Devonta Cornellius Freeman ( ; born March 15, 1992) is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida State Seminoles and was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL draft. Freeman was also a member of the New York Giants, Buffalo Bills, New Orleans Saints, and Baltimore Ravens.
Freeman attended Miami Central High School in West Little River, Florida. He helped lead the Rockets football team to the 2010 Class 6A state championship and was named the MVP after gaining 308 yards on 38 carries, falling just 20 yards shy of a state championship game record. As a senior, Freeman ran for a Miami-Dade County leading 2,208 yards and 26 touchdowns and also recorded 663 rushing yards and six touchdowns in the final two games of the state playoffs.
Considered a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, Freeman was rated the best running back in the nation. He committed to Florida State on June 24, 2010.
Freeman attended and played college football for Florida State from 2011 to 2013.
As a freshman at Florida State, Freeman immediately became a major contributor to the Seminoles' running game in their 9âÂÂ4 season. He had two games with over 100 rushing yards and had a stretch of four games of scoring at least one rushing touchdown through the end of October and the start of November. Freeman had 120 carries for 579 yards and eight touchdowns as a freshman. He finished the season as the Seminoles' leading rusher in major categories.
As a sophomore, Freeman shared the backfield primarily with James Wilder Jr. and Chris Thompson. Freeman recorded two 100+-yard rushing games and three games with two rushing touchdowns. Florida State finished with a 10âÂÂ2 regular season record and qualified for the ACC Championship. In the ACC Championship against Georgia Tech, he had 59 rushing yards and a touchdown during the 21âÂÂ15 victory. Freeman finished the season with 111 carries for 660 yards and eight touchdowns.
As a junior, Freeman provided strong and consistent production for the Seminoles. In the second game of the season against Nevada and the third game against Bethune-Cookman, Freeman went over 100 rushing yards and scored a rushing touchdown. On October 5 against Maryland, he started a streak of 10 straight games with a rushing touchdown. In that stretch was a game against Miami, where Freeman rushed for 78 yards and two touchdowns to go along with six receptions for 98 yards and a touchdown. As a junior, he was a first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) selection and helped the Florida State Seminoles win the 2014 BCS National Championship Game over Auburn by a score of 34âÂÂ31. Freeman rushed for over 1,000 yards, the first Seminole to do so since Warrick Dunn in 1996. Freeman finished the season with career highs in rushing yards (1,016), receiving yards (278), and touchdowns (15) despite splitting carries with James Wilder, Jr. and Karlos Williams in Florida State's backfield. Freeman led the Seminoles in rushing in each of his three seasons in Tallahassee.
On January 11, 2014, Freeman announced that he would forgo his senior season and enter the 2014 NFL draft.
Freeman was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth round (103rd overall) of the 2014 NFL draft. He was the eighth running back selected in the draft.
As a rookie, Freeman shared touches with fellow running backs Steven Jackson, Jacquizz Rodgers, and Antone Smith. He made his NFL debut in the season-opener at Georgia Dome against the New Orleans Saints and finished the 37âÂÂ34 overtime victory with two carries for 15 yards and two receptions for 18 yards. During Week 8 against the Detroit Lions, he scored his first career touchdown on a seven-yard reception from Matt Ryan in the first quarter of the narrow 22âÂÂ21 loss. During a Week 16 30âÂÂ14 road victory over the Saints, Freeman scored his first career rushing touchdown on a 31-yard rush in the third quarter.
Freeman finished his rookie year with 65 carries for 248 yards and a touchdown to go along with 30 receptions for 225 yards and two touchdowns in 16 games and no starts.
During Week 2 against the New York Giants, Freeman recorded 12 carries for 25 yards and his first touchdown of the season to go along with four receptions for 34 yards in the 24âÂÂ20 road loss. In the next game against the Dallas Cowboys, he received his first career start and had a breakout performance by rushing 30 times for a then career-high 141 yards and three touchdowns while also catching five passes for 52 yards during the 39âÂÂ28 victory. The following week against the Houston Texans, Freeman had 14 carries for 68 yards and three touchdowns to go along with five receptions for 81 yards during the 48âÂÂ21 victory.
During a Week 5 25âÂÂ19 overtime victory over the Washington Redskins, Freeman rushed 27 times for a career-high 153 yards. In the next game against the Saints on Thursday Night Football, he recorded 13 carries for 100 yards and a touchdown to go along with eight receptions for 56 yards and a touchdown during the 31âÂÂ21 road loss. The following week against the Tennessee Titans, Freeman had 25 carries for 116 yards in the 10âÂÂ7 road victory.
During Week 9 against the San Francisco 49ers, Freeman had 12 rushing yards and eight receptions for 67 yards and a touchdown in the narrow 17âÂÂ16 road loss. Two weeks later against the Indianapolis Colts, he rushed thrice for 43 yards before leaving the eventual 24âÂÂ21 loss in the first quarter with a concussion. Freeman missed the next game against the Minnesota Vikings as a result.
