Baltimore Colts: Difference between revisions
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{{short description|Professional American football team in Baltimore, Maryland, from 1953 to 1983}} |
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{{Infobox Pre-modern NFL team |
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{{other uses}} |
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{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2020}} |
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{{Infobox NFL team |
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| name = Baltimore Colts |
| name = Baltimore Colts |
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| logo = Baltimore_Colts_logo_1961-1978.gif |
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| bgcolor = 00205B |
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| wordmark = Indianapolis Colts 2002-2020 wordmark.svg |
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| fontcolor = white |
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| established = 1953 |
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| logo = Indianapolis Colts logo.svg |
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| ended = 1983 |
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| city = [[Baltimore|Baltimore, Maryland]] |
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| suspended = |
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| misc = |
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| uniform = |
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| relocated = 1984 ([[Indianapolis Colts]]) |
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| colors = Royal blue, white, silver<br />{{color box|#003A70}} {{color box|#FFFFFF}} {{color box|#A2AAAD}} |
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| location = [[Baltimore]], [[Maryland]] |
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| owner = [[Carroll Rosenbloom]] (1953–1972)<br />[[Robert Irsay]] (1972–1983) |
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| field = [[Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)|Memorial Stadium]] (1953-1983) |
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| general manager = |
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| league = [[National Football League]] |
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| coach = [[Keith Molesworth]] (1953)<br />[[Weeb Ewbank]] (1954–1962)<br />[[Don Shula]] (1963–1969)<br />[[Don McCafferty]] (1970–1972)<br />[[John Sandusky]] (1972)<br />[[Howard Schnellenberger]] (1973–1974)<br />[[Joe Thomas (American football executive)|Joe Thomas]] (1974)<br />[[Ted Marchibroda]] (1975–1979)<br />[[Mike McCormack (American football)|Mike McCormack]] (1980–1981)<br />[[Frank Kush]] (1982–1983) |
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| conference = Western Conference (1953-1969)<br>[[American Football Conference]] (1970-1983) |
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| mascot = |
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| division = Coastal Division (1967-1969)<br>[[AFC East]] (1970-1983) |
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| nicknames = |
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| colors = Blue, White |
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| hist_yr = 1953 |
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| hist_misc2 = |
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* [[Indianapolis Colts]] (1984–present) |
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| coach = [[Keith Molesworth]] (1953)<br>[[Weeb Ewbank]] (1954-1962)<br>[[Don Shula]] (1963-1969)<br>[[Don McCafferty]] (1970-1972)<br>[[John Sandusky]] (1972)<br>[[Howard Schnellenberger]] (1973-1974)<br>[[Joe Thomas (American football executive)|Joe Thomas]] (1974)<br>[[Ted Marchibroda]] (1975-1979)<br>[[Mike McCormack (American football)|Mike McCormack]] (1980-1981)<br>[[Frank Kush]] (1982-1983) |
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| NFL_start_yr = 1953 |
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| division_hist = |
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| owner = [[Carroll Rosenbloom]] (1953-1972)<br>[[Robert Irsay]] (1972-1984) |
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* Western Conference (1953–1969) |
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| championships = [[1958 NFL Championship Game|1958]], [[1959 NFL Championship Game|1959]], [[1968 NFL Championship Game|1968]], [[Super Bowl V|1970]] |
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** [[National Football League Coastal Division|Coastal Division]] (1967–1969) |
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| AFL 1 championships = |
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* '''[[American Football Conference]] (1970–1983)''' |
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| AFL 2 championships = |
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** '''[[AFC East]] (1970–1983)''' |
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| AFL 3 championships = |
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| no_league_champs = 3† |
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| AAFC championships = |
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| no_pre1970sb_champs = 1 |
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| PCPFL championships = |
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| no_sb_champs = 1 |
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| Other League championships = |
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| no_conf_champs = 5 |
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| Ohio League championships = |
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| no_div_champs = 5 |
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| Western Pennsylvania Pro championships = |
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| league_champs = |
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| Undefeated seasons = |
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* '''[[List of NFL champions (1920–69)|NFL championships]] (pre-1970 [[AFL–NFL merger]]) (3)'''<br />[[1958 Baltimore Colts season|1958]], [[1959 Baltimore Colts season|1959]], [[1968 Baltimore Colts season|1968]] |
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| named for = |
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| sb_champs = [[1970 Baltimore Colts season|1970]] ([[Super Bowl V|V]]) |
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| mascot = |
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† – Does not include 1968 NFL championship won during the same season that the [[Super Bowl]] was contested |
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| website = |
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| conf_champs = |
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* '''NFL Western:''' [[1958 Baltimore Colts season|1958]], [[1959 Baltimore Colts season|1959]], [[1964 Baltimore Colts season|1964]], [[1968 Baltimore Colts season|1968]] |
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* '''AFC:''' [[1970 Baltimore Colts season|1970]] |
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| div_champs = |
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* '''NFL Coastal:''' [[1968 Baltimore Colts season|1968]] |
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* '''AFC East:''' [[1970 Baltimore Colts season|1970]], [[1975 Baltimore Colts season|1975]], [[1976 Baltimore Colts season|1976]], [[1977 Baltimore Colts season|1977]] |
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| playoff_appearances = |
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* '''NFL:''' [[1958 NFL Championship Game|1958]], [[1959 NFL Championship Game|1959]], [[1964 NFL Championship Game|1964]], [[1965 NFL playoffs|1965]], [[1968 NFL playoffs|1968]], [[1970–71 NFL playoffs|1970]], [[1971–72 NFL playoffs|1971]], [[1975–76 NFL playoffs|1975]], [[1976–77 NFL playoffs|1976]], [[1977–78 NFL playoffs|1977]] |
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| no_playoff_appearances = 10 |
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| stadium_years = |
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* [[Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)|Memorial Stadium]] (1953–1983) |
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}} |
}} |
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The '''Baltimore Colts''' were a professional [[American football]] team that played in [[Baltimore]] from [[1953 Baltimore Colts season|1953]] to [[1983 Baltimore Colts season|1983]], when owner Robert Irsay moved the franchise to [[Indianapolis Colts|Indianapolis]]. The team was named for Baltimore's history of horse breeding and racing. It was the second incarnation of the Baltimore Colts, [[Baltimore Colts (1947–1950)|the first]] having played for three years in the [[All-America Football Conference]] and one in the [[National Football League]] (NFL). This Baltimore Colts played their home games at [[Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)|Memorial Stadium]]. |
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===AAFC Baltimore Colts=== |
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''This article is about the [[American football]] team that had a 31-year tenure in the city of Baltimore, Maryland. For other usages, see [[Baltimore Colts (disambiguation)]]''. |
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{{Main|Baltimore Colts (1947–1950)}} |
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{{unreferenced section|date=October 2023}} |
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As the result of a fan contest in Baltimore, won by Charles Evans of [[Middle River, Maryland|Middle River]] in suburban eastern [[Baltimore County, Maryland|Baltimore County]], the team was renamed the "[[Baltimore Colts (1947–1950)|Baltimore Colts]]". On September 7, 1947, wearing the green and silver uniforms, the Colts, under Head Coach [[Cecil Isbell]], won their initial [[All-America Football Conference]] game in the A.A.F.C.'s second season, 16–7, over the [[Brooklyn Dodgers (AAFC)|Brooklyn Dodgers]]. |
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Home site for the new AAFC games in "The Monumental City" was the old 1922 [[Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)|Municipal Stadium]] (also known as "Baltimore Stadium" or "Venable Stadium" - located in previous Venable Park) on the north side of 33rd Street boulevard in northeast Baltimore, later renovated and rebuilt with an upper tier added the following year for use also by the new [[American League]] of major league baseball's relocated franchise, the [[Baltimore Orioles]]). The football team concluded its inaugural season before a record Baltimore crowd of 51,583 by losing to the [[New York Yankees (AAFC)|New York Yankees]], 21–7. The Colts finished with a 2–11–1 record, good for a fourth-place finish in the Eastern Division of the A.A.F.C. The Colts completed the 1948 season with a 7–8 record, tying the [[Buffalo Bills (AAFC)|Buffalo Bills]] for the division title. The Colts compiled a 1–11 mark in their third season of 1949. [[Y. A. Tittle]], later to gain Hall of Fame status a decade later with the NFL's [[New York Giants]], was the Colts starting quarterback. |
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The '''Baltimore Colts''', founded in 1953, played in the [[National Football League]] from 1953 to 1983. The team was named the Colts for [[Baltimore, Maryland|Baltimore]]'s rich history of horse racing. The [[Indianapolis Colts|Colts]] franchise moved to [[Indianapolis, Indiana]] between the 1983 and 1984 seasons. |
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After four years of inter-league rivalry, competition, and player contract raiding, the A.A.F.C. and N.F.L. merged in 1950, and the Colts joined the reorganized new NFL, along with the [[San Francisco 49ers]] and the [[Cleveland Browns]]. After posting a 1–11 record for the second consecutive year, the NFL franchise of just one season was dissolved by the League on January 18, 1951. But many Baltimore fans protested the loss of their team and continued to support the [[Baltimore's Marching Ravens|marching band]] (the second in professional football, after that of the [[Washington Redskins]]) and [[fan club]], both of which remained in operation ("in exile" status) and worked for the team's revival. |
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==Franchise history== |
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The Colts were the first NFL team to have [[cheerleaders]] and a marching band.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pressboxonline.com/story.cfm?id=727|title=Baltimore's Colts: A Team for the Ages|accessdate=2007-08-19|last=Gibbons|first=Michael|date=2006-08-07|publisher=Press Box Online}}</ref> The Colts were named after Baltimore's annual Preakness Stakes which is why many fans are bitter that Indianapolis retained the Colt team name. |
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The Colts franchise was officially created in 1953, but can trace its history much earlier than that, to before the NFL actually began: its earliest predecessor was the [[Dayton Triangles]], a founding member of the NFL that was originally created in 1913. That team went through the following changes: |
