Dwight Freeney

Biography

Legendary Syracuse football player Dwight Freeney, who went on to become a College and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, has been added to the Syracuse football staff in Player Development. One of the greatest players in football history, Freeney spent 16 seasons in the NFL, 11 of which with the Indianapolis Colts. He has the 19th-most sacks in NFL history, won a Super Bowl, was enshrined in Canton in 2024 and had his jersey retired at Syracuse the same year. A 2001 unanimous First Team All-American, Freeney was a finalist for the Bednarik, Lombardi and Nagurski awards, and he finished ninth in 2001 Heisman Trophy voting. He holds the NCAA record for career pass sacks per game (1.61), and he finished his career as the NCAA leader in single-season sacks with 17.5 in 2001. He had eight forced fumbles in 2001, which currently places him third in the NCAA record books, and he averaged .67 forced fumbles per game in 2001. His 4.5 sacks against Virginia Tech on Oct. 21, 2000, set a conference record. The 2001 team captain and MVP, Freeney currently holds school records for career (50.5) and single season tackle for loss (25.5 in 2001) and forced fumbles in a career (14). He finished his career with 104 tackles and 34 sacks, second only to College Football Hall of Famer Tim Green on Syracuse's all-time list. Freeney led the Orange to three bowl berths, including a 20-13 win over Kentucky in the 1999 Music City Bowl and a 26-3 victory over Kansas State in the 2001 Insight.com Bowl.