‘You’re Really Flushed With Emotion’ — Colts Great Dwight Freeney Heads to Hall of Fame

Indianapolis Colts star pass rusher Dwight Freeney will soon spin his way into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Freeney is part of a seven-man Hall class set for enshrinement on Aug. 4. Ahead of his induction, Freeney participated in a conference call with reporters and discussed the upcoming pomp and circumstance.

Dwight Freeney’s Hall of Fame Résumé

Freeney goes into the Hall of Fame with contemporaries Devin Hester (Chicago Bears returner/wide receiver), Andre Johnson (Houston Texans wide receiver), Julius Peppers (Carolina Panthers EDGE), and Patrick Willis (San Francisco 49ers linebacker).

Denver Broncos linebacker Randy Gradishar and Bears defensive tackle Steve McMichael round out the seven-man class.

Freeney, a member of the 2000s All-Decade Team, earned the necessary votes for induction in his second year of eligibility.

His résumé has long been worthy. Freeney was one of the league’s most devastating defensive weapons of the early 21st century.

His 125.5 career sacks are 18th on the official NFL record list, and his 47 forced fumbles are fifth in league history.

Freeney led the NFL in forced fumbles (nine) and tackles for loss (20) as a rookie and was the NFL’s sack king in 2004 with 16. The seven-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro finished his career with seven seasons with 10 or more sacks.

“You try to prepare for it, you know, the emotions and what you’re gonna feel,” Freeney said. “You think you had a pretty good career. You have an opportunity and a chance to get there. So I knew being a finalist the year before there was that chance, right?

“And you got all the other Hall of Famers speaking to you talking to you. ‘Hey, man, you’re a shoo-in. No problem. You’re gonna get there. You’re a first ballot.’ Et cetera, et cetera. All this and it didn’t happen. So, you know, when you actually get that knock, when you’re told, you’re really flushed with emotion and you just feel a sense of gratitude and appreciation for all those who helped you get there.”

Who’s the Next Freeney?

Tony Dungy — who had the honor of informing Freeney of his inclusion into the Hall of Fame — did as much as anyone to get Freeney there.

He made Freeney his first draft pick after taking over the Colts’ top job in 2002, selecting Freeney 11th overall despite questions about whether he had the size to play defensive end in the NFL at 6’1″ and 266 pounds.

“He was the cornerstone of my time there,” Dungy said the day Freeney got in. ” … To see that first pick become a Hall of Famer is just unbelievable.”

Freeney’s career wouldn’t have been the same without the lethal spin move that became his calling card — and has inspired a new generation of pass rushers.

“I love Myles Garrett,” Freeney said. “I love his game. I love his leverage. I love how he plays. He reminds me a little bit of me, and he has an awesome spin move. Him, T.J. Watt, it’s kind of those two guys. They bring that spin move out, and they know how to execute.”

Freeney’s Toughest Challenge

Freeney finished his career with sacks in 106 different games (including the postseason). Along the way, he made dozens of highly paid professionals look like amateurs. But it wasn’t always a walk in the park.

Asked by Pro Football Network to name the toughest tackle he ever faced, he named another Hall of Famer: Baltimore Ravens giant Jonathan Ogden.

“I used to call him a walking cheat code, and the reason being is because you can’t have a man that big, that tall, move that quick. It’s just not fair,” Freeney said. “When you’re running around the corner, you’re running around him to get to the quarterback, that’s the corner that never came.

“I’m still running right now looking for the quarterback, and there’s nobody back there but him. So he was one of those guys, I would say, out of all the offensive tackles that I have faced, he was probably the toughest for me just to prepare for.”