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After two seasons without professional football, [[History of the NFL Commissioner|NFL Commissioner]] [[Bert Bell]] challenged the [[Baltimore|City of Baltimore]] under Mayor [[Thomas D'Alesandro Jr.|Thomas L. J. D'Alesandro Jr.]], in December 1952 to sell 15,000 season tickets within six weeks in order to re-enter the NFL. That 15,000-ticket quota was reached in just four weeks and three days. |
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*[[Dayton Triangles]] relocated and renamed [[Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL)|Brooklyn Dodgers]] in 1930. |
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*Changed name to Brooklyn Tigers in 1944. In the same year, the [[Boston Yanks]] are founded. |
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*Merged with Boston Yanks in 1945 as the wartime "The Yanks." |
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*Franchise canceled in 1945 by league and the team's temporary merger with the Boston Yanks is made permanent, as a parallel team ([[New York Yankees (AAFC)|AAFC New York Yankees]]) is founded by the Tigers' former owner, Dan Topping. |
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*Miami Seahawks of the AAFC are purchased and relocated to Baltimore and renamed the Colts (Originally wearing Green and Silver). This franchise was dissolved by the league on January 18, 1951. |
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*Boston Yanks move to New York in 1949 and become [[New York Yanks]], absorbing much of the Yankees' roster the next year. |
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*New York Yanks move to [[Dallas]] in 1952 as [[Dallas Texans (NFL)|Dallas Texans]]. |
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*Texans become a road team halfway through the 1952 season and are dissolved shortly thereafter. |
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*[[Dallas Texans (NFL)|Dallas Texans]] franchise was moved to Baltimore on January 23, 1953 where, resurrecting the “Colts” nickname, they kept the Texans team colors of blue and white. |
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===Dallas Texans=== |
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==The AAFC Baltimore Colts== |
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As the result of a contest in Baltimore, won by Charles Evans of Middle River, Md., the team was renamed the “[[Baltimore Colts (1947-50)|Colts]].” On September 7, 1947, wearing the green and silver uniforms, the Colts, under Head Coach Cecil Isbell, won their initial AAFC game, 16-7, over the Brooklyn Dodgers. The team concluded its inaugural season before a record Baltimore crowd of 51,583 by losing to the New York Yankees, 21-7. The Colts finished with a 2-11-1 record, good for a fourth place finish in the Eastern Division. The Colts completed the 1948 season with a 7-8 record, tying the Buffalo Bills for the division title. The Colts compiled a 1-11 mark in 1949. [[Y. A. Tittle]] was the Colts starting quarterback. |
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The 1953 iteration of the Baltimore Colts traces its roots back to the [[New York Yanks]] of the NFL, who played in Yankee Stadium in 1950 and 1951. Owner Ted Collins then turned the money-losing franchise back to the league, which sold it to Texan oil millionaire Giles Miller. |
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The AAFC and NFL merged in 1950, and the Colts joined the NFL. After posting a 1-11 record for the second consecutive year, the franchise was dissolved by the league on January 18, 1951. But many Baltimore fans protested the loss of their team and continued to support the [[marching band]] (the second in professional football, after that of the [[Washington Redskins]]) and [[fan club]], both of which remained in operation and worked for the team's revival. |
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Miller moved the team to Dallas, where it played the [[1952 NFL season]] as the [[Dallas Texans (NFL)|Dallas Texans]], with team colors of blue and white. This marked the first expansion of the NFL into [[Texas]] and the [[Southern United States|southern part of the United States]]. Fans stayed away from the bad Texans team in droves and on November 14, 1952, the Texans owner returned team ownership of the NFL during mid-season. |
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==NFL Dallas Texans== |
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After two seasons without professional football, NFL Commissioner [[Bert Bell]] challenged Baltimore in December 1952 to sell 15,000 season tickets within six weeks in order to re-enter the NFL. That 15,000-ticket quota was reached in four weeks and three days. On January 23, 1953, under the principal ownership of [[Carroll Rosenbloom]], the NFL’s [[Dallas Texans (NFL)|Dallas Texans]] franchise was moved to Baltimore where, keeping the “Colts” nickname, the |
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Texans team colors of blue and white were inherited. This is the franchise that exists today in Indianapolis.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://colts.com/sub.cfm?page=football_dynamic&id=174|title=A look at the history of the Indianapolis Colts}}</ref> |
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On January 23, 1953, with the encouragement of the city's civic and business leadership, under the principal ownership of [[Carroll Rosenbloom]], the NFL sold the assets of the defunct [[Dallas Texans (NFL)|Dallas Texans]] franchise to Baltimore where, keeping the "Colts" nickname, the Texans team colors of blue and white were used. This is the franchise that exists today in Indianapolis in the modern National Football League.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://colts.com/sub.cfm?page=football_dynamic&id=174|title=A look at the history of the Indianapolis Colts|access-date=July 10, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101225204727/http://www.colts.com/sub.cfm?page=football_dynamic&id=174|archive-date=December 25, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> |
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The Texans had a long and winding history; they started as the [[Boston Yanks]] in 1944 and merged with the [[Brooklyn Tigers]] (previously known as the [[Dayton Triangles]], an original NFL team established in the 1910s) for the 1945 season before moving to [[New York City|New York]] as the Bulldogs in 1949. The team then became the [[New York Yanks|Yanks]] in 1950, and many of the players from the [[New York Yankees (AAFC)|New York Yankees]] of the [[All-America Football Conference]] were added to the team. The Yanks moved to Dallas after the 1951 season, but played their final two "home" games of the 1952 season at the [[Rubber Bowl]] in [[Akron, Ohio]]. |
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==In Baltimore== |
===In Baltimore=== |
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====1953–1967: Johnny Unitas era==== |
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In 1953 the second iteration of the Baltimore Colts took the field at Memorial Stadium on September 27 to face off against the Chicago Bears. The Colts would go on to win the game 13-9 and stun the Bears. The team's lack of experience showed as the team finished 3-9. In 1955 the Colts had 12 rookies make the team. In 1956 quarterback George Shaw went down with a serious injury in the fourth game of the season. The Colts unproven backup, Johnny Unitas, would go on to win half the remaining eight games to give the Colts a record of 5-7 for the season. |
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[[File:JohnnyUnitasSignAutograph1964.jpg|thumb|left|200px|[[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] inductee [[Johnny Unitas]] was the Baltimore Colts' starting quarterback and famed "Number 19", from 1956 to 1972. Unitas was raised in the [[Pittsburgh]] area and played earlier for the [[University of Louisville]] in [[Louisville, Kentucky]]]] |
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In 1953, the second incarnation of the Baltimore Colts took the field for the first time at [[Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)|Memorial Stadium]] (also used temporarily by the old [[Baltimore Orioles]] minor league team in the [[International League]] since the burning in July 1944 of their [[Oriole Park]] home farther southeast at [[Maryland Route 45|Greenmount Avenue]] and 29th Street in [[Waverly, Baltimore|Waverly]]). The stadium was being rebuilt and adding a second upper tier to old Municipal Stadium for use by the following year of [[Major League Baseball]]'s [[Baltimore Orioles]] franchise in the [[American League]], which moved that November from [[St. Louis, Missouri]], where it had been the [[St. Louis Browns]]. The 33rd Street field was sometimes called "Baltimore Stadium" or "Venable Stadium" for its location in the former Venable Park along the north side of the 33rd Street boulevard. It was built as a football-only bowl in 1922 in only seven months and later expanded to hold almost 100,000 fans for the frequent high school and local collegiate/university games there during the following three decades), on September 27 to face off against the Chicago Bears. The Colts would go on to win the game 13–9 and stun the Bears. The team's lack of experience showed as the team finished 3–9. In 1955, the Colts had 12 rookies make the team. In 1956, quarterback George Shaw went down with a serious injury in the fourth game of the season. The Colts' unproven backup, [[Johnny Unitas]], would go on to win half the remaining eight games to give the Colts a record of 5–7 for the season. |
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The Colts won the NFL Championship in 1958 and repeated in 1959. The 1958 NFL Championship game is widely known as the "Greatest Game Ever Played" for its dramatic conclusion with [[quarterback]] [[Johnny Unitas]] marching the Colts downfield in sudden death overtime and [[Alan Ameche]] scoring the winning touchdown on a 1-yard run. Much of the credit for Baltimore's success went to Hall of Famers Johnny Unitas, [[halfback (American football)|halfback]] [[Lenny Moore]], and [[wide receiver]] [[Raymond Berry]]. |
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The Colts won their first NFL Championship in 1958, in a game widely known as the "Greatest Game Ever Played" for its dramatic conclusion. [[Quarterback]] [[Johnny Unitas]] marched the Colts downfield in sudden death overtime and [[Alan Ameche]] scored the winning touchdown on a 1-yard run. Much of the credit for Baltimore's success went to Hall of Famers Johnny Unitas, [[halfback (American football)|halfback]] [[Lenny Moore]], and [[wide receiver]] [[Raymond Berry]]. |
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Baltimore returned to the NFL championship game in 1964 but lost to the [[Cleveland Browns]] 24-0. In 1968, Unitas was injured and replaced by [[Earl Morrall]] who became the league's MVP. The 1968 Colts won their division with a 13-1 record and won the NFL championship game 34-0 over the Browns. The Colts' season ended with a shocking upset loss to the AFL [[New York Jets]] in [[Super Bowl III]] at the [[Miami Orange Bowl]]. |
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Following the Colts' first NFL championship, the team once again posted a 9–3 record during the [[1959 Baltimore Colts season|1959 season]] and once again defeated the Giants in the [[1959 NFL Championship Game|NFL Championship Game]] to claim their second title in back to back fashion.<ref name="Baltimore Colts History">{{cite encyclopedia|title=Baltimore Colts: Historical Moments|url=http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nfl/balticolts/baltcolts.html|encyclopedia=Sports Encyclopedia|access-date=July 5, 2012}}</ref> Following the two championships in 1958 and 1959, the Colts did not return to the NFL Championship for four seasons and saw a transition from head coach Ewbank to a young [[Don Shula]] in [[1963 Baltimore Colts season|1963]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Cole|first=Jason|title=Ewbank overlooked figure of AFL glory|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=jc-weebewbank120309|work=Yahoo! Sports|date=December 30, 2009|access-date=July 5, 2012}}</ref> In Shula's second season the Colts compiled a 12–2 record, but lost 27–0 to the [[Cleveland Browns]] in the [[1964 NFL Championship Game|NFL Championship]]. In 1965 the Colts played the Green Bay Packers in a playoff to determine who would go to the NFL Championship game. The Colts were leading 10–7 over the [[Green Bay Packers]] with two minutes left to play when the Packers' kicker, [[Don Chandler]] seemed to barely miss a field goal.<ref>John F. Steadman, ''From Colts to Ravens''. 1997 Tidewater Publishers, pp 164-167</ref> The referee called it good and the Packers went on to win the game in overtime. The error precipitated changes to the rules: the NFL decided two referees would judge future field goals, and that the uprights should be raised by ten feet. In [[1968 Baltimore Colts season|1968]] the Colts returned with the continued leadership of Unitas and Shula and went on to win the Colts' third NFL Championship and made an appearance in [[Super Bowl III]]. In 1968, Unitas was injured and replaced by [[Earl Morrall]] who became the league's MVP. |
