NFL Team History - The Indianapolis Colts

The Colts franchise originated in Miami, Florida, and the team was known as the Miami Seahawks. The Seahawks franchise began playing in the All-American Football Conference in 1946. Following a woeful season which ended with a record of 3-11, the Miami Seahawks were relocated to Baltimore, Maryland in 1947. To concur with the repositioning, the Miami Seahawks became the Baltimore Colts. The Colts joined the National Football League in 1950 along with the Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers.

Due in large part to monetary impediments from a 1-11 losing season in 1950, Colts owner, Abraham Watner, sold the team as well as the players' contracts to the NFL for a sum of $50,000. The team resurfaced in 1953 as Carroll Rosenbloom, leading a Baltimore-based group, acquired the rights to a Baltimore NFL franchise.

In 1958, led by head coach Weeb Eubanks and quarterback Johnny Unitas, the Baltimore Colts challenged the New York Giants in the NFL Championship showdown, and proceeded to win by a score of 23-17. This became the Colts first NFL Championship.

A year later, the Colts replicated their championship season as they defeated the New York Giants 31-16. They returned to the NFL's crown jewel event in 1964, only to be shutout by the Cleveland Browns 27-0.

Following a brilliant season in 1968 in which the Colts boasted a record of 13-1, they claimed the NFL Championship by defeating the Cleveland Browns. With their regular season record and their NFL Championship triumph, members of the media were motivated to declare the Colts as 'the greatest pro football team of all time'.

The Colts faced the New York Jets in Super Bowl III, and were significantly favored to win by a 17 point spread over the American Football League champion New York Jets. Conversely, the Jets stunned the Colts with a 16-7 victory. This game has been recognized as perhaps the greatest upset in sports history. Also noteworthy, the opposing quarterback Joe Namath guaranteed a Jets victory , therefore the loss was that much more stinging.

The Colts suffered a Super Bowl hangover as they failed to qualify for the post-season in 1969. After the NFL and AFL merger in 1970, the Colts were transferred to the NFL American Football Conference. Additionally, they decided to undergo some personnel changes. They hired a Don McCafferty as the new head coach, and improved their defense, which was led by Mike Curtis. The Colts finished the season with eleven wins. They became the AFC East champions ultimately edged out the Dallas Cowboys 16-13 in Super Bowl V.

In 1972, Colts owner Carol Rosenbloom traded the franchise to Robert Irsay in exchange for the Los Angeles Rams. However, the teams stayed in their respective cities. For most of the 1970's, the Colts were successful. In 1971, they earned a playoff berth. From 1975 to 1977, they were crowned AFC East champions. However, the 1978 season began a streak of nine successive losing seasons.

In 1982, the Colts owned the worst record in the NFL, therefore they were awarded the first draft pick in the 1983 NFL Draft. The Colts selected quarterback John Elway out of Stanford. Elway spurned the idea of playing for the Baltimore Colts, hence, he threatened to play professional baseball for the New York Yankees. The Colts allowed John Elway to be traded to the Denver Broncos for a first round draft pick in 1984, as well as Mark Hermann and Chris Henton.

In 1984, franchise owner Robert Irsay threatened to relocate the team from Baltimore unless the city was willing to finance a new stadium as well as additional concessions. The city of Indianapolis, Indiana had agreed to a loan of $12.5 million for a stadium and $4 million for a training facility. So it came as no surprise that Irsay suddenly transferred the Colts organization to Indianapolis. This relocation initiated a spate of legal action between the city of Baltimore and the Colts franchise. In March of 1986, a settlement was reached and the lawsuit against Irsay and the Colts was dismissed. It was not until 1996 when the city of Baltimore inherited an NFL franchise. The Baltimore Ravens were born after Art Modell transferred the Cleveland Browns organization to Baltimore.

Still, many fans in Baltimore are still bitter towards the Colts franchise. Even former Colts players support the Ravens as opposed to the Colts.

The Indianapolis Colts have encountered mixed results since the relocation in 1984. It was not until the 1995 season when the Colts finally reached the AFC Championship bout. They would marginally fall to the Pittsburgh Steelers 20-16.

The Colts were granted the first overall draft pick in the 1998 NFL Draft and selected quarterback Peyton Manning out of the University of Tennessee. A year later, they selected running back Edgerrin James out of the University of Miami as the fourth overall draft pick.

In 1999, the Colts enjoyed a 13-3 record, their best since moving from Baltimore, however, they were eliminated in the playoffs with a loss to the Tennessee Titans.

Following a 6-10 record in 2001, the Colts fired head coach Jim Mora Sr, and replaced him with former Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Tony Dungy.

The Colts would not return to the AFC Championship Game until 2003, when they were matched-up against the New England Patriots. Due in large part to four interceptions thrown by Peyton Manning, the Indianapolis Colts fell to the eventual Super Bowl champions by a score of 24-14. Peyton Manning, along with Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair were named co-MVP.

The 2004 NFL season marked a record-breaking season for quarterback Peyton Manning. His dominant presence in the pocket catapulted him past Dan Marino and his twenty year record for single-season passing touchdowns. Manning set a new standard with forty-nine touchdown passes. The Colts earned a second consecutive South Division title with a 12-4 record. Unfortunately, the 2004 season ended much like the 2003 season, with a playoff loss to the New England Patriots. Manning was awarded the 2004 NFL MVP.

In 2005, the Colts emerged as the ascendant team in the NFL as they began the season with 13 uninterrupted wins. Their perfect season ended with a 26-17 loss to the San Diego Chargers. Still, the Colts were the favored team to conquer the coveted Super Bowl title as they finished the season with a 14-2 regular season record, a franchise-best. Nevertheless, playoff failure loomed as they were humbled by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Divisional Playoff Game, losing by a score of 21-18.

For the fourth consecutive season, the Colts won at least 12 games. Once again, they would appear in the post-season. With victories over the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens, the Colts would host the New England Patriots in the 2006 AFC Championship Game. Despite trailing the Patriots by a score of 21-3, the Colts rebounded from the 18-point deficit and would go on to win by a score of 38-34. Finally, the Indianapolis Colts were Super Bowl bound.

The Colts were matched-up against the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI which was held at Dolphin Stadium in Miami, Florida. Super Bowl MVP Peyton Manning led the Colts to a 29-17 Super Bowl triumph as he passed for 247 yards. It was the first Super Bowl celebration for the city of Indianapolis.

Tony Dungy became the first African-American head coach to win a Super Bowl.

How ironic it is that the Indianapolis Colts won the Super Bowl in the city of Miami, the same city in which the franchise originated.