Established
1952
City
Dallas - Baltimore - Indianapolis
League History
1952 – Present / National Football League
Team History
1984 - Present / Indianapolis Colts
1953 - 1983 / Baltimore Colts
1952 / Dallas Texans
Nickname
Colts - The Indianapolis Colts history have been a beloved team in the NFL since they joined the league in 1953. But did you know their nickname, "Colts," has an interesting origin story?
The team was initially based out of Baltimore and was known as the Baltimore Colts. When it came time to decide on a name for this new franchise, owner Carroll Rosenbloom wanted something that would capture his hometown's spirit while paying homage to its history. He chose “Colts” after seeing two statues of colt horses outside Memorial Stadium in downtown Baltimore – one representing Maryland and one representing Virginia.
Indianapolis Colts Origin
Rosenbloom liked how these statues symbolized strength and power, which he thought were perfect attributes for his football team to embody as well! The name stuck with him throughout his ownership of both teams (the original Colts from 1953-1972) before moving them to Indianapolis, where they became known simply as “the Colts” from then until today!
While many people think it is just because there are so many racehorses called colts living near Indiana state lines, this isn't true! It all goes back over sixty years ago when Carroll Rosenbloom decided upon this mighty moniker during initial discussions about what he should call his newly formed football squad in America's heartland: The Indianapolis COLTS!!
Championship
Super Bowl 1
2007, 1971
NFL Championships 0
1959, 1958
Stadium
2008 - Present / Lucas Oil Stadium
1994 - 2007 / RCA Dome
1984 - 1993 / Hoosier Dome
*Baltimore*
1953 - 1983 / Memorial Stadium
*Dallas*
1952 / Cotton Bowl
Owner
1997 - Present / Jim Irsay
1972 - 1997 / Robert Irsay
1953 - 1972 / Carroll Rosenbloom
1952 / Giles Miller (games 1–7), NFL (games 8–12)
- 1984
- 1998
- 2006
- 2008
- 2012
-
Relocation to Indianapolis
The Baltimore Colts played their final home game in Baltimore on December 18, 1983, against the then Houston Oilers. By early 1984, after the Colts’ lease on the 64,124 seat Memorial Stadium had expired, Irsay wanted the city of Baltimore to upgrade the stadium or build a new one. Attendance continued to dwindle over the years as a result of ... -
Changes for the Colts
Jim Irsay began to shape the Colts one year after assuming control from his father by firing head coach Lindy Infante and hiring Bill Polian as the general manager of the organization. Polian in turn hired Jim Mora to become the next head coach of the team and drafted Tennessee Volunteer quarterback Peyton Manning, the son of New Orleans Saints ... -
Super Bowl XLI Winner 2006
Super Bowl XLI was an American football game between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Indianapolis Colts and the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Chicago Bears to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 2006 season. The Colts defeated the Bears by the score of 29–17. The game was played on February 4, 2007, at Dolphin Stadium in ... -
RCA Dome Opens
The stadium had its ribbon-cutting ceremony on August 16, 2008, and then officially opened to the public eight days later on August 24, 2008. The stadium was constructed to allow the removal of the RCA Dome and expansion of the Indiana Convention Center on its site. The stadium is on the south side of South Street, the block south of ... -
Manning Gone and add No 1 Pick Andrew Luck
The Peyton Manning era came to an end on March 8, 2012, when Jim Irsay announced that Manning was being released from the roster after thirteen seasons. Owner Jim Irsay started to again rebuild the Colts during the 2012 offseason, hiring a new general manager in Ryan Grigson and a new head coach in Chuck Pagano. The Colts also began ...
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
Indianapolis Colts History
The Indianapolis Colts, home to the NFL Greatest Player Peyton Manning, are one of the most storied franchises in the NFL. Since their inception in 1953, they have been a perennial powerhouse and have won two Super Bowls (1970 & 2006). The team has also had some of the greatest players ever to play professional football, including Johnny Unitas, Marvin Harrison, Peyton Manning, and Reggie Wayne.
During their Baltimore years, the Colts made several championship appearances, finally capturing their first Super Bowl title in 1970 under head coach Don McCafferty. With Earl Morrall leading the offense and Mike Curtis anchoring the defense, they defeated the Dallas Cowboys in a hard-fought game. This championship cemented the Colts as a respected force and became a defining moment in the Indianapolis Colts history.
After relocating to Indianapolis, the franchise entered another golden era. With head coach Tony Dungy and quarterback Peyton Manning, the Colts became one of the league’s most dominant teams in the 2000s. Their crowning achievement came in 2007, when they captured a Super Bowl victory. Alongside Manning, Hall of Fame talents like Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, and Edgerrin James elevated the Indianapolis Colts NFL legacy to new heights.
Inidanapolis Colts Achievements
Following Manning’s departure, the Colts faced rebuilding years but regained momentum under head coach Frank Reich. Between 2018 and 2021, they made several playoff runs, including an AFC Championship appearance. With young stars like Jonathan Taylor and Michael Pittman Jr., and key players such as DeForest Buckner, the franchise continues to show promise for future success.
Throughout their history, the Colts have won multiple division titles, two Super Bowl championships, and produced numerous Hall of Famers. Their consistency in reaching the playoffs and their impact on the league highlight the strength of the Indianapolis Colts history. Today, the team stands as a proud representative of the Indianapolis Colts NFL, with a legacy built on resilience, star power, and championship moments.
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Retired Number
18 / Peyton Manning
19 / Johnny Unitas
22 / Buddy Young
24 / Lenny Moore
70 / Art Donovan
77 / Jim Parker
82 / Raymond Berry
89 / Gino Marchetti
*Blue is this team’s history
