- Was acquired by the Green Bay Packers in a trade with the Indianapolis Colts on March 11, 2026, in exchange for DL Colby Wooden.
- Led the league in tackles (643) and ranked No. 2 in the NFL in solo tackles (364) from 2022-25.
- Finished in the top five in the NFL in tackles in three straight seasons (No. 4 in 2022, No. 2 in 2023, No. 1 in 2024), the only player in the league to accomplish that feat over that span.
- Dating back to 2000 (per TruMedia), is the only NFL player to register 600-plus tackles (643), 10-plus sacks (10) and 10-plus forced fumbles (11) over a four-season span (2022-25).
- Per STATS, registered the top three single-season tackle totals in Colts history (179 in 2023, 173 in 2024, 166 in 2022).
- Posted 10-plus tackles in 34 games from 2022-25, the most in the NFL over that span and the most in Colts history.
- Missed just one game due to injury in his first eight seasons in the league and ranks No. 1 among NFL linebackers in games played (132) since 2018.
- Registered a team-high 125 tackles (62 solo), seven tackles for a loss and two sacks in 2025.
- Led the league with 173 tackles (93 solo) and ranked No. 2 in the NFL with a career-high five forced fumbles in 2024, earning second-team All-Pro honors from The Associated Press as well as his first career Pro Bowl selection.
- In 2024, became the first NFL player dating back to 2000 to register 170-plus tackles, five-plus forced fumbles, three-plus sacks (3½) and multiple INTs (two) in a season.
- Registered a single-season franchise-record 179 tackles (107 solo) in 2023, ranking No. 2 in the NFL that season behind only Seahawks LB Bobby Wagner (183).
- Ranked No. 4 in the league with 166 tackles (102 solo) in 2022, including a career-high 12 tackles for a loss.
- Appeared in all 17 games with 11 starts in 2021, finishing with 29 tackles (14 solo), a tackle for a loss and an INT while adding a career-best 11 tackles and a blocked punt on special teams.
- Played in all 48 games in his first three seasons with Indianapolis (2018-20), posting 19 tackles on special teams (No. 2 on the team) and 35 tackles (17 solo) on defense.
- Was selected by the Colts in the seventh round (No. 235 overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft.
2025 SEASON: Started all 17 games and posted a team-high 125 tackles (62 solo), seven tackles for a loss, two sacks, six QB hits, a forced fumble and five passes defensed…Vs. Atlanta (Nov. 9): Registered a team-high 10 tackles (six solo), a sack and two tackles for a loss. On third down in overtime, sacked QB Michael Penix for a 12-yard loss to force a punt that set up the Colts' seven-play, 57-yard game-winning TD drive…At Kansas City (Nov. 23): Recorded a season-high 14 tackles (seven solo) and forced a fumble by RB Kareem Hunt on a fourth-quarter run that was recovered by CB Charvarius Ward Sr. at the Indianapolis 6…Vs. Houston (Nov. 30): Led the team with 13 tackles (five solo) as he posted 10-plus tackles in his third straight game, his longest streak since 2023 (Weeks 7-8, 10)…At Seattle (Dec. 14): Posted 10 tackles (seven solo) and a tackle for a loss as he eclipsed the 100-tackle mark for the fourth straight season…At Houston (Jan. 4): Registered a team-high 12 tackles (seven solo) and two tackles for a loss, with both TFLs coming in the first quarter.
2024: Started all 17 games and led the NFL with 173 tackles (93 solo) while setting single-season career highs for sacks (3½), interceptions (two) and forced fumbles (five)…Dating back to 2000, became the first NFL player to register 170-plus tackles, five-plus forced fumbles, three-plus sacks and multiple INTs in a season…Earned second-team AP All-Pro recognition and his first career Pro Bowl selection…At Green Bay (Sept. 15): Registered 10 tackles (five solo) and forced a fumble by RB Josh Jacobs at the Indianapolis 1 that was recovered by DE Laiatu Latu in the end zone for a touchback…Vs. Miami (Oct. 20): Posted a season-high 16 tackles (five solo) and forced a fumble by FB Alec Ingold late in the third quarter that was recovered by Colts DT Taven Bryan at the Indianapolis 14…At Minnesota (Nov. 3): Recorded nine tackles (seven solo) and his second career INT when he picked off a QB Sam Darnold third-down pass intended for TE T.J. Hockenson in the end zone on Minnesota's opening drive…Vs. Detroit (Nov. 24): Registered 13 tackles (eight solo) and a tackle for a loss as he moved past LB Darius Leonard (27) for the most games with 10-plus tackles in team history…At New England (Dec. 1): Posted 12 tackles (10 solo), a career-high 1½ sacks, a pass defensed and a forced fumble. Late in the first half, brought down QB Drake Maye on third down for a 3-yard sack to force the Patriots to settle for a 25-yard FG attempt that they missed. Early in the fourth quarter, shared a sack of Maye with DE Kwity Paye on first-and-goal at the Indianapolis 7 on a drive that would also end with a missed New England FG…At Denver (Dec. 15): Recorded nine tackles (six solo), two tackles for a loss and an INT, picking off a QB Bo Nix pass midway through the first quarter…At N.Y. Giants (Dec. 29): Registered 14 tackles (seven solo), a career-high four tackles for a loss and a forced fumble as he became the first NFL player dating back to 2000 to hit all of those marks in a game.