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In 1970, the merger of the 16-team National Football League and the 10-team [[American Football League]] was finally completed with on-field realignment to create two 13-team "conferences" within the expanded 26-team NFL. All ten teams previously in the AFL were placed in the [[American Football Conference]]. Thirteen of the sixteen teams previously in the NFL were retained in the [[National Football Conference]], but three old NFL teams (the Colts, the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]], and the [[Cleveland Browns]]) were placed in the [[American Football Conference]] in order to equalize the two conferences. |
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====1968–1972: Merger and Super Bowl V==== |
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That same year the Colts, still led by Johnny Unitas, won the [[AFC East|AFC East Division]] title with a record of 11-2-1. In [[Super Bowl V]] the Colts won a close, low-scoring game against the [[Dallas Cowboys]]. With nine seconds left in the game placekicker [[Jim O'Brien (American football)|Jim O'Brien]] kicked the game winning field goal which gave Baltimore its first Super Bowl championship. Later in the decade the Colts, led by new quarterback [[Bert Jones]] and running back [[Lydell Mitchell]], won division titles in 1975, 1976, and 1977, but each time lost in the playoffs. Following this relative success in the 1970s, the Colts suffered a string of disappointing seasons, often finishing in last place in their division. |
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[[File:1986 Jeno's Pizza - 32 - Earl Morrall.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The Colts against Dallas in their first Super Bowl championship (V)]] |
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Leading up to the Super Bowl and following the 34–0 trouncing of the Cleveland Browns in the [[1968 NFL Championship Game|NFL Championship]], many were calling the 1968 Colts team one of the "greatest pro football teams of all time"<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/1102/nfl-top-15-teams-to-not-win-super-bowl/content.4.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110204051010/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/1102/nfl-top-15-teams-to-not-win-super-bowl/content.4.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 4, 2011|title=Top 15 Team Not to Win the Super Bowl:1968 Baltimore Colts (13–1)|access-date=July 4, 2012|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]}}</ref> and were favored by 18 points against their counterparts from the [[American Football League]], the [[New York Jets]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/dan_shaughnessy/01/18/colts.jets/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100121134732/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/dan_shaughnessy/01/18/colts.jets/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 21, 2010|title=There's plenty of history between AFC finalists Jets and Colts|access-date=July 5, 2012|last=Shaughnessy|first=Dan|date=January 19, 2010|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]}}</ref> The Colts were stunned by the Jets, who won the game 16–7 in the first Super Bowl victory for the young AFL. The result of the game surprised many in the sports media<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/nfl/longterm/superbowl/stories/sb3.htm|title=Jets Shock Colts in Super Bowl, 16–7|access-date=July 4, 2012|last=Brady|first=Dave|date=January 13, 1969|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> as [[Joe Namath]] and [[Matt Snell]] led the Jets to the Super Bowl victory under head coach [[Weeb Ewbank]], who had previously won two NFL Championships with the Colts. |
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Rosenbloom of the Colts, [[Art Modell]] of the Browns, and [[Art Rooney]] of the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] agreed to have their teams join the ten AFL teams in the [[American Football Conference|AFC]] as part of the [[AFL–NFL merger]] in 1970.<ref name="Baltimore Colts History"/> Rosenbloom hired AFL expert and hugely successful General Manager Don Klosterman who was the architect of both the KC Chiefs' Super Bowl '60s victory teams, the Oilers turnaround from bottom dweller to division champion in '67, and the original Chargers' personnel man whose teams took 2nd the first two years in the new AFL and won the AFL in 1963. The Colts immediately went on a rampage in the new league, as new head coach [[Don McCafferty]] led the [[1970 Baltimore Colts season|1970]] team to an 11–2–1 regular-season record, winning the [[AFC East]] title. In the first round of the NFL Playoffs, the Colts beat the [[Cincinnati Bengals]] 17–0; one week later in the first-ever [[AFC Championship Game]], they beat the [[Oakland Raiders]] 27–17. Baltimore went on to win the first post-merger Super Bowl ([[Super Bowl V]]), defeating the [[National Football Conference|NFC]]'s [[Dallas Cowboys]] 16–13 on a Jim O'Brien field goal with five seconds left to play.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/sports/remembering-super-bowl-v-baltimore-colts-jim-obrie/nL2gn/|title=Remembering Super Bowl V: Baltimore Colts' Jim O'Brien got a win and a future wife|access-date=July 5, 2012|last=Milian|first=Jorge|date=February 1, 2010|publisher=The Palm Beach Post}}</ref> The victory gave the Colts their fourth NFL championship and first Super Bowl victory. Following the championship, the Colts returned to the playoffs in [[1971 Baltimore Colts season|1971]], winning their opening playoff game against the Browns 20–3, but lost in the second AFC Championship Game in Miami 21–0. |
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==The move to Indianapolis== |
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====1972–1976: Bob Irsay arrives and “Shake n’ Bake”==== |
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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.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1972/08/14/613140/nay-on-the-neighs-yea-on-the-baas|title=Nay on the neighs, yea on the baas; Fed up with his Colts, Carroll Rosenbloom traded for the Rams|access-date=July 5, 2012|last=Maule|first=Tex|date=August 14, 1972|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]}}</ref> Under the new ownership, the Colts did not reach the postseason for three consecutive seasons after 1971, and after the [[1972 Baltimore Colts season|1972 season]], starting quarterback and legend Johnny Unitas was traded to the [[San Diego Chargers]].<ref name="Baltimore Colts History"/> Following Unitas' departure, the Colts made the playoffs three consecutive seasons from 1975 to 1977, losing in the divisional round each time. The Colts' 1977 playoff loss in double overtime against the Oakland Raiders was famous in that it was the last playoff game for the Colts in Baltimore and is also known for the [[Ghost to the Post]] play. These consecutive playoff teams featured 1976 NFL Most Valuable Player [[Bert Jones]] at quarterback and an outstanding defensive line, nicknamed the "Sack Pack." |
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====1976–1983: Last days==== |
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Following this relative success in the 1970s, the Colts suffered a string of disappointing seasons, often finishing in last place in their division. Attendance began to dwindle in the early 1970s and remained that way for the rest of the team's tenure in Baltimore. The Colts would endure nine consecutive losing seasons beginning in [[1978 NFL season|1978]]. In [[1981 Baltimore Colts season|1981]], the Colts defense allowed an NFL-record 533 points, set an all-time record for fewest sacks (13), and also set a modern record for fewest punt returns (12).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/clt/1981.htm|title=1981 Baltimore Colts Statistics|access-date=July 4, 2012|work=Pro Football Reference}}</ref> The following year, the offense collapsed, including a game against the [[Buffalo Bills]] where the Colts' offense did not cross mid-field the entire game. The Colts finished 0–8–1 in the strike-shortened 1982 season, thereby earning the right to select [[Stanford Cardinal football|Stanford]] quarterback [[John Elway]] with the first overall pick. Elway refused to play for Baltimore, and using leverage as a draftee of the [[New York Yankees]] baseball club, forced a trade to [[Denver Broncos|Denver]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stanforddaily.com/2012/05/03/football-a-look-back-at-stanfords-other-no-1-picks/|title=Football: A look back at Stanford's other No. 1 picks|access-date=July 5, 2012|last=Blanchat|first=Jack|work=The Stanford Daily|date=May 3, 2012 }}</ref> Behind an improved defense the team finished 7–9 in [[1983 Baltimore Colts season|1983]], but that would be their last season in Baltimore. |
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===Move to Indianapolis=== |
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{{main|Baltimore Colts relocation to Indianapolis}} |
{{main|Baltimore Colts relocation to Indianapolis}} |
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The city of [[Indianapolis, Indiana]] made an offer for the Colts to move there. Baltimore was unsuccessful at persuading them to stay, so the city government attempted to get the state legislature to condemn the Colts franchise and give ownership to another group that would promise to keep the Colts in Baltimore. [[Oakland, California]] had just had some success in court trying the same tactic with the [[Oakland Raiders]]. Under the threat of eminent domain from the city of Baltimore, [[Baltimore Colts relocation to Indianapolis|the |
The city of [[Indianapolis]], [[Indiana]], made an offer for the Colts franchise to move there. Baltimore was unsuccessful at persuading them to stay, so the city government attempted to get the state legislature to condemn the Colts franchise and give ownership to another group that would promise to keep the Colts in Baltimore. [[Oakland, California]], had just had some success in court trying the same tactic with the [[Oakland Raiders]]. Under the threat of eminent domain from the city of Baltimore, [[Baltimore Colts relocation to Indianapolis|the franchise moved to Indianapolis]] in the middle of the night on March 29, 1984. |
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The city of Baltimore did not give up and sued to condemn the franchise anyway and seize ownership. Baltimore did not prevail in court,<ref>''Mayor & City Council of Baltimore v. Indianapolis Colts'', 624 F. Supp. 278 (D. Md. 1985)</ref> but eventually acquired a new NFL team in 1996 with the establishment of the [[Baltimore Ravens]] following the [[Cleveland Browns relocation controversy]]. |
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Many former Colts players were infuriated by the move. Among the most notable was Johnny Unitas, who opted to cut all ties with his former team after the incident.<ref>{{cite web|last1=SIMERS|first1=T. J.|title=Scratch These Colts : Unitas and Matte Don't Think About How Their Former Team Is Doing, Because They Don't Consider Indianapolis Their Former Team|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-01-13-sp-24143-story.html|website=Los Angeles Times|access-date=January 12, 2017|date=January 13, 1996}}</ref> Unitas aligned himself with the Ravens when they moved to Baltimore, and a statue of him was placed outside of [[M&T Bank Stadium]].<ref name="nytimes.com">{{cite web|last1=Kuttler|first1=Hillel|title=Ravens Maintain Ties to Baltimore Colts|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/25/sports/football/love-affair-with-baltimore-colts-remains-with-ravens.html|website=The New York Times|access-date=January 12, 2017|date=January 24, 2013}}</ref> On the other hand, Colts owner [[Jim Irsay]] held a reunion for the 1975 AFC East champion Baltimore Colts in Indianapolis at [[Lucas Oil Stadium]] in 2009. 39 of the 53 members of that team attended the ceremony, including [[Bert Jones]], [[Lydell Mitchell]], and [[Mike Curtis (American football)|Mike Curtis]]. |
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==Continuity== |
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The NFL treats the Baltimore Colts and the Indianapolis Colts (including logos, history, and records) as one continuous franchise since 1953. Despite this, many former Baltimore Colts players, led by Johnny Unitas, disowned the Colts franchise after the move to Indianapolis, instead choosing to remain loyal to the City of Baltimore. These former players embraced the new Baltimore Ravens franchise when it arrived in Baltimore in 1996.<ref name="nytimes.com"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/classic/obit/s/2002/0911/1430557.html|title=ESPN Classic - Unitas dies of heart attack at 69|website=www.espn.com}}</ref><ref name="baltimorebeatdown.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/2011/10/8/2475250/indy-disses-unitas-by-still-using-19-jersey|title=Indy Disses Unitas By Still Using #19 Jersey|first=Bruce|last=Raffel|date=October 8, 2011|website=Baltimore Beatdown}}</ref> The Ravens do claim the history of the Baltimore Colts as part of their own and have added the Baltimore Colt Hall of Famers to the [[Baltimore Ravens Ring of Honor]]. The Ravens [[Baltimore Ravens#Retired numbers|officially have no retired numbers]],<ref name=NFLretiredNumbers/> but out of respect for Unitas, only quarterback [[Scott Mitchell (quarterback)|Scott Mitchell]] has worn the number 19, which he did in his lone season in Baltimore in 1999. The Baltimore Colts Marching Band, which continued to operate after the Colts moved, became [[Baltimore's Marching Ravens]]. |
