On August 3, seven men will be officially enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Yahoo Sports will take a brief look at each legend and how they achieved football immortality.
Patrick Willis | Randy Gradishar | Steve McMichael | André Johnson
In a sport that celebrates physicality and brute strength, Dwight Freeney used speed and defensive finesse to disrupt opposing offenses for more than a decade.
Freeney was announced as a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024 in just his second year of eligibility. His dominance in both his college career at Syracuse and his professional career, most notably with the Indianapolis Colts, will forever be recognized in Canton.
“You try to prepare yourself for it, for the emotions and what you’re going to feel, and you think that if you had a pretty good race you have a good chance and a possibility to get there.” Freeney said“…When you actually get that hit, you’re filled with emotion and you feel gratitude and appreciation for all those who have been able to get there.”
During his NFL career, Freeney was a seven-time Pro-Bowler and named a first-team All-Pro three times. He was also a key member of the 2006 Colts team that won Super Bowl XLI against the Chicago Bears. The defensive end was so dominant that he was named to the NFL’s 2000s All-Decade Team alongside other great defenders such as Michael Strahan, Ray Lewis, fellow 2024 All-Pro Julius Pepper and more.
And that was Freeney’s patented twist motion by rushing the quarterback that helped him not only overwhelm the competition, but also become a trailblazer for more modern pass rushers who weren’t always the biggest and strongest.
“Everyone always said he was too small to play that position. He can’t see past the offensive tackle and he won’t be able to see the quarterback. But being a couple inches shorter, it gives you a natural advantage.” Freeney said about his playing style“I was really one of the first players who focused on speed, quickness and the ability to get to the ball.”
It was during Freeney’s high school years that he developed the spin motion. He credits the And1 Mixtapes of the 1990s and 2000s for helping him create his patented technique.
“What I wanted to do was bring a little bit of (And1) into the game of football and I wanted to see how I could make this offensive tackle look absolutely silly, ridiculous. I wanted him to fall down, break his ankles, etc., just like they do on the basketball court.” Freeney said on the “RG3 and The Ones” podcast.
While practicing basketball-like moves on the football field, Freeney stumbled upon the spin move. Once he tried it out in a game, it caused the offensive tackle to fall to the ground and that’s when he “knew” he “found something there.”
Freeney’s high school exploits eventually earned him a football scholarship to Syracuse, where he was named an All-American and Big East Defensive Player of the Year, with a school-record 17.5 sacks in his senior season that also led the country.
His elite athleticism, as well as his speed, caught the attention of the Colts. Despite questions about Freeney’s size for the position (6’11”), he was selected 11th overall in the 2002 NFL Draft.
Freeney made an immediate impact as a rookie. He recorded a Colts rookie record 13 sacks and led the NFL with nine forced fumbles and 20 tackles for loss.
In his second year, Freeney took his game to new heights, earning his first Pro Bowl appearance and recording a three-sack game against the Miami Dolphins.
“I felt like no one could block me,” Freeney said of the performance.
Freeney was named a first-team All-Pro the next two seasons and finished with 51 sacks in his first four years as a pro. Only five players in NFL history have recorded more in the same time span.
That wasn’t the only history Freeney made. His 47 forced fumbles are fifth in NFL history. Along the same lines, his nine forced fumbles in his rookie campaign were an NFL record at the time.
In 22 postseason games, he had 11 sacks (tied for sixth all-time) and six tackles for loss. Even after helping the Colts win Super Bowl XLI, Freeney remained a force, earning Pro-Bowl nominations from 2008 to 2011 and recording double-digit sacks in three of those seasons. He had two sacks in Super Bowl XLIV, a loss to the New Orleans Saints, despite suffering an ankle injury in the AFC Championship Game.
After his final year with the Colts in 2012, Freeney spent time with the then-San Diego Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons (with whom he appeared in another Super Bowl), Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions. He had 18 sacks, three forced fumbles, 36 quarterback hits and 15 tackles for loss between the ages of 33 and 37.
Freeney retired in 2018 and was inducted into the Colts Ring of Honor in 2019.
“Dwight became one of the most feared pass rushers in the game with his signature spin moves.” Colts team owner and CEO Jim Irsay said“He provided Colts fans with many exciting moments as one of the greatest professional football players of all time, and he truly deserves this honor.”