2023: Started all 16 games he played in and recorded a single-season franchise-record 179 tackles (107 solo), ranking No. 2 in the league behind Wagner (183)…Added three tackles for a loss, 1½ sacks, six passes defensed and two forced fumbles…Vs. Jacksonville (Sept. 10): Led the team with a career-high 17 tackles (10 solo) while adding a pass defensed and a forced fumble. Late in the third quarter, forced a fumble by RB Tank Bigsby that was recovered by DT DeForest Buckner and returned 26 yards for a TD…At Baltimore (Sept. 24): Paced the team with 15 tackles (11 solo) and a sack, bringing down QB Lamar Jackson in the third quarter on a third down for a 4-yard loss to force a Baltimore punt…At New England (Nov. 12): Posted a team-high 15 tackles (12 solo) and forced a fumble by TE Hunter Henry early in the second quarter that was recovered by New England…At Cincinnati (Dec. 10): Registered 14 tackles (six solo), including a stop of RB Chase Brown for a 4-yard loss on a third-quarter run.
2022: Started all 17 games and posted a team-high 166 tackles (102 solo), which ranked No. 4 in the league…Added a career-high 12 tackles for a loss, three sacks, three forced fumbles and six passes defensed…Joined Leonard (2018) as the only NFL players since 2000 to post 160-plus tackles, 12-plus tackles for a loss, three-plus sacks and three-plus forced fumbles in a season…Vs. Kansas City (Sept. 25): Registered 12 tackles (eight solo), a tackle for a loss and a pass defensed in the 20-17 win as the Colts limited the Chiefs to just 58 rushing yards on 23 attempts (2.5 avg.)…Vs. Tennessee (Oct. 2): Led the team with a season-high 15 tackles (eight solo)…Vs. Philadelphia (Nov. 20): Paced the team with 13 tackles (five solo) and forced a fumble by WR A.J. Brown early in the fourth quarter that was recovered by Colts DT Eric Johnson II at the Indianapolis 34…Vs. L.A. Chargers (Dec. 26): Tied for the team lead with nine tackles (five solo) and added the first full sack of his career when he brought down QB Justin Herbert for a 2-yard loss in the third quarter…Vs. Houston (Jan. 8): Posted seven tackles (five solo), two tackles for a loss, a sack and a forced fumble.
2021: Appeared in all 17 games with 11 starts and posted 29 tackles (14 solo), a tackle for a loss, an INT, two passes defensed and a fumble recovery…Ranked No. 2 on the team with a career-high 11 tackles on special teams while adding a blocked punt…Vs. Jacksonville (Nov. 14): Midway through the first quarter, blocked a Logan Cooke punt that was recovered by LB E.J. Speed and returned 12 yards for a TD…At Buffalo (Nov. 21): Posted his first career INT when he picked off QB Mitchell Trubisky at midfield in the fourth quarter and returned it 8 yards.
2020: Played in all 16 contests, finishing with 10 tackles (nine solo) on defense and nine tackles on special teams (tied for No. 2 on the team)…At Cleveland (Oct. 11): Registered a season-high seven tackles (four solo)…At Houston (Dec. 6): Posted a season-best two tackles on special teams.
2019: Appeared in all 16 games and posted six tackles on special teams…At Jacksonville (Dec. 29): Tied for the team lead with a season-best two tackles on special teams, including a stop of WR Dede Westbrook at the Jacksonville 18 on a third-quarter punt return.
