Former Syracuse star Dwight Freeney has been selected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame for its 2024 class, it was announced during NFL Honors Thursday night. Freeney is joined by Devin Hester, Andre Johnson, Julius Peppers, Patrick Willis, Randy Gradishar and Steve McMichael in the seven member class.
Freeney starred at Syracuse in college, setting numerous records and becoming one of the best pass rushers in the country. He was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the first round of the NFL Draft and for them from 2002 to 2012. Freeney racked up 125.5 sacks during his career, good for 26th all time. He was a three time First Team All-Pro, seven time Pro Bowler and a Super Bowl Champion. Freeney had double digit sacks in seven seasons and had at least four forced fumbles in eight seasons.
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One of the league's most fearsome pass rushers, whose speed off the edge paired beautifully with the fast turf in Indianapolis, Freeney is headed to Canton in his second year of eligibility. While the Colts of the 2000s were known for their high-powered offense led by Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning, Freeney keyed a defense that equally was a problem for the rest of the AFC. Freeney burst onto the scene as a rookie in 2002 with 13 sacks and a league-leading 20 tackles for loss and nine forced fumbles. That season would mark his first of four straight double-digit sack seasons to begin his career -- including an NFL-best 16 in 2004. Freeney employed a devastating spin move that befuddled opposing offensive linemen and helped him tally seven Pro Bowls and three All-Pro selections.
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