Zaire Franklin

LB

#44

Experience: 8 years

Height: 6-0

Age: 29

Weight: 235 lbs

College: Syracuse

2024 SEASON

Solo

75
SCK

3.5
FF

5
INT

2

Advertising

Year

Season

Biography

CAREER TRANSACTIONS:

Signed contract extension with Indianapolis on March 13, 2024.
Re-signed with Indianapolis on March 15, 2022.
Re-signed with Indianapolis on May 10, 2018.
Selected by the Colts in the seventh round (235th overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft.

2024 SEASON (COLTS):

In 2024, he started all 17 games and compiled 173 tackles (93 solo), 11.0 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, six passes defensed, two interceptions and five forced fumbles. He led the league in total tackles as well as set new single-season career highs in sacks, interceptions and forced fumbles. In Week 2 at GB, he registered 10 tackles (five solo) and one forced fumble. In Week 3 vs. CHI, he tallied a team-high 14 tackles (five solo). In Week 6 at TEN, he compiled a team-high nine tackles (eight solo) and 1.0 tackle for loss. In Week 7 vs. MIA, he tallied 16 tackles (five solo) and one forced fumble. It marked his fifth game of at least 15 tackles since 2022, which ranks first in the NFL. In Week 8 at HOU, he compiled 11 tackles (seven solo) and 1.0 tackle for loss. In Week 9 at MIN, he registered eight tackles (six solo), one pass defensed and one interception. It marked his second career interception. In Week 12 vs. DET, he compiled 13 tackles (eight solo), 1.0 tackle for loss and 1.0 sack. He passed Shaquille Leonard (27) for the most 10-plus tackle games in team history. In Week 13 at NE, he posted 12 tackles (10 solo), 1.0 tackle for loss, a single-game career-high 1.5 sacks, one pass defensed and one forced fumble. It marked the first time in his career he had consecutive games with a sack. He became the first Colts player to register at least 10 tackles, 1.0 sack, one pass defensed and one forced fumble in a single game since Shaquille Leonard in Week 17 of 2020. In Week 15 at DEN, he tallied nine tackles (six solo), 2.0 tackles for loss, one pass defensed and one interception. In Week 17 at NYG, he compiled team highs in tackles (14), solo tackles (seven), tackles for loss (4.0) and forced fumbles (one). He set a new single-game career-high in tackles for loss and tied for the second-most tackles for loss in single-game franchise history. In Week 18 vs. JAX, he registered eight tackles (three solo), 1.0 tackle for loss, 1.0 sack, one pass defensed and one forced fumble.

2023 SEASON (COLTS):

Started all 16 games he played in during the 2023 season and recorded a single-season franchise record 179 tackles (107 solo), 3.0 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, six passes defensed and two forced fumbles. In Week 1 vs. JAX, he totaled a team-high 18 tackles (10 solo), one pass defensed and one forced fumble that was returned for a touchdown. He set single-game career highs in tackles (18) and solo tackles (10). In Week 2 at HOU, he led the team with 13 tackles (eight solo) and 1.0 tackle for loss. He passed Shaquille Leonard (28 in 2018) for the most tackles by a Colts player in the first two weeks of the season. In Week 3 at BAL, he paced the team with 15 tackles (11 solo), 1.0 tackle for loss and 1.0 sack. He passed Pat Angerer (42 in 2011) for the most tackles (45) by a Colts player in the first three weeks of a season. He also became the third Colt to ever record at least 13 tackles in three consecutive games, joining Leonard (2018) and Mike Peterson (2000). In Week 4 vs. LAR, he tallied 12 tackles (seven solo) and 0.5 sack. He passed Leonard (54 in 2018) for the most tackles in the first four weeks of a season by a Colts player. In Week 5 vs. TEN, he collected a team-leading 12 tackles (seven solo) and one pass defensed. In Week 7 vs. CLE, he totaled 11 tackles (nine solo) to mark his sixth 10-plus tackle game this season. In Week 8 vs. NO, he compiled a team-leading 14 tackles (six solo) and one pass defensed. Week 8 marked Franklin's NFL-leading seventh 10-plus tackle game. In Week 10 at NE, he totaled 15 tackles (12 solo) and one forced fumble. This marked his third game on the year with at least 15 tackles, which tied for the most across the league in 2023 with Bobby Wagner. In Week 14 at CIN, he totaled 14 tackles (six solo) and 1.0 tackle for loss. In Week 17 vs. LV, he tallied 10 tackles (seven solo) and one pass defensed. Franklin passed Mike Peterson (21) for the third-most 10-plus-tackle games in team history. He surpassed his own record (10 in 2022) for the most 10-plus-tackle games in single-season team history. Franklin also surpassed his own record (166 in 2022) for the most tackles in single-season franchise history since at least 1994.

