Packers linebacker who led the NFL in tackles in 2024 and continues to be one of the most productive ILBs in football.
Zaire Franklin was a seventh-round pick out of Syracuse in 2018. Six seasons later he led the NFL in tackles with 173. Indianapolis let him walk in 2025 free agency, and Green Bay signed him to a four-year, $52 million deal. He immediately led the Packers in tackles in 2025.
Path to the league
Syracuse linebacker taken 235th overall by the Colts in 2018. Started his career on special teams. Took over the starting linebacker job in 2022 and never gave it back. Led the NFL in tackles in 2024 (173).
Career highlights
2024 NFL tackles leader (173). 2024 Pro Bowl. 700+ career tackles. Most career tackles by a Day 3 pick LB drafted since 2010. $52M deal with Green Bay (2025).
2025 season recap
158 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 INT. Green Bay went 11-6 and lost the Wild Card to Philadelphia. Franklin led the Packers in tackles for the season and made the Pro Bowl for the second straight year.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Zaire Franklin
- Pro Football Reference: Zaire Franklin
Statistics
2025 season and career2025 Season · Defense
17 games played▶Defense · career
| Year | Team | GP | TOT | SOLO | SACK | INT | FF | FR | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | colts | 17 | 125 | 62 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 2024 | colts | 17 | 173 | 93 | 3.5 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 6 |
| 2023 | colts | 16 | 179 | 107 | 1.5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| 2022 | colts | 17 | 167 | 102 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| 2021 | colts | 17 | 40 | 21 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2020 | colts | 16 | 19 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | colts | 16 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | colts | 16 | 29 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Linebacker
- Group
- defense
- College
- Syracuse
- Hometown
- Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Age
- 29
- Status
- active
Latest news about Zaire Franklin
All news →Tucker Kraft Says He Will Be Ready for Week 1 With No Pitch Count
Seven months removed from ACL surgery, the Packers tight end says his rehab is ahead of schedule and he plans to play a full workload when the season opens.
While Micah Parsons rehabs, Zaire Franklin and Javon Hargrave have to hold the Packers' defense together
Green Bay added a tackle-machine linebacker and a veteran interior rusher this offseason. With Parsons out until at least mid-October, the two newcomers carry more weight than the headlines suggested.
