Zaire Franklin Continues to Bring His Best to the Colts and the Indy Community
Writer / Ryan Kennedy
When seventh‑round draft pick Zaire Franklin joined the Indianapolis Colts in 2018, he admits he “didn’t know where Indiana was.” Four seasons later, the Philadelphia native has become a team captain and a pillar of the city he now calls home.
Franklin’s breakout 2021 campaign—40 tackles, an interception, a fumble recovery, and a blocked punt—earned him a three‑year, $12 million extension. “It felt great to know the organization valued me the same way I valued it,” he says. “I’ve built real memories and relationships here.”
Finding a Home in Indianapolis
It was during his fourth season that Franklin realized Indianapolis had become home: “My family found the Indianapolis that works for us.” With his new deal in hand, he plunged even deeper into local culture—attending his first Indianapolis 500 and setting a personal goal to “immerse myself even deeper.”
Service as a Calling
Franklin’s greatest connection to the community is through service.
“Community service is something I’m super passionate about. From day one I wanted to impact Indianapolis in a positive way.”
Every week for four seasons he has organized jersey giveaways, voter‑registration drives, and youth mentoring events. In 2019 he launched Shelice’s Angels, a nonprofit honoring his late mother that offers young women unique educational and life experiences—including a trip to Google’s New York offices.
Financial literacy is another focus; having lost both parents at 15, Franklin earned a finance degree and manages his own money. “A lot of people need those tools,” he notes.
More To Do—On and Off the Field
Few seventh‑rounders earn a second contract, but Franklin isn’t satisfied. “It’s so much more I want to do—from a service standpoint and by bringing a championship to the city,” he says, citing conversations with teammates Darius Leonard and Kenny Moore II.
As Franklin prepares for his fifth NFL season, he takes pride in representing his adopted home:
“There’s still so much more that I can give to this city—and that we can give as a team. That’s my motivation.”