Dwight Freeney

Dwight Jason Freeney (born February 19, 1980) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end for 16 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Syracuse, where he earned unanimous All-American honors, and was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft. With the Colts, Freeney won Super Bowl XLI over the Chicago Bears, and made seven Pro Bowls. He also played for the San Diego Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions.

Dwight Freeney
Freeney with the Indianapolis Colts in 2010
No. 93, 54
Position:Defensive end
Outside linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1980-02-19) February 19, 1980
Hartford, Connecticut
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:268 lb (122 kg)
Career information
High school:Bloomfield
(Bloomfield, Connecticut)
College:Syracuse
NFL Draft:2002 / Round: 1 / Pick: 11
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:332
Sacks:125.5
Forced fumbles:47
Fumble recoveries:4
Pass deflections:17
Defensive touchdowns:1
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Early years

Freeney was born in Hartford, Connecticut. He attended Bloomfield High School in Bloomfield, Connecticut. Freeney was a four-sport letterman, earning four letters in baseball in which he was coached by Alphonso Ford; four in basketball; three in football, in which he played both ways; and one in soccer, in which he played goalie in his freshman year before switching over to football. Freeney holds the record for sacks at his high school and used to hold the record for most sacks in a high school career in the Connecticut record book. (Record now held by Mark Evanchick of Darien HS) Bloomfield High retired his No. 44 football jersey.[1] During his youth, Freeney idolized New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor.[2]

College career

Freeney received an athletic scholarship to attend Syracuse University, where he played for the Syracuse Orange football team from 1998 to 2001. A two-year starter for the Orangemen, he set a school record with 17.5 sacks in his senior season and his 34 career sacks rank second in school history to Tim Green (45.5).[3][4] Freeney was the school's premier pass rusher, and once had a string of 17 consecutive games with at least one sack. Against Virginia Tech, Freeney sacked elusive Hokies quarterback Michael Vick 4.5 times in one game.[5]

Freeney finished his college career with 104 tackles (68 unassisted), 34 quarterback sacks, 51 tackles for a loss, and 43 quarterback pressures.[6] He was a first-team All-Big East Conference selection in 2000 and 2001, and was recognized as a unanimous first-team All-American following his senior season in 2001.[7]

While attending Syracuse at a then 255-pounds, Freeney was clocked at 4.40 second 40-yard dash and recorded 40-inch vertical jump. His 40-yard time remains among the fastest ever recorded for a defensive lineman.[8]

Freeney still returns to Syracuse for his summer workouts, and serves as mentor to Syracuse players, including former walk-on Josh Arrington from the 2006–2008 season.[9]

Professional career

2002 NFL Combine
Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand size 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 0 7⁄8 in
(1.85 m)		 266 lb
(121 kg)		 32 1⁄8 in
(0.82 m)		 10 in
(0.25 m)		 4.48 s 40 in
(1.02 m)		 28 reps
All values from NFL Combine[10]

Indianapolis Colts

Freeney was selected by the Indianapolis Colts with the 11th selection in the 2002 NFL Draft.[11] He set an NFL rookie record in 2002 with 9 forced fumbles, three of which occurred in a single game against former Syracuse football player, Donovan McNabb. Freeney was the runner up for the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award.

When drafted by Indianapolis at 270 lbs, Freeney was clocked at 4.48 seconds in the 40-yard dash and the same 40 inch vertical jump.[12]

In 2004, Freeney's third season, he led the NFL with 16 sacks.[13] At the end of his third season, Freeney's season marked him as the 3rd fastest player to achieve 40 sacks. He developed a spin move which became his trademark pass rush move.[14]

In 2006, Freeney helped the Colts defeat the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI to become NFL Champions.[15]

Freeney attempts to sack Michael Vick at the 2006 Pro Bowl.

On February 19, 2007, the Colts placed the franchise tag on Freeney following the expiration of his rookie contract. This move allowed Bill Polian and the Colts front office time to work on a long term contract.[16] On July 13, 2007 Freeney signed a six-year, $72 million contract with $30 million in guarantees making Freeney one of the highest paid defensive players in the NFL.[17]

Freeney was fined $20,000 by the NFL for his expletive-laced interview following the end of the Colts 2008–09 playoff campaign which ended with a 23-17 overtime playoff loss to the San Diego Chargers. The NFL cited Freeney for making "inappropriate comments on officiating," according to the Indianapolis Star. Freeney, frustrated by the three defensive penalties incurred as the Chargers made their game-winning drive, told Yahoo! Sports after the game: "Those were the worst [expletive] calls I've seen in a long time ... To have a game of that magnitude taken out of your hands, it's just disgusting. It's not like they made one [expletive] bad call -- it's three calls, in overtime ... They need to start investigating some other [expletive]."[18]

In 2012, Freeney converted from defensive end to outside linebacker under new head coach Chuck Pagano.[19][20] Due to injury and not adjusting to his position-change well, Freeney struggled and finished the season with only five sacks and 12 tackles.[21]

On February 15, 2013, Freeney was told he would not be re-signed by the Colts.[22][23] Freeney left as the all-time franchise leader in sacks with 107.5, but was surpassed by former teammate Robert Mathis the next season. Mathis would also break Freeney's franchise season record of 16 sacks the following season, too, when he tallied 19.5.

