CANTON − The most iconic player in NBA history might be in town for this weekend’s Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival.
Michael Jordan is close friends with Dwight Freeney, a former star pass rusher and Super Bowl champion for the Indianapolis Colts.
So that leads to the question − will the former Chicago Bulls star attend Freeney’s induction at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on Saturday?
Freeney was informally asked that question Friday in a media session held by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in downtown Canton for this year’s class of inductees.
Freeney met with a group of reporters and was asked how it felt to be inducted into the hall and who helped him along the way. There were other questions, too.
But when the formal interview ended, a media member or two chatted with him about his golf game. And as Freeney walked to his next interview, a reporter asked him about the possibility of “MJ” coming to Canton for the induction.
Freeney turned towards the reporter and smiled when answering. Although the end of the chat was difficult to hear, Freeney seemed to neither confirm nor deny whether Jordan would be in Canton for his big moment. But it left open the possibility.
Jordan and Freeney are golfing buddies and close friends
So how close are the two former pro athletes?
During an interview on The Adam Schefter Podcast, the 44-year-old Freeney referred to the 61-year-old Jordan as his “big brother.”
The two got to know each other through golf. Freeney explained the story during the podcast as recounted by sports media website ClutchPoints.
“You know, back in the day, 2003 or 2004, I got invited to his golf invitational… One of his best friends at the time lived in Indianapolis. After the invitational, in the offseasons, he would come to town. I ended up being good friends with one of his best friends. He will say… ‘call the young kid on this trip, let’s go. Let’s have a good time.’ I ended up getting to know him very well, which is kind of crazy because I grew up, like, idolizing the guy… Became like big bro. He’s been big brother since 2003 or (2004).”
Golf Digest reported that Freeney is a primary playing partner with Jordan at The Grove XXIII, Jordan’s exclusive and invite-only golf course in Hobe Sound, Florida.
Freeney told the publication he is fortunate to be one of the club’s estimated 100 members.
Freeney played in Indianapolis on teams led by Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning. They both were on the 2007 Super Bowl champion team.
Jordan welcomed Freeney into the Hall of Fame
And Freeney and Jordan are close enough friends that Jordan was present when former Colts head coach Tony Dungy informed Freeney he was being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Freeney was wearing a cap emblazoned with the logo of Jordan’s golf course, and Jordan wrapped his arms around Freeney in a big hug while grinning. That was followed by a hug from Jim Porter, president of the hall.