Indianapolis Colts

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Lore & Background

The All America Football Conference began play in the 1946 season. In its second year, the franchise assigned to the Miami Seahawks was moved to Baltimore. After a fan contest, the team was renamed the Baltimore Colts after the city's history of horse breeding and racing. The team used silver and green as its colors. The Colts played for the next three seasons in the old AAFC until they agreed to merge with the old National Football League when the NFL was reorganized. This Colts team played only in the 1950 season of the NFL and was later disbanded. In 1953, a new Baltimore-based group led by local owner Carroll Rosenbloom won the rights to a new Baltimore NFL franchise. Rosenbloom was awarded the remains of the former Dallas Texans team. The NFL considers the Texans and Colts to be separate teams. Thus, the Indianapolis Colts are legally considered to be a 1953 expansion team. The current version of the Colts played their first season in Baltimore in 1953, where the team compiled a 3–9 record under first-year head coach Keith Molesworth. Under head coach Weeb Ewbank and quarterback Johnny Unitas, the Colts went on to a 9–3 record during the 1958 season and reached the NFL Championship Game, defeating the New York Giants 23–17 in the first game to use the overtime rule. During the 1959 season, the team posted a 9–3 record and once again defeated the Giants in the NFL Championship Game. In 1968, the Colts, under Unitas and Don Shula, won their third NFL Championship but lost in Super Bowl III. In 1970, under head coach Don McCafferty, the Colts won Super Bowl V, defeating the Dallas Cowboys 16–13. After the championship, the Colts returned to the playoffs in 1971 and defeated the Cleveland Browns in the first round, but lost to the Miami Dolphins in the AFC Championship. Citing friction with the City of Baltimore and the local press, Rosenbloom traded the Colts franchise to Robert Irsay on July 13, 1972, and received the Los Angeles Rams in return. Under the new ownership, the Colts did not reach the postseason for three consecutive seasons after 1971, and after the 1972 season, starting quarterback Johnny Unitas was traded to the San Diego Chargers. After Unitas left, the Colts made the playoffs three consecutive seasons from 1975 to 1977, losing in the divisional round each time. The team endured nine consecutive losing seasons beginning in 1978. In 1981,

In Their Own Story

The road to the championship was paved with dramatic moments and historical firsts. In Week 2 against the Houston Texans, Peyton Manning surpassed Johnny Unitas for the most pass completions in franchise history on his third completion of the game, finishing 26-of-38 for 400 yards. The season also saw a historic 'Manning Bowl' in Week 1, where Peyton and Eli Manning became the first brothers to start at quarterback against each other in NFL history. A particularly chaotic moment occurred in Week 4 against the New York Jets; after DB Justin Miller returned a kickoff 103 yards for a touchdown, the Colts held firm when Manning led a game-winning drive ending in a 1-yard sneak. The season concluded with Tony Dungy making history as the first African American coach to win a Super Bowl, while the franchise celebrated its fourth title and the team's unique feat of winning a championship played outdoors after being based in an indoor stadium.

Reader's Guide

The Colts moved to Indianapolis in 1984. Since then, they have appeared in the playoffs eighteen times, won two conference championships, and played in two Super Bowl games; they defeated the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI, and lost to the New Orleans Saints in Super Bowl XLIV. The team has played their games in Lucas Oil Stadium since the 2008 season. Since 1987, the Colts have served as the host team for the NFL Scouting Combine.

Did You Know?

• The Colts were originally based in Baltimore, Maryland, and were founded in 1953 after Carroll Rosenbloom purchased the assets of the Dallas Texans franchise.
• The Colts won NFL Championships in 1958, 1959, and 1968, and Super Bowl V in 1970.
• The Colts moved to Indianapolis in 1984 and have since won Super Bowl XLI (2006 season) and appeared in Super Bowl XLIV (2009 season).
• Since 1987, the Colts have hosted the NFL Scouting Combine.