Dwight Freeney life and biography

You can’t block a cannon ball. That’s the lesson NFL offensive linemen have learned from Dwight Freeney, whose compact size and explosive first step make him one of the top defensive ends in the game. A half-foot shorter and 30 pounds lighter than the monsters he faces across the line of scrimmage, Dwight still manages to get to the quarterback again and again—often without being touched. Not bad for a soccer goalie whose mom wouldn’t let him play football!

GROWING UP

Dwight Freeney was born on February 19, 1980, in Hartford, Connecticut. When Dwight’s family recalls his early years, his parents—Hugh Sr. and Joy—and his older brother, Hugh Jr., use words like “determined” and “strong-willed.” Dwight marched to his own drummer and didn’t want help from anyone. He was the kind of kid who loved to think things through. And if that didn’t work he would switch to Plan B—overpower whatever obstacle stood in his way.

For kids growing up outside Hartford, sports can be complicated. Lodged between New York and Boston, fans have to pick teams from one city or the other and then deal with the consequences. While most of his friends were divided between the Yankees and Red Sox, Dwight rooted for the Mets, with Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry among his favorite players. He also chose the Giants over the Patriots, partly because Big Blue was on TV more often, but also because he loved the search-and-destroy style of Lawrence Taylor.

Ironically, football was not an option for Dwight as a boy. The Freeneys encouraged their sons to excel in soccer, basketball and baseball, but they steered them away from the gridiron. They felt the risk of injury was too high. Hugh and Dwight were particularly good baseball players, and Dwight was also an excellent soccer goalie. When Hugh enrolled at Bloomfield High School, he quickly became one of the baseball team’s top hurlers.

Following his junior year, Hugh became curious about football and began lobbying his father for permission to play. Hugh Sr. relented, figuring that since his son knew nothing about the game he would spend the year on the bench and then be finished with football. He figured wrong. By the end of that season, Hugh had become Bloomfield’s starting quarterback—much to the surprise of Joy, who began receiving compliments from neighbors on her elder son’s great games.

Meanwhile, Dwight was the freshman goalie for the Bloomfield soccer team. Hugh had other plans for his younger brother. He asked football coach John Cochran if Dwight could hang around and help out eith the team. Cochran was no fool. Hugh was leading the team to an 11–1 season—what better way to replace one Freeney with another one? He made Dwight the team’s water boy.

Dwight went on to letter in basketball and baseball as a freshman, and over the summer he used Hugh’s success to convince his parents to let him to join the football squad. Dwight did not enjoy the same instant success as his brother. Coach Cochran played him at linebacker, where Dwight had dreams of being the next LT. But the teenager had no idea how to read an offense. By the time a play developed, he was usually too far away to make a difference.

As a junior, Dwight moved to defensive end and proved to be a natural there. In his first game, he recorded seven sacks in the first half. Bloomfield football was reenergized. The teambegan winning state championships and pulling top athletes from other sports. Dwight was the first big-time prospect the school had produced since the 1960s. After he graduated, 10 younger teammates went on to play at major schools.

In his senior year, Dwight was picked as an All-American by virtually every football publication from SuperPrep to Blue Chip Illustrated. He was a bit undersized at 6–1, but his speed, quickness, agility and ferocious tackling more than made up for this deficiency. Plus, at around 250 pounds, he was at a weight where most major college defensive ends should be. Although some questioned whether Dwight projected as a future pro, there was little question that he would be an impact player as a collegian.

Thus the recruiting began. In the running were Syracuse, Boston College, Maryland, and Wake Forest. When decision time came, Syracuse was the winningest program, so he picked the Orangemen. The following spring, as Dwight completed his fourth and final season as Bloomfield’s center fielder. A scout from the Atlanta Braves approached him and asked if he was committed to a college football career. Dwight was honest and said yes, and was not drafted by a big league team.

Dwight saw limited action as a freshman for Syracuse coach Paul Pasqualoni in 1998, due partly to inexperience but also to an injured ankle. He started one game and ended the year with three tackles. Though still a raw, undersized talent, he had obvious upside. Later Pasqualoni admitted that he should have red-shirted Dwight. He might have broken a lot of records—and Syracuse would have won a lot of games in 2002—had he waited a year to join the varsity.

ON THE RISE

Dwight earned two starts as a sophomore in 1999 and continued his development. The Orangemen often used him as a guided missile on passing downs. He collected his first quarterback sacks, getting credit for 3.5.

