Colts player apologized to fans for mistakes he made during the season that led to public uproar
The 2024 season was quite the ride for the Indianapolis Colts.
There were so many twists and turns, but one of the most shocking was how quickly fans turned on linebacker Zaire Franklin.
Franklin was once a clear fan favorite after climbing the NFL ladder from being a seventh-round pick to a team captain and starter. But due to the public tension between Franklin and Colts legend Pat McAfee, the overall support that used to be behind Franklin has diminished significantly. With the season officially over, Franklin took to social media to speak directly to Colts fans.
Colts LB Zaire Franklin apologies to fans on social media for mistakes he made and vows to be better in the future
Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
“Indy fans!
Listen, I made some mistakes! I let something’s get to me that they shouldn’t and did something things I wish I could take back
But understand my heart was always right! And ima learn and be better because of it!
#Fortheshoe”
– Colts LB Zaire Franklin via X
Franklin admitted that he made some mistakes that rubbed some of the fan base the wrong way. As mentioned above, the tension between Franklin and McAfee seems to have played a major factor in this situation reaching the boiling point we’ve seen recently.
This started due to Franklin’s podcast “The Trenches” using a picture of McAfee on a thumbnail when bashing how the media treated quarterback Anthony Richardson. McAfee has strong opinions about Richardson’s decision to tap out of a game earlier in the season. Franklin’s show’s choice to turn McAfee into bulletin board material seems to have played a factor in the not-so-kind words McAfee has had to say about the franchise in recent weeks.
Hopefully, this public apology helps everyone put this behind them. This season should have been one Franklin was able to look back on fondly in terms of his individual accolades. With him being selected to his first Pro Bowl and finishing the regular season as the NFL’s tackle leader.
