Legendary Bolts Linebacker/DL Makes Pro Football Hall Of Fame

Following an All-American career at Syracuse, Freeney was selected with the No. 11 pick in the 2002 NFL draft by the Peyton Manning-era Indianapolis Colts. He made an instant impact at the pro level, emerging as the runner-up to fellow 2024 Hall of Fame inductee Julius Peppers for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award honors.

With several deep playoff run-bound Colts teams, Freeney was named a four-time All-Pro Teamer and a seven-time Pro Bowler. He would go on to be named to the NFL's 2000s All-Decade Team. He was once the league's sack leader, in 2004, and its forced fumbles co-leader in 2002. Freeney won his lone Super Bowl with Indiana in 2007.

Freeney joined the Philip Rivers-era San Diego Chargers for a two-season, post-prime stint, in 2013-14, before a journeyman circuit that saw him make appearances on the Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Seattle Seahawks, and finally the Detroit Lions before hanging up his cleats.