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On the other hand, there have been many former Baltimore Colts players who have embraced the franchise as continuous, from Baltimore to Indianapolis. In 2009, Jim Irsay held a reunion of his favorite Colts team ever, the 1975 AFC East champions. Thirty-nine of the 50 players on that roster attended the reunion at [[Lucas Oil Stadium]], including quarterback [[Bert Jones]] and running back [[Lydell Mitchell]]. Also, On February 5, 2012, at [[Super Bowl XLVI]], Hall-of-Fame Baltimore Colts wide receiver Raymond Berry carried the [[Vince Lombardi Trophy]] to midfield to present it to the [[2011 New York Giants season|New York Giants]], who had just defeated the [[2011 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Klingaman|first1=Mike|title=Raymond Berry's 'Super' Walk|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2012/02/06/raymond-berrys-super-walk/|access-date=January 20, 2017|work=The Baltimore Sun|date=February 6, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202023820/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2012-02-06/sports/bs-sp-berry-super-bowl-20120206_1_new-york-giants-super-bowl-sunday-raymond-berry|archive-date=February 2, 2017}}</ref> He was given the honor due to the game being played at [[Lucas Oil Stadium]], where the Colts have played since 2008. |
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Although the [[Indianapolis Colts#Retired numbers|retired numbers of the Indianapolis Colts]] officially includes Unitas and others dating back to the Baltimore days,<ref name=NFLretiredNumbers>{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/history/retirednumbers|title=NFL Retired Player Numbers|website=www.nfl.com}}</ref> the [[Indianapolis Colts Ring of Honor]] currently only includes players who have played in Indianapolis, with the exception of [[Chris Hinton]], who played for the Baltimore Colts in his rookie season in 1983. |
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==Records== |
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{| class="wikitable" |
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|bgcolor="#FFE6BD"|<small>'''[[List of NFL champions|NFL champions]]''' (1920–1969)</small> |
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|bgcolor="#FFCCCC"|<small>'''[[List of Super Bowl champions|Super Bowl champions]]''' (1970–present)</small> |
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|bgcolor="#ddffdd"|<small>'''Conference champions'''</small> |
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|bgcolor="#D0E7FF"|<small>'''Division champions'''</small> |
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|bgcolor="#96CDCD"|<small>'''[[Wild card (sports)#National Football League|Wild card berth]]'''</small> |
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|bgcolor="#CCFFFF"|<small>'''[[One-game playoff#National Football League|One-game playoff berth]]'''</small> |
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|} |
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{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%" |
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|- |
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!rowspan="2"|[[List of NFL seasons|Season]] |
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!rowspan="2"|Team |
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!rowspan="2"|[[List of leagues of American and Canadian football|League]] |
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!rowspan="2"|Conference |
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!rowspan="2"|Division |
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!colspan="4"|[[National Football League regular season|Regular season]]{{ref label|Columns|a|a}} |
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!rowspan="2" style="width:32%;"|[[NFL playoffs|Postseason]] results |
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!rowspan="2"|Awards{{ref label|MVP|b|b}}{{ref label|COY|c|c}} |
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|- |
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!Finish |
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!Won |
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!Lost |
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!Ties |
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|- |
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|align="center" colspan="11" style="background:#002C5F; color:white"|'''Baltimore Colts''' |
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|- |
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!align="center"|{{nfly|1953}} |
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|align="center"|[[1953 Baltimore Colts season|1953]] |
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|align="center"|[[National Football League|NFL]] |
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|align="center"|Western |
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|align="center"|— |
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|align="center"|5th |
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|align="center"|3 |
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|align="center"|9 |
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|align="center"|0 |
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| |
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| |
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|- |
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!align="center"|{{nfly|1954}} |
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|align="center"|[[1954 Baltimore Colts season|1954]] |
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|align="center"|NFL |
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|align="center"|Western |
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|align="center"|— |
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|align="center"|6th |
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|align="center"|3 |
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|align="center"|9 |
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|align="center"|0 |
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| |
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| |
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|- |
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!align="center"|{{nfly|1955}} |
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|align="center"|[[1955 Baltimore Colts season|1955]] |
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|align="center"|NFL |
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|align="center"|Western |
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|align="center"|— |
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|align="center"|4th |
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|align="center"|5 |
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|align="center"|6 |
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|align="center"|1 |
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| |
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|[[Alan Ameche]] ([[UPI NFL-NFC Rookie of the Year|OROY]])<ref>{{cite news|title=Alan Ameche Named Pro Rookie of Year|work=The Pittsburgh Press|agency=United Press|date=December 19, 1955|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2WMbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LU4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=3172,1439433|access-date=December 20, 2010}}</ref> |
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|- |
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!align="center"|{{nfly|1956}} |
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|align="center"|[[1956 Baltimore Colts season|1956]] |
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|align="center"|NFL |
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|align="center"|Western |
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|align="center"|— |
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|align="center"|4th |
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|align="center"|5 |
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|align="center"|7 |
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|align="center"|0 |
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| |
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|[[Lenny Moore]] ([[NFL Rookie of the Year|OROY]])<ref>{{cite news|title=Lenny Moore Pro Rookie of the Year|work=The Newburgh News|agency=United Press|date=January 3, 1957|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Y8NFAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vr0MAAAAIBAJ&pg=5935,238652|access-date=December 20, 2010}}</ref> |
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|- |
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!align="center"|{{nfly|1957}} |
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|align="center"|[[1957 Baltimore Colts season|1957]] |
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|align="center"|NFL |
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|align="center"|Western |
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|align="center"|— |
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|align="center"|3rd |
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|align="center"|7 |
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|align="center"|5 |
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|align="center"|0 |
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| |
|||
| |
|||
|- |
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!align="center"|{{nfly|1958}} |
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|align="center"|[[1958 Baltimore Colts season|1958]] |
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|align="center" style="background: #FFE6BD;"|'''NFL''' |
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|align="center" style="background: #ddffdd;"|'''Western''' |
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|align="center"|— |
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|align="center" style="background: #ddffdd;"|'''1st''' |
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|align="center"|9 |
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|align="center"|3 |
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|align="center"|0 |
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|style="background: #FFE6BD;"|'''Won [[1958 NFL Championship Game|NFL Championship]] <small>(1)</small>''' ([[1958 New York Giants season|Giants]]) 23–17 |
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|[[Weeb Ewbank]] ([[National Football League Coach of the Year Award#AP NFL Coach of the Year|COY]]) |
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|- |
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!align="center"|{{nfly|1959}} |
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|align="center"|[[1959 Baltimore Colts season|1959]] |
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|align="center" style="background: #FFE6BD;"|'''NFL''' |
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|align="center" style="background: #ddffdd;"|'''Western''' |
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|align="center"|— |
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|align="center" style="background: #ddffdd;"|'''1st''' |
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|align="center"|9 |
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|align="center"|3 |
|||
|align="center"|0 |
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|style="background: #FFE6BD;"|'''Won [[1959 NFL Championship Game|NFL Championship]] <small>(2)</small>''' ([[1959 New York Giants season|Giants]]) 31–16 |
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| |
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|- |
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!align="center"|{{nfly|1960}} |
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|align="center"|[[1960 Baltimore Colts season|1960]] |
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|align="center"|NFL |
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|align="center"|Western |
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|align="center"|— |
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|align="center"|4th |
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|align="center"|6 |
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|align="center"|6 |
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|align="center"|0 |
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| |
|||
| |
|||
|- |
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!align="center"|{{nfly|1961}} |
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|align="center"|[[1961 Baltimore Colts season|1961]] |
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|align="center"|NFL |
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|align="center"|Western |
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|align="center"|— |
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|align="center"|3rd |
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|align="center"|8 |
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|align="center"|6 |
|||
|align="center"|0 |
|||
| |
|||
| |
|||
|- |
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!align="center"|{{nfly|1962}} |
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|align="center"|[[1962 Baltimore Colts season|1962]] |
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|align="center"|NFL |
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|align="center"|Western |
