Colts ILB Zaire Franklin has played the Steelers or Panthers nearly every year for over a decade, so he knows Acrisure Stadium well. The grounds hold no mysteries for him, and has no concerns with Indianapolis’ trip to Pittsburgh this week. While he didn’t downplay the Steelers, he did downplay the potential homefield advantage.
“I’ve been there several times”, Franklin said of Acrisure Stadium, the Steelers’ home, via the Colts’ website. “I played there almost every year since my freshman year at Syracuse. So I know all about the towels, I know all about everything they got. It’s okay. I know about the field. I’ve been in all the locker rooms”.
Franklin played against Pitt all four years at Syracuse, include at Acrisure Stadium (then Heinz Field) twice. Since joining the Colts in 2018, Franklin has played the Steelers in all but two seasons. This game marks four years in a row, but the first in Pittsburgh since 2020—the Covid year.
In other words, it actually has been a long time since Franklin has experienced a packed Acrisure Stadium, whether playing the Steelers or Panthers. In fact, he has only played the Steelers once to a crowd, back in 2019.
Franklin is 0-2 against the Steelers at Acrisure Stadium, and 0-4 there going back to his college days. So he may be familiar with the facilities inside and out, but he’s also familiar with losing there. Of course, that can easily change this week, with the Colts being the better team. Indianapolis is 7-1 with the best record in football, while Pittsburgh is trying to avoid falling to .500. But he isn’t taking them lightly.
“Obviously, it’s a tough team” Zaire Franklin said of the Steelers. “Obviously, they’re back’s to the wall. We know they’re going to come out with the standard that that city demands, that they hold themselves to a high standard, so we know they’re gonna be coming out ready to play. But I think we’re gonna be ready to play, too”.
The Colts beat the Steelers in Indianapolis last year, with QB Joe Flacco coming off the bench. After the game (and before it), he talked trash about former Steelers RB Najee Harris. Heading into that game, he also talked about protecting their homefield advantage and snatching Terrible Towels.
Not that he doesn’t have a right to talk. Zaire Franklin has been one of the most productive linebackers in football. Between 2022-2024, he recorded 519 tackles. He also had nine forced fumbles in that span and two interceptions. The Steelers better keep their eye on him, even if he isn’t producing the same statistics this year. Franklin could help the Colts silence the Acrisure crowd—or at least bring out the boo birds.
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