Zaire Franklin
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
| Position | College | Years in the NFL |
|---|---|---|
| Linebacker | Syracuse University | 5 |
Demonstrates Excellence on the Field
No player in NFL history recorded more tackles through the first eight games of a season than Zaire Franklin this season, whose 102 in that span tied him with Hall of Famer Zach Thomas' 2005 season. Franklin's thumping physicality, high football IQ, and tenacious mentality have made him one of the NFL's most prolific linebackers since becoming a full-time starter in 2022. Few players defend the run better than Franklin, and he's paired that skill with speed, discipline, and sticky coverage. Last season, Franklin set a Colts franchise record with 166 tackles, and instead of resting on his accomplishments, he's been even better in 2023.
"There's nothing the Colts don't trust Franklin to do at a high level on the field, and he's also one of the team's vocal, most important leaders," defensive coordinator Gus Bradley said.
Demonstrates Dedication and Commitment to Community Efforts this Year
Through his foundation, Shelice's Angels – named after his late mother – Franklin, while drawing on his own experiences, is making a tremendous impact on the two communities he calls home: Indianapolis and his native Philadelphia. Franklin held a sold-out Bowling Night Fundraiser in Philadelphia this spring, auctioning off several items to benefit Shelice's Angels. He also partnered with Hoagies and Hops, an Indianapolis-based sandwich shop with Philadelphia roots, for "Cheesesteaks for a Cause," during which Hoagies and Hops donated 20 percent of their sales – including on "The Zaire" cheesesteak – to Shelice's Angels.
He hosted Shelice's Angels third annual business academy in June, a two-day event for young women from two schools in Philadelphia. The event included a business simulation, guest speakers, and a panel discussion aimed at empowering the young women in attendance with knowledge and experience to help them thrive in the business world. Franklin also
took a group of female students from Philadelphia to Meta's New York headquarters in May for a tour and a Q&A session with some of the tech company's leaders. "I always make an actual effort to make sure that I'm spending time with young women...giving them safe spaces to talk about their struggles and their dreams, and to talk to other women who are successful about their journeys," Franklin said.
Franklin also hosted a financial literacy seminar in April, inviting Indianapolis-area youths into the Colts locker room to impart wisdom on the importance of financial well-being. Drawing on his own experience of stretching a couple thousand dollars as a teenager after losing his parents, Franklin emphasized the importance of making sound financial decisions. Franklin, who has a degree in finance from Syracuse, also participated in a "How To Not Suck At Money" panel hosted by InvescoQQQ for Syracuse student-athletes earlier this year, too. In addition, Franklin frequently attends Colts Community Tuesday events, including September's School Uniform Blitz. He also spoke to Indianapolis Public School students about the importance of leadership, drawing on his experience as a team captain.
Demonstrates Dedication and Commitment to Community Efforts in Years Past
Franklin founded Shelice's Angels in 2019, just one year after being selected by the Colts in the 2018 NFL Draft. Inspired by his mother and his grandmother, Franklin embarked on an impactful journey to better the lives of young women in the communities he calls home. The goal is to provide young women opportunities not only to learn, but to be able to envision themselves in the business and tech leadership positions those women are in.
Franklin has taken students to visit the Philadelphia 76ers practice facility, HB Sports & Entertainment, and Google's New York headquarters. On the visit to the 76ers' offices, students heard from a panel with People of Color employees and toured the 76ers' facility. The trip provided attendees an opportunity to connect with and learn from influential female business leaders and to meet with HB Sports & Entertainment President Hugh Weber. At Google, a group of girls from Connell Middle School in Philadelphia participated in a Q&A session and listened to a panel discussion with women in leadership.
Franklin, with Shelice's Angels, has also held several other events, including a middle school uniform drive, a Thanksgiving turkey drive, and a financial literacy summit in 2022, one of which ended with 30 kids ages 12-16 receiving a bank account with $250 after learning fundamentals on budgeting, investing, and borrowing. In addition, Franklin hosted business academies in 2021 and 2022, giving students real-world insight from local entrepreneurs and a chance to participate in a business simulation.
Franklin was also one of the leaders of the Colts' Player Social Justice Committee in 2020 and has consistently participated in community events in Indianapolis and Philadelphia since 2020.
Demonstrates Consistency in Positive Character and Models a Lifestyle of Giving Back
Franklin's emphasis on providing young women with opportunities stands out across not just the NFL but all sports in the United States. Through Shelice's Angels, Franklin has connected aspiring young women with high-ranking leaders across the business and tech world, showing those young women their dreams are achievable.
And across the board, Franklin makes an intentional effort to be present at as many events as he can. "A lot of times it's to let the kids know that their dreams are real," Franklin said. "I'm a real person. I really was in your shoes doing the things you did. You can obtain what I have. You could be just like me or better than me."
It's impossible for his teammates to not notice and want to follow his lead. Several teammates showed up to support Franklin's "Cheesesteaks for a Cause" event in Indianapolis this year, including some who arrived, bought a sandwich, and departed before Franklin even got there.
"I want that to be first and foremost — yes, he was a great player, yes he was a great leader, but also he affected every community where he was in a positive manner," Franklin said. "And he left it better than how he found it."
