Colts draw inspiration from Freeney’s Hall of Fame legacy | Don’t Miss This

WESTFIELD – Shane Steichen began his media availability Sunday with an appreciation for the past.

Indianapolis Colts icon Dwight Freeney was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame a day earlier in Canton, Ohio, and the team’s current head coach believes there’s much his players can glean from the defensive end’s rich legacy.

“I actually showed a highlight reel of him in the team meeting before he got inducted – just about what he’s all about and what he meant for this organization,” Steichen said. “So guys see that, what it takes to be elite like he was. You strive for greatness every day, and that’s what he did.”

It’s an approach linebacker Zaire Franklin has been talking about – in slightly different forms – since signing a three-year, $30 million contract extension in the spring.

Franklin is a classic NFL underdog success story.

Drafted in the seventh round out of Syracuse in 2018, he first made the team as a special teams standout. In 2022, he became a full-time starter for the first time. And now, he’s set the franchise record for tackles in a single season twice and is an unquestioned team leader.

In light of those accomplishments, Franklin’s been asked often this offseason and preseason about his own legacy.

Each time he’s steered the conversation toward one goal – winning championships.

After Sunday’s 90-minute practice, he mentioned the impact former Indianapolis wide receiver and Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison’s had on his career. Both players grew up in north Philadelphia and played at Syracuse before being drafted by the Colts.

“I feel like sometimes I’m trying to walk the same steps as Marvin,” Franklin said.

He also praised Freeney, saying he’s drawn inspiration from his interactions with the star defender whenever their paths have crossed. And he holds that entire era of the franchise – which includes Indianapolis’ only Super Bowl victory – in great esteem.

“Just knowing the impact (Freeney) had on the game, it’s special, man – everybody from that era,” Franklin said. “We’re trying to take over now. We’re trying to plant our flag. I want 20 years from now people (to be) looking back talking about how great DeForest (Buckner) is, talking about how great Kenny (Moore II) was, talking about how great Pitt (Michael Pittman Jr.) was, talking about how great Zaire is.

“And I think the difference between then and now is we’ve gotta win. Those guys are great players, but they won. There’s a lot of great players in that era (from other teams) that we ain’t talking about no more because they didn’t win like (the Colts) did. So I think … that’s the goal. We gotta win.”

It’s becoming a common refrain as training camp rolls on at Grand Park Sports Campus.

The Colts were 15 yards short of their first AFC South championship since 2014 last season.

The 23-19 loss against the Houston Texans following a failed fourth-and-1 conversion marked the second time in three years Indianapolis lost a season finale with a playoff spot on the line.

The franchise hasn’t qualified for the postseason since 2020, and it hasn’t won a playoff game since 2018.

The resounding theme this season is that those statistics must change.

“No. 1, I just gotta taste a championship,” running back Jonathan Taylor said. “For me, I think that’s for me personally and, I’m sure, as a team – everyone here – that’s just something that I don’t have on my resume yet. I’ve seen when people celebrate, and I’ve spoke to some people who’ve seen the confetti fall, and it’s a feeling that they can’t describe.

“So I want that feeling, too, and I’m sure the rest of the team does.”