker Randy Gradishar, punt returner/kick returner/wide receiver Devin Hester, wide receiver Andre Johnson (who played for the Colts in 2015), defensive tackle Steve McMichael, defensive end Julius Peppers, and linebacker Patrick Willis will all be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2024.