Dwight ascended to the starting lineup for good as a junior and began wreaking havoc on enemy offenses. He collected 13 sacks in his first seven games before injuring his spleen and sitting out the final four contests of 2000. Among those sacks were 4.5 against Michael Vick and Virginia Tech. Dwight just flat ran him down all day. Like most Syracuse opponents, the Hokies designed the bulk of their passing plays as rollouts away from Dwight—making his big sack totals as a junior and senior all the more remarkable.

Despite Dwight’s late-season absence, several football publications took notice, singling him out for All-America recognition. More important was the recognition of his conference peers, as he made First Team All-Big East.

Dwight played like a tornado his senior year. Week after week, he dominated opponents, smothering quarterbacks and blowing up running plays. Dwight was named Big East Player of the Week four times. He scored multiple sacks against Georgia Tech, Tennessee, Central Florida, Auburn, ECU, West Virginia and Temple. When he went sackless against Pitt, it broke a string of 17 games dating back to his junior year where he had brought down the quarterback at least once in a game

In a November game against West Virginia, Dwight tackled Brad Lewis to reach the 15.5 sack mark, which bettered Tim Green and Julius Peppers for the all-time single-season NCAA mark. Dwight’ hit also created a fumble, which he recovered.

Dwight finished the year with 17.5 sacks to lead the nation. He finished with 34 for his career in two seasons as a starter. Dwight was more than just a sack machine, however,. His savage tackles forced eight fumbles, and he recovered three others in 2001 alone . Dwight was a consensus All-American and First Team All-Big East, sharing conference Defensive Player of the Year with Ed Reed of Miami.

Dwight was viewed as a tweener by most NFL teams, and thus rated a third- to fifth-round pick on many draft boards. A few weeks before the NFL Draft, the Indianapolis Colts brought defensive-minded Tony Dungy aboard as head coach. The team picked 11th and wanted an impact lineman. There were bigger players on the board than Dwight when the team’s first round choice came up, but none with his skills. The Coltstook the plunge knowing that Dwight was likely to encounter problems as an NFL defensive end.

Foremost among their concerns was his height. Defensive ends need to see around the league’s big tackles, and at 6–1 that wasn’t going to happen for Dwight. Ends with short arms are also at a disadvantage, because they can’t fend off blockers with longer arms. The Colts, however, preferred to look at the success of Minnesota’s John Randle, another undersized end who bulked up and became a fantastic inside player.

As was the case in college, Dwight had to convince his detractors he could play his way into the starting lineup. It didn’t take long. The Colts had long been searching for an anchor to their defensive line, and they realized that they had one in their undersized-but-explosive rookie. Dwight was impossible to block.hHe came off the ball like a bowlingball—hard, fast and low to the ground. When a blocker did get a body on him, he twirled away and was into the backfield. Offensive linemen who wereused to bull-rushers found themselves dealing with a 270-pound cat burglar. Simply put, young Dwight made a lot of good players look bad in 2002.

Dwight was a true difference-maker as a rookie. Although he was often pulled from the game on obvious running downs, he still managed to record 43 solo tackles and forced an amazing nine fumbles—a league record since the stat first became official in the 1980s. He made the NFL All-Rookie team and was Defensive Rookie of the Month in November and December. He also earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors when he dominated the Philadelphia Eagles, forcing three fumbles in an early November contest. Dwight finished the year with 13 sacks, a remarkable stat for a rookie.

The Colts finished 10–6 in Dungy’s first year at the helm and secured a Wild Card berth in the playoffs. Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison had great statistical years, but that was partially due to the fact that running back Edgerrin James was injured. The team had to go to the air more often than in the past. Another problem was that the defense gave up a lot of first-half points. In several of their losses, the game was over after 30 minutes. Unfortunately, this was the case in the playoffs, as the Colts were humiliated by the New York Jets, 41–0.

Dungy installed Dwight as a full-time started in 2003, and he reached double-digits in sacks once again—including three in a game against the Miami Dolphins. He finished with 11 and was named to the Pro Bowl for the first time. It wasn’t just the sacks that caught the voters’ eyes. Dwight exploded into his tackles, making up for a lack of size with tremendous force. As in college, he had a knack for popping the ball out of a runner’s hands. His numerous forced fumbles were becoming a staple of the Colts’ defensive game plan. In his first two NFL seasons, he was credited with 13 forced fumbles. He also recovered three fumbles.

