Skip to main content

Advertising

Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin ranked No. 100 on NFL Network's Top 100 Players of 2024

It is the first time Franklin has appeared on the list in his NFL career.

Jul 22, 2024 at 08:00 PM

Foster_Amanda

Amanda Foster

Contributing Writer

NFL_Top_100-Zaire-1920x1080

After a standout 2023 season, Zaire Franklin has been voted one of the best players in the NFL by his peers.

The Colts linebacker came in at No. 100 on NFL Network's Top 100 Players of 2024, marking his first appearance on the list in his NFL career.

2023 was a record-breaking season for Franklin, but not in the traditional way; he broke records he was already in sole possession of. His 179 tackles (107 solo) broke the Colts single-season franchise record for tackles in a season, surpassing the 166 tackles he tallied just one season earlier. By recording 10+ tackles in 11 games, Franklin also broke his own record for most 10-plus-tackle games in single season history (the previous record was 10 games in 2022). He totaled 15 or more tackles in three games in the 2023 season, with a career-high 17 tackles in Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Franklin's 179 tackles also placed him atop the AFC South, and second across the entire NFL, in the category.

In the past two seasons, Franklin has a total of 345 tackles for the second-most in the NFL.

He has been voted a team captain for the last four seasons and was the Colts' Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee in 2023. Franklin signed a contract extension in March, ensuring the vocal leader and dominant linebacker will be with the Colts for years to come.