2022 SEASON (COLTS):

In 2022, he started all 17 games and tallied 166 tackles (102 solo), the second-most tackles in a single season in franchise history, 12.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, six passes defensed and three forced fumbles. In Week 3 vs. KC, he compiled a then single-game career-high 12 tackles (eight solo), 1.0 tackle for loss and one pass defensed. In Week 4 vs. TEN, he recorded a then single-game career high 15 tackles (eight solo) and became the first Colts player to tally three consecutive games with at least 10 tackles since Shaquille Leonard from Weeks 14-17 of the 2020 season. In Week 6 vs. JAX, he recorded 11 tackles (seven solo) and 1.0 tackle for loss. In Week 10 at LV, he accumulated 10 tackles (seven solo) and 1.0 tackle for loss. In Week 11 vs. PHI, he accumulated a team-high 12 tackles (seven solo), half a sack and one forced fumble. In Week 12 vs. PIT, he accumulated a team-high 11 tackles (five solo). In Week 13 at DAL, he accumulated a team-high 10 tackles (six solo), 1.0 tackle for loss and one pass defensed. In Week 15 at MIN, he tallied 10 tackles (six solo) and one pass defensed. He registered his ninth double-digit tackle game this season. In Week 16 vs. LAC he tied for the team high in tackles (nine) and also contributed five solo tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss and 1.0 sack. In Week 17 at NYG, he tallied 10 tackles (seven solo) and two passes defensed. In Week 18 vs. HOU, he tallied seven tackles (five solo), 2.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack and one forced fumble. He passed Shaquille Leonard (163 in 2018) for the most tackles by a Colts player in a single season in franchise history according to STATSPASS.

2021 SEASON (COLTS):

Competed in all 17 games (11 starts) in 2021 and compiled 29 tackles (14 solo), 1.0 tackle for loss, two passes defensed, one interception, one fumble recovery, 12 special teams stops and one blocked punt. In Week 10 vs. JAX, he registered a blocked punt that was then returned for a touchdown by E.J. Speed. In Week 11 at BUF, he recorded his first-career interception.

2020 SEASON (COLTS):

In 2020, he saw action in all 16 games (two starts) and tallied 10 tackles (seven solo) and nine special teams stops. Saw action in one postseason contest and had one special teams stop.

2019 SEASON (COLTS):

Appeared in all 16 games in 2019 and had six special teams stops.

2018 SEASON (COLTS):

In 2018, he played in all 16 games (two starts) and totaled 25 tackles (10 solo), one pass defensed and four special teams stops. Started two postseason games.

COLLEGE:

Played in all 48 games during his four seasons (2014-17) at Syracuse and started the final 39 games of his career beginning with the last three games of his freshman season.
Became the second three-time captain in the history of Syracuse football (Robert Adams, 1894-96) and the first in the modern era.
Earned All-ACC honors twice (2016-17).
Tallied 311 tackles, the most for a Syracuse defender since Kelvin Smith notched 325 from 2003-06.
Finished his career tied for ninth in program history with 31.5 tackles for loss.
In addition, recorded 8.5 sacks, 10 passes defended, two interceptions and five forced fumbles.
In 2016, teamed with Parris Bennett to become the first set of Orange teammates with more than 100 tackles in the same season since 2003.
Started all 12 games at middle linebacker in 2017 and ranked second on the team with 85 tackles (41 solo), including 5.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.
For the second consecutive season, started all 12 games at middle linebacker in 2016 and was named one of the team captains. Finished second on the team with 101 tackles (56 solo) and tied for the team lead with 10.0 tackles for loss.
Started all 12 games at middle linebacker in 2015 and was voted the fourth sophomore captain in team history and the first since Angelo Acocella in 1945. Led the team with 81 tackles (59 solo) and was second on the team in tackles for loss (11.0).
As a freshman in 2014, played in 12 games (three starts) and finished sixth on the team with 44 tackles (31 solo). Also tallied 5.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, two passes defensed and one forced fumble

PERSONAL:

Attended La Salle College (Pa.) High School and was selected to the 2013 PIAA AAAA All-State Team and to the AAAA All-Catholic League first-team.
Played in the 2014 Big 33 Football Classic.
Dual majored in finance and marketing management at Syracuse.
Participated in the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative and represented the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (2024), the National Breast Cancer Foundation (2023), Shelice's Angels (2021-22) and Uplifting Athletes (2018-20).
In 2023, he participated in Colts community initiatives like Uniform Blitz and Beyond the Sidelines.
In 2020, he volunteered in many Colts community initiatives, including three mobile pantry distributions, attending a Marion County Juvenile Detention Center activation event and participating at the Colts' Election Day tent outside of Lucas Oil Stadium, which included passing out stickers, masks and shirts.
Has volunteered at numerous events with the Colts, including the Colts Youth Football Camp, Uniform Blitz and the Colts Simon Cancer Center visit.
First name is pronounced ZI-air.
A native of Philadelphia, Pa.

Advertising