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|align="center"|— |
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|align="center"|4th |
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|align="center"|7 |
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|align="center"|7 |
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|align="center"|0 |
|||
| |
|||
| |
|||
|- |
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!align="center"|{{nfly|1963}} |
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|align="center"|[[1963 Baltimore Colts season|1963]] |
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|align="center"|NFL |
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|align="center"|Western |
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|align="center"|— |
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|align="center"|3rd |
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|align="center"|8 |
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|align="center"|6 |
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|align="center"|0 |
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| |
|||
| |
|||
|- |
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!align="center"|{{nfly|1964}} |
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|align="center"|[[1964 Baltimore Colts season|1964]] |
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|align="center"|NFL |
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|align="center" style="background: #ddffdd;"|'''Western''' |
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|align="center"|— |
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|align="center" style="background: #ddffdd;"|'''1st''' |
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|align="center"|12 |
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|align="center"|2 |
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|align="center"|0 |
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|bgcolor="#ddffdd"|Lost [[1964 NFL Championship Game|NFL Championship]] ([[1964 Cleveland Browns season|Browns]]) 27–0 |
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|[[Johnny Unitas]] ([[National Football League Most Valuable Player Award#As awarded by the Associated Press|MVP]])<ref name="unitas">{{cite web|title=Johnny Unitas |publisher=Pro Football Reference |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/U/UnitJo00.htm |access-date=December 20, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115031638/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/U/UnitJo00.htm |archive-date=November 15, 2013 }}</ref><br>[[Don Shula]] ([[National Football League Coach of the Year Award#AP NFL Coach of the Year|COY]])<ref name="boss">{{cite news|title=Shula Is Top Boss|work=Ocala Star-Banner|date=December 19, 1968|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yOEpAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TgUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5896,5275585|access-date=December 20, 2010}}</ref> |
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|- |
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!align="center"|{{nfly|1965}} |
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|align="center"|[[1965 Baltimore Colts season|1965]] |
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|align="center"|NFL |
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|align="center"|Western |
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|align="center"|— |
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|align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFFF"|2nd |
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|align="center"|10 |
|||
|align="center"|3 |
|||
|align="center"|1 |
|||
|Lost [[1965 NFL playoffs#Western Conference playoff|Conference Playoff Game]] ([[1965 Green Bay Packers season|Packers]]) 13–10 |
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| |
|||
|- |
|||
!align="center"|{{nfly|1966}} |
|||
|align="center"|[[1966 Baltimore Colts season|1966]] |
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|align="center"|NFL |
|||
|align="center"|Western |
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|align="center"|— |
|||
|align="center"|2nd |
|||
|align="center"|9 |
|||
|align="center"|5 |
|||
|align="center"|0 |
|||
| |
|||
| |
|||
|- |
|||
!align="center"|{{nfly|1967}}{{ref label|1967Season|e|e}} |
|||
|align="center"|[[1967 Baltimore Colts season|1967]] |
|||
|align="center"|NFL |
|||
|align="center"|Western |
|||
|align="center"|[[National Football League Coastal Division|Coastal]] |
|||
|align="center"|2nd |
|||
|align="center"|11 |
|||
|align="center"|1 |
|||
|align="center"|2 |
|||
| |
|||
|[[Johnny Unitas]] ([[NFL MVP|MVP]])<ref name="unitas"/><br>[[Don Shula]] ([[NFL Coach of the Year|COY]])<ref name="boss"/> |
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|- |
|||
!align="center"|{{nfly|1968}} |
|||
|align="center"|[[1968 Baltimore Colts season|1968]] |
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|align="center" style="background: #FFE6BD;"|'''NFL''' |
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|align="center" style="background: #ddffdd;"|'''Western''' |
|||
|align="center" style="background: #D0E7FF;"|'''Coastal''' |
|||
|align="center" style="background: #D0E7FF;"|'''1st''' |
|||
|align="center"|13 |
|||
|align="center"|1 |
|||
|align="center"|0 |
|||
|style="background: #FFE6BD;"|'''Won''' [[NFL playoffs, 1968#Divisional playoff games|Divisional Playoffs]] ([[1968 Minnesota Vikings season|Vikings]]) 24–14<br>'''Won [[NFL Championship Game, 1968|NFL Championship]]''' ([[1968 Cleveland Browns season|Browns]]) 34–0<br>Lost [[Super Bowl III]] ([[1968 New York Jets season|Jets]]) 16–7 |
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|[[Earl Morrall]] ([[NFL MVP|MVP]])<ref>{{cite news|title=Earl Now Number 1|work=Ocala Star-Banner|agency=Associated Press|date=December 19, 1968|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yOEpAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TgUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2145,5275623|access-date=December 20, 2010}}</ref><br>[[Don Shula]] ([[NFL Coach of the Year|COY]])<ref name="boss"/> |
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|- |
|||
!align="center"|{{nfly|1969}} |
|||
|align="center"|[[1969 Baltimore Colts season|1969]] |
|||
|align="center"|NFL |
|||
|align="center"|Western |
|||
|align="center"|Coastal |
|||
|align="center"|2nd |
|||
|align="center"|8 |
|||
|align="center"|5 |
|||
|align="center"|1 |
|||
| |
|||
| |
|||
|- |
|||
!align="center"|{{nfly|1970}} |
|||
|align="center"|[[1970 Baltimore Colts season|1970]] |
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|align="center" style="background: #FFCCCC;"|'''NFL''' |
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|align="center" style="background: #ddffdd;"|'''[[American Football Conference|AFC]]''' |
|||
|align="center" style="background: #D0E7FF;"|'''[[American Football Conference East Division|East]]''' |
|||
|align="center" style="background: #D0E7FF;"|'''1st''' |
|||
|align="center"|11 |
|||
|align="center"|2 |
|||
|align="center"|1 |
|||
|style="background: #FFCCCC;"|'''Won''' [[1970–71 NFL playoffs#AFC: Baltimore Colts 17, Cincinnati Bengals 0|Divisional Playoffs]] ([[1970 Cincinnati Bengals season|Bengals]]) 17–0<br>'''Won''' [[1970–71 NFL playoffs#AFC: Baltimore Colts 27, Oakland Raiders 17|Conference Championship]] ([[1970 Oakland Raiders season|Raiders]]) 27–17<br>'''Won [[Super Bowl V]] <small>(3)</small>''' ([[1970 Dallas Cowboys season|Cowboys]]) 16–13 |
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|[[Johnny Unitas]] ([[Walter Payton Man of the Year Award|WP MOY]])<ref>{{cite news|title=Unitas Voted NFL's Man Of The Year|work=The Morning Record|agency=Associated Press|date=January 11, 1971|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yS1IAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lgANAAAAIBAJ&pg=5666,1016541|access-date=December 20, 2010}}</ref> |
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|- |
|||
!align="center"|{{nfly|1971}} |
|||
|align="center"|[[1971 Baltimore Colts season|1971]] |
|||
|align="center"|NFL |
|||
|align="center"|AFC |
|||
|align="center"|East |
|||
|align="center" bgcolor="#96CDCD"|2nd |
|||
|align="center"|10 |
|||
|align="center"|4 |
|||
|align="center"|0 |
|||
|'''Won''' [[1971–72 NFL playoffs#AFC: Baltimore Colts 20, Cleveland Browns 3|Divisional Playoffs]] ([[1971 Cleveland Browns season|Browns]]) 20–3<br>Lost [[1971–72 NFL playoffs#AFC: Miami Dolphins 21, Baltimore Colts 0|Conference Championship]] ([[1971 Miami Dolphins season|Dolphins]]) 21–0 |
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| |
|||
|- |
|||
!align="center"|{{nfly|1972}} |
|||
|align="center"|[[1972 Baltimore Colts season|1972]] |
|||
|align="center"|NFL |
|||
|align="center"|AFC |
|||
|align="center"|East |
|||
|align="center"|3rd |
|||
|align="center"|5 |
|||
|align="center"|9 |
|||
|align="center"|0 |
|||
| |
|||
| |
|||
|- |
|||
!align="center"|{{nfly|1973}} |
|||
|align="center"|[[1973 Baltimore Colts season|1973]] |
|||
|align="center"|NFL |
|||
|align="center"|AFC |
|||
|align="center"|East |
|||
|align="center"|4th |
|||
|align="center"|4 |
|||
|align="center"|10 |
|||
|align="center"|0 |
|||
| |
|||
| |
|||
|- |
|||
!align="center"|{{nfly|1974}} |
|||
|align="center"|[[1974 Baltimore Colts season|1974]] |
|||
|align="center"|NFL |
|||
|align="center"|AFC |
|||
|align="center"|East |
|||
|align="center"|5th |
|||
|align="center"|2 |
|||
|align="center"|12 |
|||
|align="center"|0 |
|||
| |
|||
| |
|||
|- |
|||
!align="center"|{{nfly|1975}} |
|||
|align="center"|[[1975 Baltimore Colts season|1975]] |
|||
|align="center"|NFL |
|||
|align="center"|AFC |
|||
|align="center" style="background: #D0E7FF;"|'''East''' |
|||
|align="center" style="background: #D0E7FF;"|'''1st'''{{ref label|1975Tiebreaker|f|f}} |
|||
|align="center"|10 |
|||
|align="center"|4 |
|||
|align="center"|0 |
|||
|Lost [[1975–76 NFL playoffs#AFC: Pittsburgh Steelers 28, Baltimore Colts 10|Divisional Playoffs]] ([[1975 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Steelers]]) 28–10 |
|||
|[[Ted Marchibroda]] ([[NFL Coach of the Year|COY]])<ref>{{cite news|title=Marchibroda is top coach|work=Rome News-Tribune|agency=Associated Press|date=January 11, 1976|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2AUvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QTMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2435,1100696|access-date=December 19, 2010}}</ref> |
|||
|- |
|||
!align="center"|{{nfly|1976}} |
|||
|align="center"|[[1976 Baltimore Colts season|1976]] |
|||
|align="center"|NFL |
|||
|align="center"|AFC |
|||
|align="center" style="background: #D0E7FF;"|'''East''' |
|||
|align="center" style="background: #D0E7FF;"|'''1st'''{{ref label|1976Tiebreaker|g|g}} |
|||
|align="center"|11 |
|||
|align="center"|3 |
|||
|align="center"|0 |
|||
|Lost [[1976–77 NFL playoffs#AFC: Pittsburgh Steelers 40, Baltimore Colts 14|Divisional Playoffs]] ([[1976 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Steelers]]) 40–14 |
|||
|[[Bert Jones]] ([[NFL MVP|MVP]], [[National Football League Offensive Player of the Year Award|OPOY]])<ref>{{cite news|title=Colts' quarterback Bert Jones named 'Most Valuable Player'|work=Daily Union|agency=Associated Press|date=December 30, 1976|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=N3JAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9lYMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5148,7098797|access-date=December 19, 2010}}</ref> |
|||
|- |
|||
!align="center"|{{nfly|1977}} |
|||
|align="center"|[[1977 Baltimore Colts season|1977]] |
|||
|align="center"|NFL |
|||
|align="center"|AFC |
|||
|align="center" style="background: #D0E7FF;"|'''East''' |
|||
|align="center" style="background: #D0E7FF;"|'''1st'''{{ref label|1977Tiebreaker|h|h}} |
|||
|align="center"|10 |
|||
|align="center"|4 |
|||
|align="center"|0 |
|||
|Lost [[1977–78 NFL playoffs#AFC: Oakland Raiders 37, Baltimore Colts 31 (2OT)|Divisional Playoffs]] ([[1977 Oakland Raiders season|Raiders]]) 37–31 <small>(2OT)</small>{{ref label|Ghost|i|i}} |
|||
| |
|||
|- |
|||
!align="center"|{{nfly|1978}} |
|||
|align="center"|[[1978 Baltimore Colts season|1978]] |
|||
|align="center"|NFL |
|||
|align="center"|AFC |
|||
|align="center"|East |
|||
|align="center"|5th |
|||
|align="center"|5 |
|||
|align="center"|11 |
|||
|align="center"|0 |
|||
| |
|||
| |
|||
|- |
|||
!align="center"|{{nfly|1979}} |
|||
|align="center"|[[1979 Baltimore Colts season|1979]] |
|||
|align="center"|NFL |
|||
|align="center"|AFC |
|||
|align="center"|East |
|||
|align="center"|5th |
|||
|align="center"|5 |
|||
|align="center"|11 |
|||
|align="center"|0 |
|||
| |
|||
| |
|||
|- |
|||
!align="center"|{{nfly|1980}} |
|||
|align="center"|[[1980 Baltimore Colts season|1980]] |
|||
|align="center"|NFL |
|||
|align="center"|AFC |
|||
|align="center"|East |
|||
|align="center"|4th |
|||
|align="center"|7 |
|||
|align="center"|9 |
|||
|align="center"|0 |
|||
| |
|||
| |
|||
|- |
|||
!align="center"|{{nfly|1981}} |
|||
|align="center"|[[1981 Baltimore Colts season|1981]] |
|||
|align="center"|NFL |
|||
|align="center"|AFC |
|||
|align="center"|East |
|||
|align="center"|4th |
|||
|align="center"|2 |
|||
|align="center"|14 |
|||
|align="center"|0 |
|||
| |
|||
| |
|||
|- |
|||
!align="center"|{{nfly|1982}} |
|||
|align="center"|[[1982 Baltimore Colts season|1982]] |
|||
|align="center"|NFL |
|||
|align="center"|AFC |
|||
|align="center"|{{ref label|1982Strike|j|j}} |
|||
|align="center"|14th |