The Colts won 12 games in 2003, with Manning enjoying a co-MVP season. That was enough to finish atop the AFC South. Indy destroyed the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round of the playoffs, and then squeaked past the Denver Broncos to set up an AFC Championship showdown with the Patriots. New England’s defense trumped the Colts’ offense, and the Pats advanced to the Super Bowl, 24–14.

MAKING HIS MARK

Dwight truly came into his own in his third NFL campaign. He posted 16 sacks, including a pair of three-sack games against the Tennessee Titans and Houston Texans, becoming the first Colt to lead the NFL in quarterback take-downs. When opponents prepared for Indianapolis, it wasn’t just about stopping Manning, who threw for 49 touchdowns. Containing Dwight was viewed as equally important. He was no longer just a pass rusher, but also a terrific run-stopper. He started strong and finished the same way, earning conference Defensive Player of the Month for December/January.

Dwight played well in the postseason. Unfortunately, the snakebit Colts lost a heartbreaker to the Pats. Yet again they were denieda berth in the Super Bowl.

Dwight had a magnificent season in 2005, cementing his reputation as an elite pass rusher. He was part of a line that took down the quarterback 42 times—11 of which went into Dwight’s sack column. His best game came against the Cleveland Browns in September, when he recorded three. Dwight was named AFC Defensive Player of the Month.

Dwight was picked for the Pro Bowl again, this time being joined by teammate Robert Mathis, his opposite defensive end in Indy. They combined for 22.5 sacks that season, marking the second of three straight years they totaled 20 or more. Dwight was also named a First Team All-Pro for second time in a row.

The Colts won a team-record 14 games, taking the AFC South for the third straight year. They were perfect after 13 games but lost two of their final three—one without Dungy, who was mourning the suicide of his son.

The Colts’ season came to an end in the playoffs against the Steelers. Trailing 21–18 in the final moments of the game, the Colts got a gift when Pittsburgh’s Jerome Bettis fumbled at the goal line and Nick Harper scooped up the ball. Ben Roethlisberger saved a touchdown with a desperate tackle, but the Colts still had a chance to tie with a field goal. Mike Vanderjagt, usually automatic inside of 50, missed a 46-yarder.

As in past years, many picked the Colts to go all the way in 2006. Early on, it looked as if the defense might keep them from reaching the promised land. Injuries and mistakes led to some frustrating losses. Teams ran roughshod over the Colts. But as the weather turned cold, the team got healthy and the holes in the defense began closing up.

The shaky start was reflected in Dwight ‘s numbers. He had a mere 5.5 sacks. Three came in a wild game against the Bengals, during which he also instigated a trio of Cincinnati fumbles. But Dwight was quick to point out that sack numbers can be deceiving. Statistically, he and his pass-rushing teammates had their best year ever. The Colts were extremely difficult to throw against. Often, when Dwight was double-teamed, safety Bob Sanders had a direct path to the quarterback, and Sanders had a terrific year.

The Colts made the playoffs as a Wild Card and beat the Chiefs. Dwight had a pair of sacks in the 23–8 victory. More important, the Colts held KC’s formidable running attack to a mere 44 yards.

This victory set up a showdown with the Baltimore Ravens. Indy survived this defensive struggle, 15–6, and advanced to the AFC Championship against the Patriots, the te’ms annual Super Bowl roadblock. This time the outcome was different. After giving up three first-half touchdowns, the defense tightened and the offense got it going, turning a 21–3 deficit into a 38–34 win. In a year when no one thought the Colts were at their best, they were on their way to the Super Bowl.

In the big game, Indy erased a 14–6 lead by the Chicago Bears, scoring 10 unanswered points in the second quarter. The defense allowed just one field goal in the second half, as the Colts won 29–17. Dwight recovered a fumble in the game, which was marked by six turnovers. Indy celebrated its elusive Super Bowl championship.

The 2007 season started well for Dwight but ended in disappointment. He had a monster game against the Broncos in September, with seven tackles, two forced fumbles and a sack. Against Jacksonville in October, Dwight had another stellar game, terrorizing the Jags with seven tackles, a pair of sacks and two forced fumbles. One of his sacks was good for a safety.

He was looking forward to a strong finish when he broke his foot against the Chargers in November. He was done for the year. The Colts made the playoffs again, but lost to San Diego in the Divisional round.

