Players from four championships dominate Colts all-time team
Players from four championships dominate Colts all-time team
From their start of the franchise in 1953, the Colts have won four championships in two cities. Baltimore won two NFL titles, as well as Super Bowl V (while also losing in the 1964 NFL Championship Game and Super Bowl III). After moving to Indianapolis, the team appeared in two more Super Bowls, a win over the Bears in XLIV and a loss to the Saints in XLIV. Players and coaches from those crown-winning squads are found throughout the list of the best in franchise history.
Coach: Tony Dungy is the club’s all-time leader in wins and sports an 85-27 record. The Colts went to the playoffs in each of his seven seasons, compiling a 7-6 record. The best season was 2006 when Indianapolis avenged two previous playoff losses to New England and then won Super Bowl XLI over the Bears. Others of note: Don Shula and Weeb Ewbank are both known for coaching other teams to glory, but both had success in Baltimore. Ewbank went 59-52-1 and took the Colts to three NFL Championship Games, winning two. Shula sported a 71-23-4 record in seven seasons, but did not win a title. The Colts lost the 1964 NFL Championship Game and Super Bowl III under Shula. Ted Marchibroda went 71-67 in nine seasons over two stints with the franchise. He led teams to the playoffs four times, including a run to the 1995 AFC Championship Game. Don McCafferty took Baltimore to a Super Bowl V crown but was unceremoniously fired two years later. Mike Caldwell guided Indianapolis to Super Bowl XLIV.
Quarterback: In 14 years with the team, Peyton Manning was a four-time Most Valuable Player, an eight-time Pro Bowler, and a five-time All-Pro. He threw for 4,000 or more yards 11 times, and his 49 touchdown passes in 2004 were the NFL record until he broke it by throwing 55 with Denver nine years later. The Colts went to the playoffs 11 times under him, and he was the MVP of Super Bowl XLI. His franchise records of 54,928 yards and 399 touchdowns could stand for a while. Hall of Famer Johnny Unitas was a star when the team was in Baltimore. He was a three-time MVP, a four-time All-Pro, and he was selected to 10 Pro Bowls. Unitas led the Colts to two NFL titles and played in both Super Bowls, although mostly in a reserve role due to injury. He led the NFL with 2,899 yards and 32 touchdowns in the 1959 championship season. He threw for 39,768 yards and 287 touchdowns in 17 years. Andrew Luck is a four-time Pro Bowler and the 2016 Comeback Player of the Year. He threw for 4,000 yards or more in four seasons, and he led the NFL with 40 scoring passes in 2014. Bert Jones led Baltimore to the playoffs three times over his nine years. His best season was 1976 when he was named a Pro Bowler, an All-Pro, Offensive Player of the Year and NFL MVP after leading the league with 3,104 passing yards and tossing a career-high 24 touchdowns.
Running Back: Edgerrin James holds franchise records with 9,226 yards and 64 scores. He was a four-time Pro Bowler and a 1999 All-Pro and Offensive Rookie of the Year. He led the league in rushing yards in his first two seasons, totaling 1,553 in ’99 and 1,709 in 2000. Hall of Famer Lenny Moore is fifth in team history with 5,174 rushing yards, but he is second with 63 touchdowns. Moore was part of two championship teams, went to seven Pro Bowls, was selected as an All-Pro five times and led the NFL with 16 touchdowns in 1964. He was also dangerous as a receiver, sitting fifth on the franchise list with 6,039 receiving yards. Marshall Faulk, another Hall of Famer, is third with 5,320 yards and fourth with 42 touchdowns. The 1994 Offensive Rookie of the Year was also a three-time Pro Bowler and ran for more than 1,000 yards four times in five seasons with the Colts. Eric Dickerson ran for 5,194 yards and 32 scores in five seasons. He was a Hall of Famer, a three-time Pro Bowler, a two-time All-Pro and he led the NFL with 1,659 yards in 1988. Tom Matte is third on the franchise list with 45 rushing touchdowns. He was a two-time Pro Bowler, an All-Pro in 1969 and he appeared in Super Bowls III and IV. Lydell Mitchell is second in team history with 5,487 yards. Like Moore, Faulk, and James, he was an excellent receiver, having led the league in receptions twice. Joseph Addai was the starter in the Super Bowl XLI victory and went to the Pro Bowl in 2007.