|||
|align="center"|0 |
|||
|align="center"|8 |
|||
|align="center"|1 |
|||
| |
|||
| |
|||
|- |
|||
!align="center"|{{nfly|1983}} |
|||
|align="center"|[[1983 Baltimore Colts season|1983]] |
|||
|align="center"|NFL |
|||
|align="center"|AFC |
|||
|align="center"|East |
|||
|align="center"|4th |
|||
|align="center"|7 |
|||
|align="center"|9 |
|||
|align="center"|0 |
|||
| |
|||
|[[Vernon Leroy Maxwell]] ([[National Football League Rookie of the Year Award#AP Defensive Rookies of the Year|DROY]])<ref>{{cite news|title=Colts' linebacker named Defensive Rookie of Year|work=The Sumter Daily Item|agency=Associated Press|date=December 22, 1983|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aaEiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vaoFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1583,9415766|access-date=December 19, 2010}}</ref> |
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|- |
|||
|} |
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===All-time records=== |
|||
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%" |
|||
|- |
|||
!style="{{NFLPrimaryColor|Indianapolis Colts}}; {{NFLSecondaryColor|Indianapolis Colts}};" |Statistic |
|||
!style="{{NFLPrimaryColor|Indianapolis Colts}}; {{NFLSecondaryColor|Indianapolis Colts}};" |Wins |
|||
!style="{{NFLPrimaryColor|Indianapolis Colts}}; {{NFLSecondaryColor|Indianapolis Colts}};" |Losses |
|||
!style="{{NFLPrimaryColor|Indianapolis Colts}}; {{NFLSecondaryColor|Indianapolis Colts}};" |Ties |
|||
!style="{{NFLPrimaryColor|Indianapolis Colts}}; {{NFLSecondaryColor|Indianapolis Colts}};" |Win% |
|||
|- |
|||
|Baltimore Colts regular season record (1953–1983) |
|||
|222 |
|||
|194 |
|||
|7 |
|||
|{{Winning percentage|222|194|7}} |
|||
|- |
|||
|Baltimore Colts post-season record (1953–1983) |
|||
|8 |
|||
|7 |
|||
|— |
|||
|{{Winning percentage|8|7}} |
|||
|- |
|||
|'''All-time regular and post-season record''' |
|||
|'''230''' |
|||
|'''201''' |
|||
|'''7''' |
|||
|'''{{Winning percentage|230|201|7}}''' |
|||
|} |
|||
===Retired numbers=== |
|||
Includes players that '''only''' played in Baltimore |
|||
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |
|||
|- |
|||
| colspan="4" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Indianapolis Colts}};"|'''Baltimore Colts retired numbers''' |
|||
|- |
|||
! width=40px style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Indianapolis Colts}};"|No. |
|||
! width=150px style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Indianapolis Colts}};"|Player |
|||
! width=40px style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Indianapolis Colts}};"|Position |
|||
! width=100px style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Indianapolis Colts}};"|Years played |
|||
|- |
|||
| '''19''' || [[Johnny Unitas]] || [[Quarterback|QB]] || 1956–1972 |
|||
|- |
|||
| '''22''' || [[Buddy Young]] || [[Running back|RB]] || 1953–1955 |
|||
|- |
|||
| '''24''' || [[Lenny Moore]] || [[Halfback (American football)|HB]] || 1956–1967 |
|||
|- |
|||
| '''70''' || [[Art Donovan]] || [[Defensive tackle|DT]] || 1953–1961 |
|||
|- |
|||
| '''77''' || [[Jim Parker (American football)|Jim Parker]] || [[Offensive lineman|OL]] || 1957–1967 |
|||
|- |
|||
| '''82''' || [[Raymond Berry]] || [[Wide receiver|WR]] || 1955–1967 |
|||
|- |
|||
| '''89''' || [[Gino Marchetti]] || [[Defensive end|DE]] || 1953–1966 |
|||
|- |
|||
|} |
|||
===Pro Football Hall of Famers=== |
|||
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |
|||
|- |
|||
!colspan="10" style={{NFLPrimaryStyle|Indianapolis Colts}};"|'''Baltimore Colts Hall of Famers''' |
|||
|- |
|||
! colspan="10" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Indianapolis Colts}};"|Players |
|||
|- |
|||
! No. |
|||
! Name |
|||
! Positions |
|||
! Seasons |
|||
! style="border-right:3px solid #002C5F"|Inducted |
|||
! No. |
|||
! Name |
|||
! Positions |
|||
! Seasons |
|||
! Inducted |
|||
|- |
|||
| 82|| [[Raymond Berry]]|| [[Wide receiver|WR]]||1955–1967 || style="border-right:3px solid #002C5F"|1973 || 24|| [[Lenny Moore]]|| [[Halfback (American football)|HB]]||1956–1967 || 1975 |
|||
|- |
|||
| 70|| [[Art Donovan]]|| [[Defensive tackle|DT]]||1953–1961 || style="border-right:3px solid #002C5F"|1968 || 77|| [[Jim Parker (American football)|Jim Parker]]|| [[Offensive lineman|OL]]||1957–1967 || 1973 |
|||
|- |
|||
| 83|| [[Ted Hendricks]]|| [[Linebacker|LB]]||1969–1973 || style="border-right:3px solid #002C5F"|1990 || 34|| [[Joe Perry (American football)|Joe Perry]]|| [[Fullback (gridiron football)|FB]]||1961–1962 || 1969 |
|||
|- |
|||
| 88|| [[John Mackey (American football)|John Mackey]]|| [[Tight end|TE]]||1963–1971 || style="border-right:3px solid #002C5F"|1992 || 19|| [[Johnny Unitas]]|| [[Quarterback|QB]]||1956–1972 || 1979 |
|||
|- |
|||
| 89|| [[Gino Marchetti]]|| [[Defensive end|DE]]||1953–1964<br>1966 || style="border-right:3px solid #002C5F"|1972 |
|||
|- |
|||
! colspan="10" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Indianapolis Colts}};"|Coaches and executives |
|||
|- |
|||
! colspan="2"|Name |
|||
!Positions |
|||
!Tenure |
|||
!Inducted |
|||
! colspan="5"|Notes |
|||
|- align=center |
|||
| colspan="2"|[[Weeb Ewbank]] || Coach || 1954–1962 || 1978 || colspan="5"| |
|||
|- align=center |
|||
| colspan="2"|[[Mike McCormack (American football)|Mike McCormack]] || Coach || 1980–1981 || 1984 || colspan="5"|Inducted for playing Offensive tackle |
|||
|- align=center |
|||
| colspan="2"|[[Don Shula]] || Coach || 1963–1969 || 1997 || colspan="5"|Shula was also a defensive back for Baltimore (1953–1956) |
|||
|- align=center |
|||
|} |
|||
==Notes== |
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*{{note label|Columns|a|a}}The Finish, Won, Lost, and Ties columns list regular season results and exclude any postseason play. Regular season and postseason results are combined only at the bottom of the list. |
|||
*{{note label|MVP|b|b}}All regular season MVPs listed are the Associated Press MVP. For the full list of other MVPs see [[National Football League Most Valuable Player Award]]. |
|||
*{{note label|COY|c|c}}All Coach of the Year Awards listed are the Associated Press award. For the full list of other coaching awards see [[National Football League Coach of the Year Award]]. |
|||
*{{note label|Greatest|d|d}}This game would be later known as [[NFL Championship Game, 1958|The Greatest Game Ever Played]].<ref>{{cite web|title=History Release: Greatest game ever played|publisher=Pro Football Hall of Fame|url=http://www.profootballhof.com/history/release.aspx?release_id=1805|access-date=January 1, 2011}}</ref> |
|||
*{{note label|1967Season|e|e}}The [[1967 NFL season]] marks the first season in the league's history where the league was divided into two conferences which were subdivided into two divisions. Up to 1967, the league was either divided into two divisions, two conferences, or neither.<ref>{{cite book|title=2000 National Football League Record & Fact Book|publisher=Workman Publishing Company|year=2000|location=New York City|pages=[https://archive.org/details/official2000nati00nati/page/295 295–299]|isbn=0-7611-1982-5|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/official2000nati00nati/page/295}}</ref> |
|||
*{{note label|1975Tiebreaker|f|f}}The Colts and Dolphins finished tied. However, the Colts finished ahead of Miami in the AFC East based on a head-to-head sweep (2–0).<ref>''2000 National Football League Record & Fact Book'', p. 294.</ref> |
|||
*{{note label|1976Tiebreaker|g|g}}The Colts and Patriots finished tied. However, the Colts finished ahead of New England based on a better division record (7–1 to Patriots' 6–2).<ref name="NFL293">''2000 National Football League Record & Fact Book'', p. 293.</ref> |
|||
*{{note label|1977Tiebreaker|h|h}}The Colts and Dolphins finished tied. However, the Colts finished ahead of Miami based on better conference record (9–3 to Dolphins' 8–4).<ref name="NFL293"/> |
|||
*{{note label|Ghost|i|i}}The game involved the infamous [[Ghost to the Post]] play.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Reid|first=Ron|title=The Ghost To The Post|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=January 2, 1978|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1093205/index.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091126004141/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1093205/index.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 26, 2009|access-date=January 2, 2011}}</ref> |
|||
*{{note label|1982Strike|j|j}}1982 was a strike-shortened season so the league was divided up into two conferences instead of its normal divisional alignment.<ref>''2000 National Football League Record & Fact Book'', p. 292.</ref> |
|||
==References== |
==References== |
||
{{reflist}} |
{{reflist|30em}} |
||
{{Indianapolis Colts}} |
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{{1953 Baltimore Colts}} |
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{{1958 Baltimore Colts}} |
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{{1959 Baltimore Colts}} |
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{{1968 Baltimore Colts}} |
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{{Super Bowl V}} |
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[[Category:American football]] |
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[[Category:History of Indianapolis, Indiana]] |
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[[Category:National Football League history by team]] |
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[[Category:Baltimore Colts]] |
[[Category:Baltimore Colts]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:History of Baltimore|C]] |
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[[Category:History of the Indianapolis Colts|B]] |
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Latest revision as of 03:23, 27 December 2024
| Baltimore Colts | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||
| Established 1953 Ended 1983 Played in Baltimore, Maryland | |||||
| League / conference affiliations | |||||
National Football League (1953–1983)
| |||||
| Uniforms | |||||
| Team colors | Royal blue, white, silver | ||||
| Personnel | |||||
| Owner(s) | Carroll Rosenbloom (1953–1972) Robert Irsay (1972–1983) | ||||
| Head coach | Keith Molesworth (1953) Weeb Ewbank (1954–1962) Don Shula (1963–1969) Don McCafferty (1970–1972) John Sandusky (1972) Howard Schnellenberger (1973–1974) Joe Thomas (1974) Ted Marchibroda (1975–1979) Mike McCormack (1980–1981) Frank Kush (1982–1983) | ||||
| Team history | |||||
| |||||
| Championships | |||||
League championships (3†)
| |||||
| Conference championships (5) | |||||
| Division championships (5) | |||||
| Playoff appearances (10) | |||||
| Home fields | |||||
| |||||
The Baltimore Colts were a professional American football team that played in Baltimore from 1953 to 1983, when owner Robert Irsay moved the franchise to Indianapolis. The team was named for Baltimore's history of horse breeding and racing. It was the second incarnation of the Baltimore Colts, the first having played for three years in the All-America Football Conference and one in the National Football League (NFL). This Baltimore Colts played their home games at Memorial Stadium.
AAFC Baltimore Colts
[edit] |
As the result of a fan contest in Baltimore, won by Charles Evans of Middle River in suburban eastern Baltimore County, the team was renamed the "Baltimore Colts". On September 7, 1947, wearing the green and silver uniforms, the Colts, under Head Coach Cecil Isbell, won their initial All-America Football Conference game in the A.A.F.C.'s second season, 16–7, over the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Home site for the new AAFC games in "The Monumental City" was the old 1922 Municipal Stadium (also known as "Baltimore Stadium" or "Venable Stadium" - located in previous Venable Park) on the north side of 33rd Street boulevard in northeast Baltimore, later renovated and rebuilt with an upper tier added the following year for use also by the new American League of major league baseball's relocated franchise, the Baltimore Orioles). The football team concluded its inaugural season before a record Baltimore crowd of 51,583 by losing to the New York Yankees, 21–7. The Colts finished with a 2–11–1 record, good for a fourth-place finish in the Eastern Division of the A.A.F.C. The Colts completed the 1948 season with a 7–8 record, tying the Buffalo Bills for the division title. The Colts compiled a 1–11 mark in their third season of 1949. Y. A. Tittle, later to gain Hall of Fame status a decade later with the NFL's New York Giants, was the Colts starting quarterback.
After four years of inter-league rivalry, competition, and player contract raiding, the A.A.F.C. and N.F.L. merged in 1950, and the Colts joined the reorganized new NFL, along with the San Francisco 49ers and the Cleveland Browns. After posting a 1–11 record for the second consecutive year, the NFL franchise of just one season was dissolved by the League on January 18, 1951. But many Baltimore fans protested the loss of their team and continued to support the marching band (the second in professional football, after that of the Washington Redskins) and fan club, both of which remained in operation ("in exile" status) and worked for the team's revival.
After two seasons without professional football, NFL Commissioner Bert Bell challenged the City of Baltimore under Mayor Thomas L. J. D'Alesandro Jr., in December 1952 to sell 15,000 season tickets within six weeks in order to re-enter the NFL. That 15,000-ticket quota was reached in just four weeks and three days.
