INDIANAPOLIS (AP) ― Indianapolis Colts linebacker Robert Mathis is the inaugural winner of the NFL’s Deacon Jones Award.

The honor, which goes to the NFL sacks champion, was announced on Thursday.

The perennial Pro Bowler set a franchise single-season record with 19 sacks, giving him half a sack more than St. Louis’ Robert Quinn.

Mathis also surpassed Dwight Freeney’s franchise record for career sacks. Freeney finished his Colts career with 107 sacks. Mathis has 111.

Jones, a Hall of Famer, died on June 3 at age 74. Mathis calls Jones the “creator’’ of the sack.