Fullback: Alan Ameche was a four-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 1955 when he led the league with 961 yards and nine touchdowns. However, his most famous score gave the Colts the 1958 AFL Championship, the first of back-to-back titles for the team. Randy McMillan ran for 3,876 yards over six seasons in the early 1980s.
Wide Receiver: Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison holds franchise records with 1,102 receptions, 14,580 yards, and 128 touchdowns. He went to eight straight Pro Bowls and is a three-time All-Pro. His best season was 2002 when he led the NFL with 1,722 yards and set a record with 143 receptions. Reggie Wayne totaled 1,070 catches, 14,345 yards and 82 scores in 14 seasons. Wayne was a six-time Pro Bowler, a 2010 All-Pro and a two-time Super Bowl participant. Hall of Famer Raymond Berry is a two-time champion who was a six-time Pro Bowler and a three-time All-Pro. His 631 receptions, 9,275 yards, and 68 touchdowns are all third in team history. Jimmy Orr played in three championship games and was a Pro Bowler and All-Pro in 1965. His 50 touchdowns are fourth on the franchise list. Current star T.Y. Hilton is fourth with 8,097 yards, including five seasons with 1,000 or more. The four-time Pro Bowler led the NFL with 1,448 yards in 2016. Roger Carr went to the Pro Bowl in 1976 after leading the league with 1,112 yards. Bill Brooks had 5,818 yards receiving, including 1,131 in his 1986 rookie season.
Tight End: John Mackey was one of Unitas’ top targets and played in two Super Bowls. The Hall of Famer also went to five Pro Bowls and was a three-time All-Pro. Dallas Clark had 46 touchdowns in nine seasons, and he played in two Super Bowls. He was a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 2009 after amassing 100 catches, 1,106 yards, and 10 scores. Jim Mutscheller was the starter on two NFL Championship-winning teams. He was selected to the Pro Bowl after leading the league with eight touchdowns in 1957.
Tackle: Tarik Glenn was a three-time Pro Bowler who started 154 games in 10 seasons. The 1997 All-Rookie Team member ended his Colts career by playing in Super Bowl XLI. Ryan Diem started for 10 seasons on the right side and played in two Super Bowls. Bob Vogel was a five-time Pro Bowler, a two-time Super Bowl participant and a 1969 All-Pro. George Preas won two titles in 11 seasons during the 1950s and ’60s.
Guards: Hall of Famer Jim Parker was a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in eight straight seasons. He was a part of two championship teams, splitting his time between left tackle and left guard. Dan Sullivan and Glenn Ressler were teammates in Super Bowls III and V and were long-time starters in Baltimore. Randy Dixon and Robert Pratt were fixtures at left guard during the franchise’s lean years, and Alex Sandusky was a 13-year starter who played on two championship teams.
Center: In 13 seasons snapping the ball to Manning, Jeff Saturday was a six-time Pro Bowler, a two-time All-Pro and played in two Super Bowls. Ray Donaldson went to four Pro Bowls in 13 years and bridged the gap between host cities for the Colts. Dick Szymanski was a three-time Pro Bowler who played in four championship games and won two NFL titles. He was a two-way player who also spent time as a middle linebacker.
Defensive End: Gino Marchetti is one of the most intimidating players in NFL history. He is a Hall of Famer, and he was also selected to the league’s 50th and 75th Anniversary teams, as well as the All-Time Team that was chosen in 2000. Marchetti went to 11 straight Pro Bowls, was a seven-time All-Pro and won two titles. Robert Mathis tops the franchise list with 123 sacks, registering eight or more in nine seasons. He is a five-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 2013 when he had 19½ sacks and forced 10 fumbles. Dwight Freeney is second with 107½ sacks, including eight seasons with eight or more. He was a seven-time Pro Bowler, a three-time All-Pro, and he led the NFL with 16 sacks in 2004. Ordell Braase is a two-time NFL champion who played in two Pro Bowls. Donnell Thompson is fourth in team history with 40 sacks. Jon Hand had 35½ sacks, including 10 in 1989.