Dallas Texans
[edit]The 1953 iteration of the Baltimore Colts traces its roots back to the New York Yanks of the NFL, who played in Yankee Stadium in 1950 and 1951. Owner Ted Collins then turned the money-losing franchise back to the league, which sold it to Texan oil millionaire Giles Miller.
Miller moved the team to Dallas, where it played the 1952 NFL season as the Dallas Texans, with team colors of blue and white. This marked the first expansion of the NFL into Texas and the southern part of the United States. Fans stayed away from the bad Texans team in droves and on November 14, 1952, the Texans owner returned team ownership of the NFL during mid-season.
On January 23, 1953, with the encouragement of the city's civic and business leadership, under the principal ownership of Carroll Rosenbloom, the NFL sold the assets of the defunct Dallas Texans franchise to Baltimore where, keeping the "Colts" nickname, the Texans team colors of blue and white were used. This is the franchise that exists today in Indianapolis in the modern National Football League.[1]
In Baltimore
[edit]1953–1967: Johnny Unitas era
[edit]
In 1953, the second incarnation of the Baltimore Colts took the field for the first time at Memorial Stadium (also used temporarily by the old Baltimore Orioles minor league team in the International League since the burning in July 1944 of their Oriole Park home farther southeast at Greenmount Avenue and 29th Street in Waverly). The stadium was being rebuilt and adding a second upper tier to old Municipal Stadium for use by the following year of Major League Baseball's Baltimore Orioles franchise in the American League, which moved that November from St. Louis, Missouri, where it had been the St. Louis Browns. The 33rd Street field was sometimes called "Baltimore Stadium" or "Venable Stadium" for its location in the former Venable Park along the north side of the 33rd Street boulevard. It was built as a football-only bowl in 1922 in only seven months and later expanded to hold almost 100,000 fans for the frequent high school and local collegiate/university games there during the following three decades), on September 27 to face off against the Chicago Bears. The Colts would go on to win the game 13–9 and stun the Bears. The team's lack of experience showed as the team finished 3–9. In 1955, the Colts had 12 rookies make the team. In 1956, quarterback George Shaw went down with a serious injury in the fourth game of the season. The Colts' unproven backup, Johnny Unitas, would go on to win half the remaining eight games to give the Colts a record of 5–7 for the season.
The Colts won their first NFL Championship in 1958, in a game widely known as the "Greatest Game Ever Played" for its dramatic conclusion. Quarterback Johnny Unitas marched the Colts downfield in sudden death overtime and Alan Ameche scored the winning touchdown on a 1-yard run. Much of the credit for Baltimore's success went to Hall of Famers Johnny Unitas, halfback Lenny Moore, and wide receiver Raymond Berry.
Following the Colts' first NFL championship, the team once again posted a 9–3 record during the 1959 season and once again defeated the Giants in the NFL Championship Game to claim their second title in back to back fashion.[2] Following the two championships in 1958 and 1959, the Colts did not return to the NFL Championship for four seasons and saw a transition from head coach Ewbank to a young Don Shula in 1963.[3] In Shula's second season the Colts compiled a 12–2 record, but lost 27–0 to the Cleveland Browns in the NFL Championship. In 1965 the Colts played the Green Bay Packers in a playoff to determine who would go to the NFL Championship game. The Colts were leading 10–7 over the Green Bay Packers with two minutes left to play when the Packers' kicker, Don Chandler seemed to barely miss a field goal.[4] The referee called it good and the Packers went on to win the game in overtime. The error precipitated changes to the rules: the NFL decided two referees would judge future field goals, and that the uprights should be raised by ten feet. In 1968 the Colts returned with the continued leadership of Unitas and Shula and went on to win the Colts' third NFL Championship and made an appearance in Super Bowl III. In 1968, Unitas was injured and replaced by Earl Morrall who became the league's MVP.
1968–1972: Merger and Super Bowl V
[edit]
Leading up to the Super Bowl and following the 34–0 trouncing of the Cleveland Browns in the NFL Championship, many were calling the 1968 Colts team one of the "greatest pro football teams of all time"[5] and were favored by 18 points against their counterparts from the American Football League, the New York Jets.[6] The Colts were stunned by the Jets, who won the game 16–7 in the first Super Bowl victory for the young AFL. The result of the game surprised many in the sports media[7] as Joe Namath and Matt Snell led the Jets to the Super Bowl victory under head coach Weeb Ewbank, who had previously won two NFL Championships with the Colts.
Rosenbloom of the Colts, Art Modell of the Browns, and Art Rooney of the Pittsburgh Steelers agreed to have their teams join the ten AFL teams in the AFC as part of the AFL–NFL merger in 1970.[2] Rosenbloom hired AFL expert and hugely successful General Manager Don Klosterman who was the architect of both the KC Chiefs' Super Bowl '60s victory teams, the Oilers turnaround from bottom dweller to division champion in '67, and the original Chargers' personnel man whose teams took 2nd the first two years in the new AFL and won the AFL in 1963. The Colts immediately went on a rampage in the new league, as new head coach Don McCafferty led the 1970 team to an 11–2–1 regular-season record, winning the AFC East title. In the first round of the NFL Playoffs, the Colts beat the Cincinnati Bengals 17–0; one week later in the first-ever AFC Championship Game, they beat the Oakland Raiders 27–17. Baltimore went on to win the first post-merger Super Bowl (Super Bowl V), defeating the NFC's Dallas Cowboys 16–13 on a Jim O'Brien field goal with five seconds left to play.[8] The victory gave the Colts their fourth NFL championship and first Super Bowl victory. Following the championship, the Colts returned to the playoffs in 1971, winning their opening playoff game against the Browns 20–3, but lost in the second AFC Championship Game in Miami 21–0.
1972–1976: Bob Irsay arrives and “Shake n’ Bake”
[edit]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.[9] Under the new ownership, the Colts did not reach the postseason for three consecutive seasons after 1971, and after the 1972 season, starting quarterback and legend Johnny Unitas was traded to the San Diego Chargers.[2] Following Unitas' departure, the Colts made the playoffs three consecutive seasons from 1975 to 1977, losing in the divisional round each time. The Colts' 1977 playoff loss in double overtime against the Oakland Raiders was famous in that it was the last playoff game for the Colts in Baltimore and is also known for the Ghost to the Post play. These consecutive playoff teams featured 1976 NFL Most Valuable Player Bert Jones at quarterback and an outstanding defensive line, nicknamed the "Sack Pack."
1976–1983: Last days
[edit]Following this relative success in the 1970s, the Colts suffered a string of disappointing seasons, often finishing in last place in their division. Attendance began to dwindle in the early 1970s and remained that way for the rest of the team's tenure in Baltimore. The Colts would endure nine consecutive losing seasons beginning in 1978. In 1981, the Colts defense allowed an NFL-record 533 points, set an all-time record for fewest sacks (13), and also set a modern record for fewest punt returns (12).[10] The following year, the offense collapsed, including a game against the Buffalo Bills where the Colts' offense did not cross mid-field the entire game. The Colts finished 0–8–1 in the strike-shortened 1982 season, thereby earning the right to select Stanford quarterback John Elway with the first overall pick. Elway refused to play for Baltimore, and using leverage as a draftee of the New York Yankees baseball club, forced a trade to Denver.[11] Behind an improved defense the team finished 7–9 in 1983, but that would be their last season in Baltimore.
Move to Indianapolis
[edit]The city of Indianapolis, Indiana, made an offer for the Colts franchise to move there. Baltimore was unsuccessful at persuading them to stay, so the city government attempted to get the state legislature to condemn the Colts franchise and give ownership to another group that would promise to keep the Colts in Baltimore. Oakland, California, had just had some success in court trying the same tactic with the Oakland Raiders. Under the threat of eminent domain from the city of Baltimore, the franchise moved to Indianapolis in the middle of the night on March 29, 1984.
The city of Baltimore did not give up and sued to condemn the franchise anyway and seize ownership. Baltimore did not prevail in court,[12] but eventually acquired a new NFL team in 1996 with the establishment of the Baltimore Ravens following the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy.
Many former Colts players were infuriated by the move. Among the most notable was Johnny Unitas, who opted to cut all ties with his former team after the incident.[13] Unitas aligned himself with the Ravens when they moved to Baltimore, and a statue of him was placed outside of M&T Bank Stadium.[14] On the other hand, Colts owner Jim Irsay held a reunion for the 1975 AFC East champion Baltimore Colts in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium in 2009. 39 of the 53 members of that team attended the ceremony, including Bert Jones, Lydell Mitchell, and Mike Curtis.
Continuity
[edit]The NFL treats the Baltimore Colts and the Indianapolis Colts (including logos, history, and records) as one continuous franchise since 1953. Despite this, many former Baltimore Colts players, led by Johnny Unitas, disowned the Colts franchise after the move to Indianapolis, instead choosing to remain loyal to the City of Baltimore. These former players embraced the new Baltimore Ravens franchise when it arrived in Baltimore in 1996.[14][15][16] The Ravens do claim the history of the Baltimore Colts as part of their own and have added the Baltimore Colt Hall of Famers to the Baltimore Ravens Ring of Honor. The Ravens officially have no retired numbers,[17] but out of respect for Unitas, only quarterback Scott Mitchell has worn the number 19, which he did in his lone season in Baltimore in 1999. The Baltimore Colts Marching Band, which continued to operate after the Colts moved, became Baltimore's Marching Ravens.
On the other hand, there have been many former Baltimore Colts players who have embraced the franchise as continuous, from Baltimore to Indianapolis. In 2009, Jim Irsay held a reunion of his favorite Colts team ever, the 1975 AFC East champions. Thirty-nine of the 50 players on that roster attended the reunion at Lucas Oil Stadium, including quarterback Bert Jones and running back Lydell Mitchell. Also, On February 5, 2012, at Super Bowl XLVI, Hall-of-Fame Baltimore Colts wide receiver Raymond Berry carried the Vince Lombardi Trophy to midfield to present it to the New York Giants, who had just defeated the New England Patriots.[18] He was given the honor due to the game being played at Lucas Oil Stadium, where the Colts have played since 2008.
Although the retired numbers of the Indianapolis Colts officially includes Unitas and others dating back to the Baltimore days,[17] the Indianapolis Colts Ring of Honor currently only includes players who have played in Indianapolis, with the exception of Chris Hinton, who played for the Baltimore Colts in his rookie season in 1983.