San Diego Chargers

On May 18, 2013, Freeney signed a two-year deal with the San Diego Chargers.[24] During the 2013 season, Freeney suffered a season-ending injury and recorded a career low with 0.5 sacks.[25]

In 2014, Freeney looked to bounce back from the previous year and did. Throughout the season, Freeney was only used as a pass rush specialist coming out only on passing downs. Against the Seattle Seahawks Freeney sacked Russell Wilson, which contributed to a Chargers victory.[26] The next week, Freeney got a sack against the Buffalo Bills.[27] Against the 49ers, Dwight Freeney and Ricardo Mathews sacked and forced a Colin Kaepernick fumble leading to a Chargers touchdown.[28] The next week recorded one sack against Chase Daniel and the Chiefs.[29] Freeney finished the season with 10 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and a pass deflect.

Arizona Cardinals

On October 12, 2015, Freeney signed a one-year, $870,000 deal with the Arizona Cardinals, with the incentive to receive a $200,000 bonus with four sacks and then would receive $100,000 for each sack thereafter, with a maximum of 12.[30]

Freeney was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 16, in which he had three sacks and a forced fumble, the first time he had three sacks in a game since 2006.[31] Coincidentally, former Colts teammate Robert Mathis won AFC Defensive Player of the Week for the same week.[32] Freeney appeared in nine games during the 2015 season, totaling 8.0 sacks (leading the team) and three forced fumbles.[33]

Atlanta Falcons
Freeney with the Falcons in 2016

On August 2, 2016, Freeney signed a one-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons.[34] He played in 15 games, totaling three sacks.[35] The Falcons won the NFC Championship to advance to Super Bowl LI, bringing Freeney to his third career Super Bowl.[36] Freeney had one sack in the big game,[37] although the Falcons lost to the Patriots by a score of 34–28.[38]

Seattle Seahawks

On October 24, 2017, Freeney signed a one-year deal with the Seattle Seahawks.[39] After playing in four games recording three sacks, Freeney was released by the Seahawks on November 21, 2017.[40]

Detroit Lions

On November 22, 2017, Freeney was claimed off waivers by the Detroit Lions.[41]

Retirement

Freeney announced his retirement on April 19, 2018, after signing a ceremonial one-day contract with the Colts to retire as a member of the team he spent the majority of his career with.[42]

Career statistics
YearTeamGPCOMBTOTALASTSACKFFFRFR YDSTDINTIR YDSAVG IRLNGTDPD
2002IND 164140113.09100000001
2003IND 153127411.042231000001
2004IND 163431316.04000000000
2005IND 163429511.06000000003
2006IND 16292635.54000000003
2007IND 9211833.54000000000
2008IND 152824410.54000000000
2009IND 142419513.51000000001
2010IND 162521410.04000000002
2011IND 16191368.52000000000
2012IND 14121025.01000000001
2013SD 42110.50000000000
2014SD 1610643.50100000001
2015ARI 119818.03000000000
2016ATL 1510733.00000000000
2017SEA/DET 93303.00000000001
Total21333228349125.54742310000017

[43]

Personal life

On March 28, 2012, Freeney's financial advisor was arrested and charged with embezzling $2.2 million from Freeney.[44] In 2015, Freeney sued Bank of America for $20 million, claiming he trusted the bank's wealth management division with the assets.[45]

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gollark: Ooookay then.
gollark: At least it's fixed now, or something.
gollark: So that was a lot of fuss over apparently a misunderstood configuration issue.

References
  1. http://www.blmfld.org/page.cfm?p=3379%5B%5D
  2. Crouse, Karen (January 2007). "Using Quickness, Colts' Freeney Is Spinning Into Control". The New York Times. Retrieved September 20, 2010.
  3. "careersacks1980". fbsstatistics.com. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
  4. "2009 NCAA Division I Records (FBS)" (PDF). NCAA. August 6, 2009. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
  5. "Dwight Freeney: The Official Website of the Indianapolis Colts". Colts.com. Archived from the original on May 21, 2005.
  6. "Indianapolis Colts NFL Football News". ind.scout.com. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
  7. 2011 NCAA Football Records Book, Award Winners, National Collegiate Athletic Association, Indianapolis, Indiana, p. 11 (2011). Retrieved June 24, 2012.
  8. "Fastest 40 Yard Dash - Freelap USA". Freelap USA. September 20, 2014. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  9. Rahme, Dave. "Syracuse University football team gets strength and conditioning blast from the past". syracuse.com. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  10. http://nflcombineresults.com/playerpage.php?f=Dwight&l=Freeney&i=5925
  11. "2002 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  12. Freeman, Mike (April 14, 2002). "PRO FOOTBALL: INSIDE THE N.F.L.; Draft Mavens Are Buzzing About Freeney". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  13. "2004 NFL Defense". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  14. Crumpacker, John (October 31, 2009). "Smallish pass-rush duo creates big problems". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved October 31, 2009.
  15. "Super Bowl XLI - Indianapolis Colts vs. Chicago Bears - February 4th, 2007". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  16. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on February 21, 2007. Retrieved February 19, 2007.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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  20. Freeney: I'm not like LeBron trying to leave the team-Pro Football Talk Retrieved August 24, 2012.
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  27. "San Diego Chargers at Buffalo Bills - September 21st, 2014". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
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  30. "Arizona Cardinals add pass-rusher Dwight Freeney". espn.go.com. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
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