Defensive Tackle: Hall of Famer Art Donovan is a two-time champion. The original Colt went to five straight Pro Bowls and was named to four straight All-Pro teams. Billy Ray Smith Sr. had 13 fumble recoveries and played in two Super Bowls, with the win in Super Bowl V as his final game. Fred Miller is a three-time Pro Bowler who played in two Super Bowls. Ellis Johnson totaled 33 sacks, including eight in 1998. Raheem Brock had 28½ sacks and played in two Super Bowls.
Outside Linebacker: Duane Bickett is third in team history with 50 sacks. He was the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1985 and a Pro Bowler two years later. Bill Pellington, an original Colt, was a two-time champion who had 21 interceptions. Hall of Famer Ted Hendricks made three Pro Bowls in five seasons in Baltimore. He played in Super Bowl V and was an All-Pro in 1971. Don Shinnick played in four championship games, and he is second in club history with 37 interceptions. Stan White was a seven-year starter who had eight picks in 1975 and seven in ’77.
Middle Linebacker: Mike Curtis appeared in two Super Bowls and had 21 interceptions. He was a four-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro. Jeff Herrod had 100 or more tackles seven times, including a career-high 160 in 1991.
Cornerback: Bobby Boyd is the team’s all-time leader with 57 interceptions, including a league-high nine in 1965, and he had four returned for touchdowns. He is a three-time All-Pro and a two-time Pro Bowler, whose last game was Super Bowl III. Eugene Daniel started his career in the team’s first season in Indianapolis. He is third on the franchise list with 35 interceptions and also made 744 tackles in 13 seasons. Lenny Lyles was a two-time NFL champion who played in Super Bowl III. He was a Pro Bowler in 1966 and he had 16 picks. Carl Taseff was a part of two championship teams. He had 19 interceptions, including seven in 1958.
Safety: Jerry Logan is a three-time Pro Bowler and a two-time Super Bowl participant on the strong side. He has 34 interceptions and returned five for touchdowns. Andy Nelson was an All-Pro in 1959 and a Pro Bowler the following season. He had 32 picks in seven seasons. Bruce Laird was a Pro Bowler as a rookie punt returner in 1972. He had 19 interceptions, including five in 1980. Rick Volk was selected to three Pro Bowls and was a two-time Super Bowl participant. The 1971 All-Pro had 31 career picks. Antoine Bethea was a two-time Pro Bowler, who played in two Super Bowls and had seven seasons with 90 or more tackles. Jason Belser returned three of his 13 interceptions for touchdowns and had 785 tackles.
Kicker: Adam Vinatieri has 1,442 points, including 11 seasons with 100 or more. He was a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 2014, and he appeared in two Super Bowls. Mike Vanderjagt had 995 points, with eight years of 100 or more. He was a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 2003, after setting a career high with 157 points.
Punter: Rohn Stark was a four-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 1983. He had a 43.8-yard average in 13 seasons, and he led the NFL three times. David Lee appeared in two Super Bowls and average 40.6 yards per punt over 13 years. He was an All-Pro in 1969 after leading the league with a 45.3-yard average.
Returners: Six players have 3,000 or more kick return yards. Terrence Wilkins leads the pack with 4,017, including three seasons with 1,000 or more. He is also a top punt returner, who brought back three for touchdowns. Clarence Verdin was a two-time Pro Bowler who has 3,420 kick return yards and is the franchise leader with 1,537 punt return yards and four scores. Aaron Bailey had 3,501 kick return yards and two touchdowns. Laird is fourth in franchise history with 3,406 yards.
Special Teams: Matt Overton played in 80 games in five years as a long snapper, and he made the Pro Bowl in 2013.
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-By: Kevin Rakas