The Pro and College football Hall of Famer is returning to Central New York
The Syracuse Orange football program announced today Dwight Freeney will join Syracuse’s football staff as its leader in player development. He entered the College Football Hall of Fame in 2023 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2024.
Freeney’s Orange football career ended with a consensus All-American honor and co-BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year honors. He set Syracuse’s program single-season and single-game record in sacks with 17.5 and 4.5 respectively. Freeney also holds Syracuse career records for most tackles for loss in a season with 25.5 and forced fumbles with 14. Freeney’s jersey was retired and hung in the rafters of the JMA Wireless Dome on September 7, 2024 during Syracuse’s game against Georgia Tech.
Forever Orange @dwightfreeney
NFL Hall of Famer and @SyracuseU alum Dwight Freeney joins the Syracuse Football staff leading our Player Development pic.twitter.com/aj6dBmCt0V
— Syracuse Football (@CuseFootball) April 11, 2025
“The time is now,” Freeney said in a release from Syracuse Athletics. “I think that Syracuse has a lot of good things going. A great foundation and I think they need a push to be able to maintain and exceed that – that is what I hope I’m able to do. My schedule is now a lot freer than it has been in years past, so I’ll be able to help however is needed and in whatever way I can.”
Fran Brown described Freeney as a man who “beat all the odds” and someone who lives with Brown’s D.A.R.T. motto (Detailed, Accountable, Relentless, Tough). Brown also noted Freeney’s upbringing in Hartford, Connecticut, right in Syracuse’s northeast blueprint that the Orange have been targeting.
“It’s who we need to continue to advance our program into the next steps of being able to win a national championship,” said Brown in Syracuse Athletics’ release.
Freeney’s Hall of Frame career in the NFL started in 2002 after being selected 11th overall by the Indianapolis Colts. He’d spend 11 successful seasons with the Colts. Freeney was named AFC Defensive Player of the Year in 2005 and won Super Bowl XLI in 2006. He finished his career with the 19th-most sacks in NFL history.
Freeney is now tasked with helping Syracuse’s players grow and develop to hang with the heaviest hitters in the ACC. The test starts early for the 2025 season as Syracuse travels down to Atlanta for a neutral site game against 2024 CFP team Tennessee.