In the first couple of months of NFL free agency, veteran defensive end Dwight Freeney has remained on the open market after 16 seasons in the league. There hadn't been much chatter over him nearing a deal to continue his playing career.
According to Field Yates of ESPN, Freeney has decided to step away from the game and sign a one-day contract with the Indianapolis Colts to retire as a member of the team.
Dwight Freeney is retiring after 16 NFL seasons. He'll sign a one-day contract with the Colts. He's a 7-time Pro Bowler, Super Bowl champ and had 125.5 career sacks.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) April 19, 2018
The 38-year-old had spent his first 11 seasons in the league with the Colts after being selected with the 11th overall in the 2002 NFL Draft. He had begun his career four straight seasons with at least 11.0 sacks while tallying double-digit sack totals seven times during his tenure with his total of 107.5 ranking second all-time in franchise history behind Robert Mathis (123.0).
He also had earned all seven of his Pro Bowl selections, three First-Team All-Pro nods, a Second-Team All-Pro selection, and was part of the Super Bowl XLI championship team. During the prime of his career, Freeney was regarded as one of the top defensive ends in the league.
He departed the Colts after the 2012 season playing for the San Diego Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, and Seattle Seahawks over his last five years in the league. Freeney played the 2017 season with the Seahawks where he notched 3.0 sacks in four games played.
Freeney finishes his career tied for 17th in career sacks that ranks third-most among active players trailing on Julius Peppers and Terell Suggs in that regard. What should be noted is that 11 of those players ahead of him on the list have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He has put together a career that showed much longevity that should put him in line to earn heavy consideration to be inducted into the Hall of Fame at some point down the line.
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