Countdown to 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement: Dwight Freeney
Enshrinement
Published on : 8/2/2024
An expert in innovation who redefined his position, DWIGHT FREENEY never worried about his size.
“Everyone always said I was undersized, too small to play the position,” said Freeney, a 6-foot-1 defensive end/outside linebacker. “I was one of the first guys that was predicated on speed, quickness and getting to the ball.”
Freeney began honing his quickness at Bloomfield High School in his home state of Connecticut. He lettered in baseball, basketball, football and soccer. His versatility and speed landed him a spot on the Syracuse University roster.
Though his first two seasons at Syracuse were interrupted by injuries that forced him to sit out, Freeney still managed to topple school records. With 4.5 sacks against Virginia Tech in 2000, he set the school’s single-game record. He also holds the season sack record and led the nation with 17.5 sacks in 2001.
Then-Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer said, “When the NFL does its draft, everybody will understand how good Dwight Freeney is.”
Freeney was selected 11th overall by the Indianapolis Colts, a franchise with whom he went on to play 11 of his 16 seasons.
During his first season with the Colts, he forced nine fumbles, setting an NFL rookie record. By his third season, he led the NFL with 16 sacks and became the third-quickest player to secure 40 sacks.
That critical season was also the origin of Freeney’s trademark spin move. The move helped Freeney elevate his game and torment quarterbacks across the league.
“I wasn’t in Football 101 anymore,” said Freeney. “I was in the advanced class.”
When class was in session, no one on the field was safe. He left offensive linemen scrambling and quarterbacks falling by spinning out of blockers’ grasps and infiltrating the pocket.
Browns offensive tackle and Hall of Famer Joe Thomas described the spin move, saying, “Everybody knew he was going to do it; everybody knew when it was coming, but you couldn’t stop it.”
The end result of the unstoppable innovation: 125.5 career sacks and 47 forced fumbles, the fourth most all time in the NFL. Freeney made three Super Bowl appearances and took home a ring with the Colts in Super Bowl XLI.
For the 6-1 defensive end/outside linebacker who changed the game of football, his signature move is nothing short of Hall of Fame-worthy.
“Whenever you see somebody do a spin move, I know where it came from,” Freeney said. “I know I left my mark on the game.”
But the heart with which Freeney played every game is worth more than a ring, a trademark move or defying the doubts about his size.
“One thing that I’m most proud of is the fact that I played the game right,” he said. “I went out there and played it hard like it was supposed to be played.”
“Everyone always said I was undersized, too small to play the position,” said Freeney, a 6-foot-1 defensive end/outside linebacker. “I was one of the first guys that was predicated on speed, quickness and getting to the ball.”
Freeney began honing his quickness at Bloomfield High School in his home state of Connecticut. He lettered in baseball, basketball, football and soccer. His versatility and speed landed him a spot on the Syracuse University roster.
Though his first two seasons at Syracuse were interrupted by injuries that forced him to sit out, Freeney still managed to topple school records. With 4.5 sacks against Virginia Tech in 2000, he set the school’s single-game record. He also holds the season sack record and led the nation with 17.5 sacks in 2001.
Then-Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer said, “When the NFL does its draft, everybody will understand how good Dwight Freeney is.”
Freeney was selected 11th overall by the Indianapolis Colts, a franchise with whom he went on to play 11 of his 16 seasons.
During his first season with the Colts, he forced nine fumbles, setting an NFL rookie record. By his third season, he led the NFL with 16 sacks and became the third-quickest player to secure 40 sacks.
That critical season was also the origin of Freeney’s trademark spin move. The move helped Freeney elevate his game and torment quarterbacks across the league.
“I wasn’t in Football 101 anymore,” said Freeney. “I was in the advanced class.”
When class was in session, no one on the field was safe. He left offensive linemen scrambling and quarterbacks falling by spinning out of blockers’ grasps and infiltrating the pocket.
Browns offensive tackle and Hall of Famer Joe Thomas described the spin move, saying, “Everybody knew he was going to do it; everybody knew when it was coming, but you couldn’t stop it.”
The end result of the unstoppable innovation: 125.5 career sacks and 47 forced fumbles, the fourth most all time in the NFL. Freeney made three Super Bowl appearances and took home a ring with the Colts in Super Bowl XLI.
For the 6-1 defensive end/outside linebacker who changed the game of football, his signature move is nothing short of Hall of Fame-worthy.
“Whenever you see somebody do a spin move, I know where it came from,” Freeney said. “I know I left my mark on the game.”
But the heart with which Freeney played every game is worth more than a ring, a trademark move or defying the doubts about his size.
“One thing that I’m most proud of is the fact that I played the game right,” he said. “I went out there and played it hard like it was supposed to be played.”
Previous Article
2024 Enshrinement under way after weather delay
Heavy rain and intermittent lighting caused the Pro Football Hall of Fame and its broadcast partners to delay to start of the enshrinement of the Class of 2024.
Next Article
Countdown to 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement: Steve McMichael
Steve “Mongo” McMichael has always been a showman. A man of many nicknames and even more antics, his time on and off the field was nothing less than electrifying.