Dwight was on his game again in 2008, slicing through enemy protection week after week. He was particularly good against the division-rival Texans, registering a half-dozen solo tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble in their two meetings. In a November game against the Browns, Dwight made the winning play in a tight defensive battle. He plowed into the quarterback and popped the ball loose, enabling Mathis to scoop up the fumble and run 37 yards to score the winning points in a 10–6 victory. That game earned Dwight the nod as AFC Defensive Player of the Month.

Dwight finished the year with 30 tackles, three forced fumbles and 10.5 sacks. He earned yet another Pro Bowl bid.

The Colts bowed out of the postseason earlier than they hoped, losing 23–17 in overtime to the Chargers. No one was pointing fingers at Dwight, who buried Philip Rivers twice and was in his face on three other occasions.

The Colts roared into 2009 with visions of another Super Bowl trip. They won close games against the Jaguars and Dolphins, and blew out the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks. With the defensive line banged up at the start of the year, Dwight played through a quad strain and was a major contributor. Against Arizona, he sacked Kurt Warner twice—no easy feat given the veteran ’s quick release. He registered sacks in the other games as well. Statistically, at least, he was on his way to his best season ever.

The Colts certainly hope so. Their success hinges as much on Dwight’s health and productivity as on Manning’s. When Dwight is in the lineup, the Indianapolis defense is active and focused. The double-teams opponents put on Dwight open up all sorts of defensive possibilities for his teammates. And of course, when the Colts need the ball back late in a game, no one is better than Dwight and jarring it loose from even the NFL’s surest hands. Makes you wonder if the U.S. Soccer program might want to give him another look.

DWIGHT THE PLAYER

At 6-1 and about 270 pounds, Dwight is small for a defensive end, at least by NFL standards. When he lines up at the right edge of the line, he's often yielding 30 pounds to the offensive tackle across from him.

That being said, no one in the NFL is faster than Dwight off the line. In fact, he may be the fastest defensive end ever in this respect. It’s what he does with that extra split-second, however, that makes him truly special. He can shoot a gap or spin away from a blocker before he has time to react. At this point, D’wights size becomes an advantage, because he is low to the ground and impossible to catch from behind. There are time when he gets to the quarterback without even being touched. Besides his spin move, Dwight’s repertoire includes an inside slide move and a low-to-the-ground rip move. He also uses his elbows with great effectiveness to create space.

Dwight is a fumble-generating machine. When he gets to a quarterback or ball carrier, he is focused on bashing the pigskinl out of their hands. He can do this with one arm while securing the tackle with the other arm.

Dwight is intelligent and a student of the game. He works hard in the offseason and in practice. He has earned the respect of teammates and opponents for what he does on the field and off of it.

EXTRA

* Dwight wore number 44 in high school.
* Dwight lettered in four sports in high school—football, baseball, basketball and soccer. He won four letters in baseball and basketball.
* Dwight was a finalist for the Lombardi, Bednarik and Nagurski awards in 2001.
* Dwight was the highest-picked defensive player from Syracuse since the Baltimore Colts took Joe Ehrmann with 10th selection in the 1973 draft.
* Dwight graduated second on Syracuse’s all-time sack list with 34. Tim Green is first with 45.5.
* In college, Dwight once squatted 725 pounds.
* Dwight stunned scouts by running the 40-yard dash in 4.42 secons at the 2002 NFL Combine, the fastest time ever for a defensive lineman.
* Dwight was runner up to Julius Peppers as 2002 Defensive Rookie of the year.
* In 2003, Dwight became only the Colts’ second defensive Pro Bowler since moving to Indianapolis. Duane Bickett was the first in 1987. Dwight later became the first Colt since John Dutton in the 1970s to play in three straight Pro Bowls.
* Dwight won the 2004 Madden Bowl, a video-game tournament in which NFL players compete on screen.
* Dwight was named NFL Defensive Player of the Month for November 2008. It marked the third time in his career he earned this honor.
* After five seasons, only four players in NFL history had more sacks than Dwight’s 56.5—Reggie White, Derrick Thomas, Richard Dent and Bruce Smith.
* The $72 million contract Dwight inked in 2007 made him the highest defensive player in the NFL.
* Dwight founded the National Kids Choice Society, which brings professional athletes into schools to encourage young athletes to follow their dreams but to make it homework first and sports second.

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