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Syracuse Football: Dwight Freeney is ‘virtual lock’ for Pro Football Hall of Fame

By Paul A. Esden Jr.

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - NOVEMBER 10: Dwight Freeney talks to the fans during his induction to the Indianapolis Colts Ring of Honor during halftime the game between the Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 10, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - NOVEMBER 10: Dwight Freeney talks to the fans during his induction to the Indianapolis Colts Ring of Honor during halftime the game between the Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 10, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
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Former Syracuse football stud Dwight Freeney is considered a ‘virtual lock’ for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Here are all the details.

On Saturday, February 1 the latest Pro Football Hall of Fame class was revealed. It got us thinking about when will be the next time we see a former Syracuse football player immortalized.

Believe it or not, it’s not that far away.

Former Orange pass rusher Dwight Freeney is eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2023.

In the NFL, players are eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame five years after they retire from the league. For Freeney, he played his last NFL snap in 2017 with the Detroit Lions and the Seattle Seahawks.

In a recent column, ESPN’s Rich Cimini stated that Freeney was a “virtual lock” for the Hall of Fame when he’s eligible.

Dwight played 16 years professionally for six different NFL organizations. Including the Indianapolis Colts where he spent the first 11 years of his career. In addition, he stuck around the pros for a few more years with the then San Diego Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, and the aforementioned Detroit Lions and Seattle Seahawks.

During that stretch, he accumulated 125.5 sacks, 46 forced fumbles, 148 quarterback hits, and 128 tackles for loss. Freeney ranks 18th all-time in sacks, fifth in forced fumbles, and when he retired he had the fifth most postseason sacks.

In 2019 Dwight Freeney joined the Colts’ Ring of Honor as the first defensive player ever inducted. In a few years, he’ll be immortalized once again in Canton, Ohio with a bronze bust.

Currently, Syracuse has the sixth most Pro Football Hall of Famers (8) of any college in America. The Orange are only behind: Notre Dame (13), USC (12), Michigan (10), Ohio State (10), and Miami (9). Syracuse is in a tie with two other colleges with 8 Pro Football Hall of Famers (Alabama and Pittsburgh).

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Perhaps that number could increase in 2023 with a potential Freeney addition. The only other lock to make it in as a first-ballot Hall of Famer in the 2023 class is legendary offensive tackle, Joe Thomas. In any given year the maximum amount of entrants to the Pro Football Hall of Fame is five, which means Dwight will have a great chance to get enshrined on his first attempt.

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