During a Week 15 23âÂÂ17 road victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, Freeman recorded 25 carries for 56 yards and a touchdown to go along with seven receptions for 45 yards. In the next game against the Carolina Panthers, he rushed 22 times for 73 yards and a touchdown while also catching three passes for 17 yards during the 20âÂÂ13 victory. During the regular season finale against the Saints, Freeman had 24 carries for 81 yards to go along with two receptions for 18 yards and a touchdown in the 20âÂÂ17 loss.
Freeman finished his second professional season with 1,634 yards-from-scrimmage (fifth in the NFL), 14 all-purpose touchdowns (first) with 1,056 rushing yards (seventh), and a league-leading 11 rushing touchdowns. He also ranked third among NFL running backs in both receptions (73) and receiving yards (578) while also recording three receiving touchdowns. Freeman was selected to the Pro Bowl, the first of his career, and was named a Second-team All-Pro. Freeman was named one of the captains, along with Geno Atkins of the Cincinnati Bengals, for Team Irvin in the 2016 Pro Bowl. Freeman was ranked as the 50th best player in the NFL and the fifth best running back by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2016.
Freeman and Tevin Coleman provided the Falcons with a solid running back combination to help pace a historic offense in 2016.
During Week 3 against the Saints on Monday Night Football, Freeman had 14 carries for 155 yards to go along with five receptions for 55 yards and a touchdown in the 45âÂÂ32 road victory. In the next game against the Panthers, he rushed 13 times for 57 yards and his touchdown of the season during the 48âÂÂ33 victory. The following week against the Denver Broncos, Freeman recorded 23 carries for 88 yards and a touchdown to go along with three receptions for 35 yards in the 23âÂÂ16 road victory. Three weeks later against the Green Bay Packers, he had 11 carries for 35 yards and a touchdown to go along with four receptions for 23 yards and a touchdown during the narrow 33âÂÂ32 victory.
During a Week 12 38âÂÂ19 victory over the Arizona Cardinals, Freeman recorded 16 carries for 60 yards and two touchdowns to go along with two receptions for 17 yards. In the next game against the Kansas City Chiefs, he rushed 15 times for 56 yards and two touchdowns while also catching four passes for 49 yards during the narrow 29âÂÂ28 loss. Two weeks later against the 49ers, Freeman had 20 carries for 139 yards for three touchdowns to go along with two receptions for 16 yards in the 41âÂÂ13 victory. He was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance. In the regular season finale against the Saints, Freeman recorded 12 carries for 96 yards and a touchdown to go along with five receptions for 81 yards during the 38âÂÂ32 victory.
Freeman was named to his second consecutive Pro Bowl as an original selection behind Ezekiel Elliott and David Johnson, and played a significant role in the Falcons finishing atop the NFC South with an 11âÂÂ5 record and earning the #2 seed in the NFC. In the against the Seattle Seahawks, Freeman had 14 carries for 45 yards and his first career postseason touchdown to go along with four receptions for 80 yards during the 36âÂÂ20 victory. During the against the Packers, Freeman recorded 14 carries for 42 yards and four receptions for 42 yards and his first career postseason receiving touchdown in the 44âÂÂ21 victory as the Falcons advanced to Super Bowl LI. In the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots, Freeman had 11 carries for 75 yards and two receptions for 46 yards while scoring the first points for either team with a rushing touchdown in the second quarter of the 34âÂÂ28 overtime loss. Freeman was ranked as the 41st best player in the NFL and the sixth best running back by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2017.
On August 9, 2017, Freeman signed a five-year, $41.25 million contract extension with the Falcons to become the highest paid running back in the NFL.
During the season opener against the Chicago Bears, Freeman rushed 12 times for 37 yards and a touchdown in the 23âÂÂ17 road victory. In the next game against the Packers, he recorded 19 carries for 84 yards and two touchdowns to go along with two receptions for 16 yards during the 34âÂÂ23 victory. Freeman's first touchdown was the first ever touchdown in the history of Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The following week against the Lions, he recorded 21 carries for 106 yards and a touchdown to go along with three receptions for 32 yards in the 30âÂÂ26 road victory.
During a Week 4 23âÂÂ17 loss to the Buffalo Bills, Freeman recorded 18 carries for 58 yards and a touchdown to go along with two receptions for 20 yards. Despite splitting carries with Tevin Coleman, he scored five rushing touchdowns in the first four games to lead the NFL. During Week 10 against the Cowboys, Freeman rushed twice for three yards before leaving the eventual 27âÂÂ7 victory with a concussion and missed the next two games as a result.
During Week 14 against the Saints on Thursday Night Football, Freeman rushed 24 times for 91 yards and a touchdown in the 20âÂÂ17 victory. In the next game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday Night Football, he had 22 carries for 126 yards and a touchdown during the 24âÂÂ21 road victory. During the regular season finale against the Panthers, he recorded 11 carries for 23 yards to go along with nine receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown in the 22âÂÂ10 victory.