2018: Played in all 16 contests with two starts as a rookie, finishing with 25 tackles (10 solo), a pass defensed and four tackles on special teams…Started both of the Colts' postseason games…Vs. Cincinnati (Sept. 9): Appeared on nine plays on defense and 10 on special teams in his NFL debut…At Philadelphia (Sept. 23): Made his first NFL start and posted two tackles (both assists) along with a tackle on special teams…At New England (Oct. 4): Started and ranked No. 2 on the team with a season-high 11 tackles (one solo)…2018 Draft: Was selected by the Colts in the seventh round (No. 235 overall).
COLLEGE: Played in all 48 games with 39 starts in his four seasons, finishing with 311 tackles (187 solo), 31½ tackles for a loss, 8½ sacks, five forced fumbles, two INTs and eight passes defensed…His 311 tackles were the most by a Syracuse player since LB Kelvin Smith posted 325 from 2003-06…Finished his career ranked No. 9 in school history in tackles for a loss…Became just the second three-time captain (2015-17) in the history of Syracuse football (Robert Adams, 1894-96) and the first in the modern era…Earned his degree in finance…2017: Started all 12 games at MLB and ranked No. 2 on the team with 85 tackles (41 solo), including 5½ tackles for a loss and 1½ sacks on his way to earning All-Atlantic Coast Conference honorable mention…Was named a semifinalist for the inaugural Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award and the Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup…Posted 12 tackles (three solo), a QB pressure and a pass defensed at N.C. State (Sept. 30)…Recorded a career-high 16 tackles (12 solo) and a QB pressure vs. Wake Forest (Nov. 11)…2016: Started all 12 contests at MLB and earned third-team All-ACC honors from the media and honorable mention from the coaches after ranking No. 2 on the team with a career-high 101 tackles (56 solo)…Was tied for the team lead with 10 tackles for a loss and added two sacks, an INT, three passes defensed, one QB pressure and a forced fumble…Registered a season-high 14 tackles (seven solo), including 2½ tackles for a loss, at Connecticut (Sept. 24) and was named the ACC Linebacker of the Week for his performance…Posted nine tackles (four solo), 1½ tackles for a loss, a sack and an INT vs. Notre Dame (Oct. 1)…Posted 10 tackles (eight solo), including one for a loss, and took home ACC Linebacker of the Week honors for his efforts vs. Virginia Tech (Oct. 15)…2015: Started all 12 games at MLB, finishing with a team-high 81 tackles (59 solo) and a career-high 11 tackles for a loss (No. 2 on the team)…Added a career-best three sacks, an INT and two forced fumbles…Was voted just the fourth sophomore captain in school history and was the first since Angelo Acocella in 1945…Registered nine tackles (six solo) and the first INT of his career, returning it 21 yards vs. Central Michigan (Sept. 19)…Posted a season-high 11 tackles (nine solo), a career-high three tackles for a loss, a career-best two sacks and a forced fumble vs. Pittsburgh (Oct. 24)…2014: Appeared in all 12 games as a true freshman and started the final three games of the season at MLB…Led all Orange freshmen and finished No. 6 on the team with 44 tackles (31 solo), including five for a loss and two sacks…Registered three tackles (two solo), including a season-best two tackles for a loss and his first career sack at Wake Forest (Oct. 18)…Made his first collegiate start and finished with six tackles (four solo) vs. Duke (Nov. 8)…Recorded a season-high 10 tackles (five solo) at Pittsburgh (Nov. 22).
PERSONAL: Given name Zaire Najee Franklin…First name is pronounced ZYE-air…Born in Philadelphia, Pa. …High school: Earned PIAA AAAA all-state honors as a senior in 2013 at La Salle College High School (Wyndmoor, Pa.)…Also earned AAA All-Catholic League recognition as a senior and was selected to play in the 2014 Big 33 Football Classic…Community involvement: Was selected as the Colts' nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2023…His foundation, Shelice's Angels, was created in 2019 in honor of his late mother and grandmother and works to offer young women opportunities and resources to aid them in building self-esteem and equip them to one day pursue a professional career…Serves as one of the NFL's Global Flag Football Ambassadors, representing the NFL and the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) at various events and helping to build relationships with athletes and organizers around the world...In June 2026, hosted a "Women's Sports Weekend" in Philadelphia that featured him hosting and moderating the Business of Women's Sports Luncheon as well as a flag-football jamboree for girls in sixth through 12th grade.