44 LB Zaire Franklin

1 / 44

44 LB Zaire Franklin

© Indianapolis Colts

44 LB Zaire Franklin

2 / 44

44 LB Zaire Franklin

© Indianapolis Colts

44 LB Zaire Franklin

3 / 44

44 LB Zaire Franklin

© Indianapolis Colts

44 LB Zaire Franklin

4 / 44

44 LB Zaire Franklin

© Indianapolis Colts

44 LB Zaire Franklin

5 / 44

44 LB Zaire Franklin

./© Indianapolis Colts

44 LB Zaire Franklin

6 / 44

44 LB Zaire Franklin

© Indianapolis Colts

44 LB Zaire Franklin

7 / 44

44 LB Zaire Franklin

© Indianapolis Colts

44 LB Zaire Franklin

8 / 44

44 LB Zaire Franklin

© Indianapolis Colts

44 LB Zaire Franklin

9 / 44

44 LB Zaire Franklin

./© Indianapolis Colts

44 LB Zaire Franklin

10 / 44

44 LB Zaire Franklin

© Indianapolis Colts

44 LB Zaire Franklin

11 / 44

44 LB Zaire Franklin

© Indianapolis Colts

44 LB Zaire Franklin

12 / 44

44 LB Zaire Franklin

© Indianapolis Colts

44 LB Zaire Franklin

13 / 44

44 LB Zaire Franklin

© Indianapolis Colts

44 LB Zaire Franklin

14 / 44

44 LB Zaire Franklin

./© Indianapolis Colts

44 LB Zaire Franklin

15 / 44

44 LB Zaire Franklin

./© Indianapolis Colts

44 LB Zaire Franklin

16 / 44

44 LB Zaire Franklin

© Indianapolis Colts

44 LB Zaire Franklin

17 / 44

44 LB Zaire Franklin

© Indianapolis Colts

44 LB Zaire Franklin

18 / 44

44 LB Zaire Franklin

© Indianapolis Colts

44 LB Zaire Franklin

19 / 44

44 LB Zaire Franklin

© Indianapolis Colts

29 CB JuJu Brents , 96 DT Taven Bryan , 44 LB Zaire Franklin , 23 CB Kenny Moore II

20 / 44

29 CB JuJu Brents , 96 DT Taven Bryan , 44 LB Zaire Franklin , 23 CB Kenny Moore II

./© Indianapolis Colts

44 LB Zaire Franklin

21 / 44

44 LB Zaire Franklin

© Indianapolis Colts

44 LB Zaire Franklin

22 / 44

44 LB Zaire Franklin

© Indianapolis Colts

44 LB Zaire Franklin

23 / 44

44 LB Zaire Franklin

© Indianapolis Colts

44 LB Zaire Franklin

24 / 44

44 LB Zaire Franklin

© Indianapolis Colts

44 LB Zaire Franklin

25 / 44

44 LB Zaire Franklin

© Indianapolis Colts

44 LB Zaire Franklin44 LB Zaire Franklin

26 / 44

44 LB Zaire Franklin44 LB Zaire Franklin

© Indianapolis Colts

44 LB Zaire Franklin

27 / 44

44 LB Zaire Franklin

./© Indianapolis Colts

44 LB Zaire Franklin

28 / 44

44 LB Zaire Franklin

© Indianapolis Colts

44 LB Zaire Franklin

29 / 44

44 LB Zaire Franklin

© Indianapolis Colts

44 LB Zaire Franklin

30 / 44

44 LB Zaire Franklin

© Indianapolis Colts

44 LB Zaire Franklin

31 / 44

44 LB Zaire Franklin

© Indianapolis Colts

44 LB Zaire Franklin

32 / 44

44 LB Zaire Franklin

© Indianapolis Colts

44 LB Zaire Franklin

33 / 44

44 LB Zaire Franklin

© Indianapolis Colts

44 LB Zaire Franklin

34 / 44

44 LB Zaire Franklin

© Indianapolis Colts

44 LB Zaire Franklin

35 / 44

44 LB Zaire Franklin

© Indianapolis Colts

44 LB Zaire Franklin

36 / 44

44 LB Zaire Franklin

© Indianapolis Colts

44 LB Zaire Franklin

37 / 44

44 LB Zaire Franklin

© Indianapolis Colts

44 LB Zaire Franklin

38 / 44

44 LB Zaire Franklin

© Indianapolis Colts

44 LB Zaire Franklin44 LB Zaire Franklin

39 / 44

44 LB Zaire Franklin44 LB Zaire Franklin

© Indianapolis Colts

44 LB Zaire Franklin

40 / 44

44 LB Zaire Franklin

© Indianapolis Colts

44 LB Zaire Franklin

41 / 44

44 LB Zaire Franklin

© Indianapolis Colts

44 LB Zaire Franklin

42 / 44

44 LB Zaire Franklin

© Indianapolis Colts

44 LB Zaire Franklin

43 / 44

44 LB Zaire Franklin

© Indianapolis Colts

44 LB Zaire Franklin44 LB Zaire Franklin

44 / 44

44 LB Zaire Franklin44 LB Zaire Franklin

© Indianapolis Colts

Advertising

This Ad will close in 3

Related Content

Colts 'evaluating everything' including, but not limited to, Anthony Richardson as starting quarterback

Richardson completed 10 of 32 passes in the Colts' Week 8 loss to the Houston Texans.

Jonathan Taylor, DeForest Buckner make 'huge' impact in return despite Colts' loss to Texans

Defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo called Buckner "an extra coach on the field" due to how much the veteran's presence means to the Colts' defense.

'We have your back:' Colts' confidence, belief stays strong after Week 8 loss to Houston Texans

Richardson completed 10 of 32 passes in the Colts' 23-20 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday.

First career touchdown holds extra meaning for Colts running back Tyler Goodson

Goodson scored his first career touchdown in the Colts' 16-10 win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 7.

One reason why Week 8 game vs. Texans is key opportunity for Anthony Richardson's development

For the first time in his career, Richardson will face a team for the second time in a season when he takes the field against the Houston Texans on Sunday.

Colts re-name media room after longtime beat writer Mike Chappell at 56th Street facility

The Colts' media room at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center now honors Chappell, the well-respected beat writer who's covered the team since 1984.

Colts open 21-day practice window for defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to return from injured reserve

Buckner can begin practicing with the Colts immediately, and can be activated off injured reserve at any point in the next three weeks.

Colts' Week 9 game at Minnesota Vikings flexed to Sunday Night Football

The game, which was originally scheduled to start at 1 p.m., will kick off at 8:20 p.m. on NBC.

Colts linebacker Grant Stuard's 'iron man' performance and infectious energy bolsters defense in victory over Dolphins

The linebacker had a career-high 18 tackles, 11 of which were solo, against the Dolphins.

With ugly, grind-it-out Week 7 win over Dolphins, everything remains on the table for 2024 Colts

The Colts improved to 4-3 with a 16-10 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, one in which the team leaned into finding any way to win when they weren't playing their best.

Matt Gay nails 52-yard field goal, gets his groove back in Colts' win over Dolphins

The kicker made all three of his field goal attempts, including a season-high 52-yard field goal, on Sunday.

As Dallas Clark enters Colts Ring of Honor, Peyton Manning, Tony Dungy and those closest to him reflect on No. 44's legacy

Clark will be enshrined in the Colts' Ring of Honor at halftime of Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Advertising