Colts Nation

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The story of this fanbase is woven through decades of historic moments, starting with the franchise's first winning record in 1957. Under head coach Weeb Ewbank and quarterback Johnny Unitas, supporters witnessed the 1958 NFL Championship Game against the New York Giants, a contest viewed by 45 million people that introduced overtime to professional football history. The team secured back-to-back titles in 1958 and 1959, followed by a third championship in 1968 under Don Shula. Even after the shocking 16–7 loss to the New York Jets in Super Bowl III, the faithful returned when the team won their fourth title in Super Bowl V. Following the move to Indianapolis in 1984, fans celebrated eighteen playoff appearances and two Super Bowl victories, including a win over the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI, after enduring nine consecutive losing seasons starting in 1978 while the team was still in Baltimore.

In Their Own Story

The atmosphere shifts from the RCA Dome, where the team played for over two decades between 1984 and 2007, to the modern setting of Lucas Oil Stadium. Fans recall the dramatic transfer of ownership on July 13, 1972, when Carroll Rosenbloom traded the franchise to Robert Irsay, leading to a difficult era that saw Johnny Unitas traded to the San Diego Chargers after the 1972 season. The memory of the 1977 playoff loss in double overtime against the Oakland Raiders remains vivid for Baltimore supporters, known as the 'Ghost to the Post' play and marking the final playoff game in Maryland. Since moving, the city has hosted the NFL Scouting Combine annually since 1987, integrating the team deeply into the league's future. Supporters now cheer as the AFC South members, celebrating a history that includes defeating the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl V and the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI.

Reader's Guide

Supporters trace their allegiance to a lineage involving the Dayton Triangles, Brooklyn Tigers, New York Yanks, and Dallas Texans before the franchise officially began in Baltimore in 1953. The team adopted silver and green colors initially, reflecting local horse racing traditions, though they later shifted to blue and white. Fans should note that while the NFL considers the Colts a 1953 expansion team due to the purchase of the Dallas Texans assets, the organization shares a rich history with earlier franchises. Key dates include the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, where the Colts joined the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers to form the AFC East, and the pivotal 2008 season when games moved to Lucas Oil Stadium. Since 1984, the Indianapolis iteration has won two conference championships and appeared in two Super Bowls, with a loss to the New Orleans Saints in Super Bowl XLIV marking another chapter in this enduring saga.

Did You Know?

• The franchise legally counts as a 1953 expansion team because it purchased the assets of the Dallas Texans, whose lineage included the Dayton Triangles and New York Yanks.
• In the 1958 NFL Championship Game against the New York Giants, the Colts played in overtime for the first time in professional football history, watched by 45 million people.
• The 1977 playoff loss to the Oakland Raiders in double overtime was the last playoff game the team played while based in Baltimore.
• Since 1987, Indianapolis has served as the permanent host city for the NFL Scouting Combine.
• The Baltimore Colts won three NFL Championships (1958, 1959, 1968) but lost Super Bowl III to the New York Jets despite being favored by 18 points.

Franchise Origins and Relocation

The franchise began in Baltimore in 1953 when Carroll Rosenbloom purchased the assets of the Dallas Texans, a team with origins tracing back to the Dayton Triangles of 1913. This new entity played its first season in 1953 under coach Keith Molesworth with a 3–9 record. The team used silver and green colors before adopting blue and white. After three NFL Championships in Baltimore (1958, 1959, 1968) and two Super Bowl appearances, ownership issues led to the move to Indianapolis in 1984. Since then, the team has played at the RCA Dome until 2007 and currently resides at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Dynasty Years in Baltimore

Under Weeb Ewbank and Johnny Unitas, the Colts won the 1958 NFL Championship against the New York Giants in a historic game featuring the first overtime. They repeated as champions in 1959. After Don Shula took over in 1963, the team won its third NFL title in 1968 by defeating the Cleveland Browns 34–0. However, they lost Super Bowl III to the New York Jets 16–7 despite being favored by 18 points.

Super Bowl Appearances and Playoff Success

Since relocating to Indianapolis in 1984, the Colts have made eighteen playoff appearances and won two conference championships. They defeated the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI but lost to the New Orleans Saints in Super Bowl XLIV. The team has hosted the NFL Scouting Combine every year since 1987.

Conference Merger and Structural Evolution

In 1970, the Colts joined ten AFL teams to form the American Football Conference (AFC) alongside the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers. Under new coach Don McCafferty, the team won the AFC East with an 11–2–1 record, defeated the Cincinnati Bengals and Oakland Raiders in the playoffs, and beat the Dallas Cowboys 16–13 in Super Bowl V to claim their fourth NFL championship.

Gallery