Freeman finished the 2017 season with 196 carries for 865 yards and seven touchdowns to go along with 36 receptions for 317 yards and a touchdown in 14 games and starts. The Falcons finished third in the NFC South with a 10âÂÂ6 record and qualified for the playoffs as the #6-seed. During the <nowiki/>against the Los Angeles Rams, Freeman recorded 18 carries for 66 yards and a touchdown in the 26âÂÂ13 road victory. In the against the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, he had seven rushing yards and five receptions for 26 yards and a touchdown during the 15âÂÂ10 road loss, marking his fifth consecutive postseason game with a touchdown. Freeman was ranked 70th by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2018.
During the season opener against the Eagles, Freeman had six carries for 36 yards and three receptions for 14 yards before leaving the eventual 18âÂÂ12 road loss in the fourth quarter with a knee injury. He missed the next three games as a result.
Freeman returned in Week 5 against the Pittsburgh Steelers before injuring his foot and experiencing soreness in his groin. Freeman missed the next game against the Buccaneers, and it was later revealed that he required groin surgery. Freeman was placed on injured reserve on October 16, 2018. He finished the 2018 season with 14 carries for 68 yards and five receptions for 23 yards in two games and starts.
During Week 5 against the Texans, Freeman recorded 11 carries for 30 yards to go along with five receptions for 40 yards and a touchdown in the 53âÂÂ32 road loss. In the next game against the Arizona Cardinals, he had 19 carries for 88 yards to go along with three receptions for 30 yards and two touchdowns during the narrow 34âÂÂ33 road loss. The following week against the Rams, Freeman rushed seven times for 19 yards before being ejected in the third quarter of the 37âÂÂ10 loss after punching Aaron Donald.
During a Week 14 40âÂÂ20 victory over the Panthers, Freeman had 17 carries for 84 yards and a touchdown. Two weeks later against the Jaguars, he recorded 13 carries for 53 yards and a touchdown to go along with nine receptions for 74 yards and a touchdown in the 24âÂÂ12 victory.
Freeman finished the 2019 season with 184 carries for 656 yards and two touchdowns to go along with 59 receptions for 410 yards and four touchdowns 14 games and starts. He was released on March 16, 2020.
On September 23, 2020, Freeman signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the New York Giants.
During Week 5 against the Cowboys, Freeman recorded 17 carries for 60 yards and a touchdown to go along with two receptions for 27 yards in the 37âÂÂ34 road loss. In the next game against the Washington Football Team, he rushed 18 times for 61 yards during the narrow 20âÂÂ19 victory.
On November 13, Freeman was placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury. He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on December 5, and was moved back to injured reserve 12 days later. Freeman was designated to return from injured reserve on December 18 and began practicing with the team again. However, he did not return before the end of the regular season and was waived on January 7, 2021.
Freeman finished the 2020 season with 54 carries for 172 yards and a touchdown to go along with seven receptions for 58 yards in five games and four starts.
On January 12, 2021, Freeman was signed to the Buffalo Bills' practice squad. His practice squad contract with the team expired after the season on February 1.
On August 1, 2021, Freeman signed with the New Orleans Saints. He was released on August 31.
On September 9, 2021, the Baltimore Ravens signed Freeman on their practice squad following injuries to J. K. Dobbins, Justice Hill, and Gus Edwards. Exactly a week later, the Ravens signed Freeman to their active roster after Trenton Cannon was released.
Freeman made his Ravens debut in Week 2 against the Chiefs and rushed twice for 29 yards during the narrow 36âÂÂ35 victory. During Week 6 against the Los Angeles Chargers, Freeman had nine carries for 53 yards and a touchdown. In the next game against the Bengals, he recorded four carries for 14 yards and a touchdown to go along with three receptions for 25 yards during the 41âÂÂ17 loss. Two weeks later against the Vikings, Freeman had 13 carries for 79 yards to go along with two receptions for four yards and a touchdown in the 34âÂÂ31 overtime victory.
During a Week 11 16âÂÂ13 road victory over the Bears, Freeman recorded 16 carries for 49 yards and a touchdown to go along with six receptions for 31 yards. Two weeks later against the Steelers, he had 14 carries for 52 yards and a touchdown to go along with 45 yards in the narrow 20âÂÂ19 road loss. During Week 16 against the Bengals, Freeman rushed six times for 17 yards and a touchdown in the 41âÂÂ21 road loss.
Freeman finished the 2021 season with 133 carries for 576 yards and five touchdowns to go along with 34 receptions for 190 yards and a touchdown in 16 games and eight starts.
Freeman's jersey number with the Falcons was 24 in honor of an aunt who died at age 24 from a heart attack when Freeman was a teenager.