Dwight Freeney Dwight Jason Freeney ( born February 19 , 1980 ) is an American football linebacker for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League ( NFL ) . He played college football for Syracuse University , and earned All - American honors . He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the first round , 11th overall , of the 2002 NFL Draft and is a seven - time Pro Bowl selection . Early years . Freeney was born in Hartford , Connecticut . He attended Bloomfield High School in Bloomfield , Connecticut . Freeney was a four - sport letterman , earning four letters in baseball in which he was coached by Alphonso Ford ; four in basketball ; three in football , in which he played both ways ; and one in soccer , in which he played goalie in his freshman year before switching over to football . Freeney currently holds the record for sacks at his high school and most sacks in a high school career in the Connecticut record book . Bloomfield High retired his No . 44 football jersey . During his youth , Freeney idolized New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor , whom he later met at a charity golf tournament after turning pro . College career . Freeney received an athletic scholarship to attend Syracuse University , where he played for the Syracuse Orange football team from 1998 to 2001 . A two - year starter for the Orangemen , he set a school record with 17 . 5 sacks in his senior season and his 34 career sacks rank second in school history to Tim Green ( 45 . 5 ) . Freeney was the school ' s premier pass rusher , and once had a string of 17 consecutive games with at least one sack . Against Virginia Tech , Freeney sacked elusive Hokies quarterback Michael Vick 4 . 5 times in one game . He finished his college career with 104 tackles ( 68 unassisted ) , 34 quarterback sacks , 51 tackles for a loss , and 43 quarterback pressures . He was a first - team All - Big East Conference selection in 2000 and 2001 , and was recognized as a unanimous first - team All - American following his senior season in 2001 . While attending Syracuse at a then 255 - pounds , Freeney was clocked at 4 . 40 second 40 - yard dash and recorded 40 - inch vertical jump . This is one of the fastest times ever recorded by a defensive lineman . Dwight still returns to Syracuse for his summer workouts , and serves as mentor to Syracuse players , including former walk - on Josh Arrington from the 2006 - 2008 season . Professional career . Indianapolis Colts . Freeney was selected by the Indianapolis Colts with the 11th selection in the 2002 NFL Draft . He set an NFL rookie record in 2002 with 9 forced fumbles , three of which occurred in a single game against former Syracuse football player , Donovan McNabb . Freeney was the runner up for the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award . When drafted by Indianapolis at 270 lbs Freeney was clocked at 4 . 48 second 40 yard dash and the same 40 inch vertical jump . In 2004 , Freeney ' s third season , he led the NFL with 16 sacks . At the end of his third season , Freeney ' s season marked him as the 3rd fastest player to achieve 40 sacks . He developed a spin move which became his trade mark pass rush move . In 2006 , Freeney would help the Colts defeat the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI to become NFL Champions . On February 19 , 2007 , the Colts placed the franchise tag on Freeney following the expiration of his rookie contract . This move allowed Bill Polian and the Colts front office time to work on a long term contract . On July 13 , 2007 Freeney signed a six - year , $ 72 million contract with $ 30 million in guarantees making Freeney one of the highest paid defensive players in the NFL . Freeney was fined $ 20 , 000 by the NFL for his expletive - laced interview following the end of the Colts 2008 - 09 playoff campaign which ended with a 23 - 17 overtime playoff loss to the San Diego Chargers . The NFL cited Freeney for making " inappropriate comments on officiating , " according to the Indianapolis Star . Freeney , frustrated by the three defensive penalties incurred as the Chargers made their game - winning drive , told Yahoo ! Sports after the game : " Those were the worst [ expletive ] calls I ' ve seen in a long time . . . To have a game of that magnitude taken out of your hands , it ' s just disgusting . It ' s not like they made one [ expletive ] bad call - - it ' s three calls , in overtime . . . They need to start investigating some other [ expletive ] . " In 2012 , Freeney converted from defensive end to outside linebacker under new head coach Chuck Pagano . Due to injury , Freeney had a career - low year with only five sacks and twelve tackles . On February 15 , 2013 , Freeney was told he would not be re - signed by the Colts . Freeney left as the all - time franchise leader in sacks with 107 . 5 , eventually being surpassed by former teammate Robert Mathis the next season . Mathis would also break Freeney ' s franchise record of 16 sacks in a season the following season too . San Diego Chargers . On May 18 , 2013 , Freeney signed a two - year deal with the San Diego Chargers . Personal life . His brother Hugh was a high school quarterback and currently is a math teacher at Rockville High School in Rockville , MD . Freeney also won the annual Madden Bowl in 2003 and 2004 . On March 28 , 2012 , his financial advisor was arrested and charged with embezzling $ 2 . 2 million from Freeney .