Records
[edit]| NFL champions (1920–1969) | Super Bowl champions (1970–present) | Conference champions | Division champions | Wild card berth | One-game playoff berth |
| Season | Team | League | Conference | Division | Regular season[a] | Postseason results | Awards[b][c] | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finish | Won | Lost | Ties | |||||||
| Baltimore Colts | ||||||||||
| 1953 | 1953 | NFL | Western | — | 5th | 3 | 9 | 0 | ||
| 1954 | 1954 | NFL | Western | — | 6th | 3 | 9 | 0 | ||
| 1955 | 1955 | NFL | Western | — | 4th | 5 | 6 | 1 | Alan Ameche (OROY)[19] | |
| 1956 | 1956 | NFL | Western | — | 4th | 5 | 7 | 0 | Lenny Moore (OROY)[20] | |
| 1957 | 1957 | NFL | Western | — | 3rd | 7 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 1958 | 1958 | NFL | Western | — | 1st | 9 | 3 | 0 | Won NFL Championship (1) (Giants) 23–17 | Weeb Ewbank (COY) |
| 1959 | 1959 | NFL | Western | — | 1st | 9 | 3 | 0 | Won NFL Championship (2) (Giants) 31–16 | |
| 1960 | 1960 | NFL | Western | — | 4th | 6 | 6 | 0 | ||
| 1961 | 1961 | NFL | Western | — | 3rd | 8 | 6 | 0 | ||
| 1962 | 1962 | NFL | Western | — | 4th | 7 | 7 | 0 | ||
| 1963 | 1963 | NFL | Western | — | 3rd | 8 | 6 | 0 | ||
| 1964 | 1964 | NFL | Western | — | 1st | 12 | 2 | 0 | Lost NFL Championship (Browns) 27–0 | Johnny Unitas (MVP)[21] Don Shula (COY)[22] |
| 1965 | 1965 | NFL | Western | — | 2nd | 10 | 3 | 1 | Lost Conference Playoff Game (Packers) 13–10 | |
| 1966 | 1966 | NFL | Western | — | 2nd | 9 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 1967[e] | 1967 | NFL | Western | Coastal | 2nd | 11 | 1 | 2 | Johnny Unitas (MVP)[21] Don Shula (COY)[22] | |
| 1968 | 1968 | NFL | Western | Coastal | 1st | 13 | 1 | 0 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Vikings) 24–14 Won NFL Championship (Browns) 34–0 Lost Super Bowl III (Jets) 16–7 |
Earl Morrall (MVP)[23] Don Shula (COY)[22] |
| 1969 | 1969 | NFL | Western | Coastal | 2nd | 8 | 5 | 1 | ||
| 1970 | 1970 | NFL | AFC | East | 1st | 11 | 2 | 1 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Bengals) 17–0 Won Conference Championship (Raiders) 27–17 Won Super Bowl V (3) (Cowboys) 16–13 |
Johnny Unitas (WP MOY)[24] |
| 1971 | 1971 | NFL | AFC | East | 2nd | 10 | 4 | 0 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Browns) 20–3 Lost Conference Championship (Dolphins) 21–0 |
|
| 1972 | 1972 | NFL | AFC | East | 3rd | 5 | 9 | 0 | ||
| 1973 | 1973 | NFL | AFC | East | 4th | 4 | 10 | 0 | ||
| 1974 | 1974 | NFL | AFC | East | 5th | 2 | 12 | 0 | ||
| 1975 | 1975 | NFL | AFC | East | 1st[f] | 10 | 4 | 0 | Lost Divisional Playoffs (Steelers) 28–10 | Ted Marchibroda (COY)[25] |
| 1976 | 1976 | NFL | AFC | East | 1st[g] | 11 | 3 | 0 | Lost Divisional Playoffs (Steelers) 40–14 | Bert Jones (MVP, OPOY)[26] |
| 1977 | 1977 | NFL | AFC | East | 1st[h] | 10 | 4 | 0 | Lost Divisional Playoffs (Raiders) 37–31 (2OT)[i] | |
| 1978 | 1978 | NFL | AFC | East | 5th | 5 | 11 | 0 | ||
| 1979 | 1979 | NFL | AFC | East | 5th | 5 | 11 | 0 | ||
| 1980 | 1980 | NFL | AFC | East | 4th | 7 | 9 | 0 | ||
| 1981 | 1981 | NFL | AFC | East | 4th | 2 | 14 | 0 | ||
| 1982 | 1982 | NFL | AFC | [j] | 14th | 0 | 8 | 1 | ||
| 1983 | 1983 | NFL | AFC | East | 4th | 7 | 9 | 0 | Vernon Leroy Maxwell (DROY)[27] | |
All-time records
[edit]| Statistic | Wins | Losses | Ties | Win% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Colts regular season record (1953–1983) | 222 | 194 | 7 | .533 |
| Baltimore Colts post-season record (1953–1983) | 8 | 7 | — | .533 |
| All-time regular and post-season record | 230 | 201 | 7 | .533 |
Retired numbers
[edit]Includes players that only played in Baltimore
| Baltimore Colts retired numbers | |||
| No. | Player | Position | Years played |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | Johnny Unitas | QB | 1956–1972 |
| 22 | Buddy Young | RB | 1953–1955 |
| 24 | Lenny Moore | HB | 1956–1967 |
| 70 | Art Donovan | DT | 1953–1961 |
| 77 | Jim Parker | OL | 1957–1967 |
| 82 | Raymond Berry | WR | 1955–1967 |
| 89 | Gino Marchetti | DE | 1953–1966 |
Pro Football Hall of Famers
[edit]| Baltimore Colts Hall of Famers | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | |||||||||
| No. | Name | Positions | Seasons | Inducted | No. | Name | Positions | Seasons | Inducted |
| 82 | Raymond Berry | WR | 1955–1967 | 1973 | 24 | Lenny Moore | HB | 1956–1967 | 1975 |
| 70 | Art Donovan | DT | 1953–1961 | 1968 | 77 | Jim Parker | OL | 1957–1967 | 1973 |
| 83 | Ted Hendricks | LB | 1969–1973 | 1990 | 34 | Joe Perry | FB | 1961–1962 | 1969 |
| 88 | John Mackey | TE | 1963–1971 | 1992 | 19 | Johnny Unitas | QB | 1956–1972 | 1979 |
| 89 | Gino Marchetti | DE | 1953–1964 1966 |
1972 | |||||
| Coaches and executives | |||||||||
| Name | Positions | Tenure | Inducted | Notes | |||||
| Weeb Ewbank | Coach | 1954–1962 | 1978 | ||||||
| Mike McCormack | Coach | 1980–1981 | 1984 | Inducted for playing Offensive tackle | |||||
| Don Shula | Coach | 1963–1969 | 1997 | Shula was also a defensive back for Baltimore (1953–1956) | |||||
Notes
[edit]- a The Finish, Won, Lost, and Ties columns list regular season results and exclude any postseason play. Regular season and postseason results are combined only at the bottom of the list.
- b All regular season MVPs listed are the Associated Press MVP. For the full list of other MVPs see National Football League Most Valuable Player Award.
- c All Coach of the Year Awards listed are the Associated Press award. For the full list of other coaching awards see National Football League Coach of the Year Award.
- d This game would be later known as The Greatest Game Ever Played.[28]
- e The 1967 NFL season marks the first season in the league's history where the league was divided into two conferences which were subdivided into two divisions. Up to 1967, the league was either divided into two divisions, two conferences, or neither.[29]
- f The Colts and Dolphins finished tied. However, the Colts finished ahead of Miami in the AFC East based on a head-to-head sweep (2–0).[30]
- g The Colts and Patriots finished tied. However, the Colts finished ahead of New England based on a better division record (7–1 to Patriots' 6–2).[31]
- h The Colts and Dolphins finished tied. However, the Colts finished ahead of Miami based on better conference record (9–3 to Dolphins' 8–4).[31]
- i The game involved the infamous Ghost to the Post play.[32]
- j 1982 was a strike-shortened season so the league was divided up into two conferences instead of its normal divisional alignment.[33]
References
[edit]- ^ "A look at the history of the Indianapolis Colts". Archived from the original on December 25, 2010. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
- ^ a b c "Baltimore Colts: Historical Moments". Sports Encyclopedia. Retrieved July 5, 2012.
- ^ Cole, Jason (December 30, 2009). "Ewbank overlooked figure of AFL glory". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved July 5, 2012.
- ^ John F. Steadman, From Colts to Ravens. 1997 Tidewater Publishers, pp 164-167
- ^ "Top 15 Team Not to Win the Super Bowl:1968 Baltimore Colts (13–1)". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on February 4, 2011. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
- ^ Shaughnessy, Dan (January 19, 2010). "There's plenty of history between AFC finalists Jets and Colts". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on January 21, 2010. Retrieved July 5, 2012.
- ^ Brady, Dave (January 13, 1969). "Jets Shock Colts in Super Bowl, 16–7". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
- ^ Milian, Jorge (February 1, 2010). "Remembering Super Bowl V: Baltimore Colts' Jim O'Brien got a win and a future wife". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved July 5, 2012.
- ^ Maule, Tex (August 14, 1972). "Nay on the neighs, yea on the baas; Fed up with his Colts, Carroll Rosenbloom traded for the Rams". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 5, 2012.
- ^ "1981 Baltimore Colts Statistics". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
- ^ Blanchat, Jack (May 3, 2012). "Football: A look back at Stanford's other No. 1 picks". The Stanford Daily. Retrieved July 5, 2012.
- ^ Mayor & City Council of Baltimore v. Indianapolis Colts, 624 F. Supp. 278 (D. Md. 1985)
- ^ SIMERS, T. J. (January 13, 1996). "Scratch These Colts : Unitas and Matte Don't Think About How Their Former Team Is Doing, Because They Don't Consider Indianapolis Their Former Team". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 12, 2017.
- ^ a b Kuttler, Hillel (January 24, 2013). "Ravens Maintain Ties to Baltimore Colts". The New York Times. Retrieved January 12, 2017.
- ^ "ESPN Classic - Unitas dies of heart attack at 69". www.espn.com.
- ^ Raffel, Bruce (October 8, 2011). "Indy Disses Unitas By Still Using #19 Jersey". Baltimore Beatdown.
- ^ a b "NFL Retired Player Numbers". www.nfl.com.
- ^ Klingaman, Mike (February 6, 2012). "Raymond Berry's 'Super' Walk". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
- ^ "Alan Ameche Named Pro Rookie of Year". The Pittsburgh Press. United Press. December 19, 1955. Retrieved December 20, 2010.
- ^ "Lenny Moore Pro Rookie of the Year". The Newburgh News. United Press. January 3, 1957. Retrieved December 20, 2010.
- ^ a b "Johnny Unitas". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on November 15, 2013. Retrieved December 20, 2010.
- ^ a b c "Shula Is Top Boss". Ocala Star-Banner. December 19, 1968. Retrieved December 20, 2010.
- ^ "Earl Now Number 1". Ocala Star-Banner. Associated Press. December 19, 1968. Retrieved December 20, 2010.
- ^ "Unitas Voted NFL's Man Of The Year". The Morning Record. Associated Press. January 11, 1971. Retrieved December 20, 2010.
- ^ "Marchibroda is top coach". Rome News-Tribune. Associated Press. January 11, 1976. Retrieved December 19, 2010.
- ^ "Colts' quarterback Bert Jones named 'Most Valuable Player'". Daily Union. Associated Press. December 30, 1976. Retrieved December 19, 2010.
- ^ "Colts' linebacker named Defensive Rookie of Year". The Sumter Daily Item. Associated Press. December 22, 1983. Retrieved December 19, 2010.
- ^ "History Release: Greatest game ever played". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 1, 2011.
- ^ 2000 National Football League Record & Fact Book. New York City: Workman Publishing Company. 2000. pp. 295–299. ISBN 0-7611-1982-5.
- ^ 2000 National Football League Record & Fact Book, p. 294.
- ^ a b 2000 National Football League Record & Fact Book, p. 293.
- ^ Reid, Ron (January 2, 1978). "The Ghost To The Post". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on November 26, 2009. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
- ^ 2000 National Football League Record & Fact Book, p. 292.
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| Franchise | |
| Stadiums | |
| Culture | |
| Lore | |
| Rivalries | |
| Division championships (16) | |
| Conference championships (7) | |
| League championships (5) | |
| Retired numbers | |
| Media | |
| Current league affiliations |
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