List of Indianapolis Colts seasons

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The Indianapolis Colts, formerly the Baltimore Colts, are an American football team playing in the National Football League (NFL). This list documents the season-by-season records of the Colts franchise from 1953 to present, including postseason records and league awards for individual players or head coaches. In 1953, a Baltimore-based group led by Carroll Rosenbloom gained the rights to a new Baltimore franchise. Rosenbloom was granted an NFL team, and was awarded the holdings of the defunct Dallas Texans organization, the descendant of the last remaining Ohio League founding APFA member Dayton Triangles.[1] The new team kept the Triangles' blue and white color scheme and was named the Colts after the unrelated previous team that folded after the 1950 NFL season.[2] After 31 seasons in Baltimore, Colts owner Robert Irsay moved the team to Indianapolis, Indiana.[3]

Then-U.S. President George W. Bush congratulates the Colts on their Super Bowl XLI victory.

The Colts have won two Super Bowl championships (Super Bowl V and Super Bowl XLI). They also played in and lost Super Bowl III and Super Bowl XLIV. Before the AFL and NFL merged in 1970,[4] they won three NFL Championships (1958, 1959, and 1968). By winning Super Bowl XLI the Colts became the first team that played its home games in a domed stadium to win a Super Bowl held in an outdoor stadium.[5][6]

After the Colts owner Jim Irsay hired Tony Dungy in 2002,[7] the Colts made the playoffs for nine straight seasons. They won five straight AFC South titles from 2003 to 2007 and had seven consecutive seasons of 12 or more victories from 2003 to 2009, the first time that has been achieved in the NFL's 90-year history.[8] Much of the team's success throughout the 2000s was attributed to the trio of general manager Bill Polian, coach Dungy, and quarterback Peyton Manning.[9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18]

In the 2013 season, the Colts secured their first division championship since Manning's departure and first under quarterback Andrew Luck and head coach Chuck Pagano. As of 2023, they are the only team in the AFC South to win a Super Bowl (the Tennessee Titans have not won any Super Bowls either in Tennessee or in their previous incarnation as the Houston Oilers, while the Colts won the Super Bowl in 1970 while in Baltimore and the 2006 title while in Indianapolis).

Table key

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Peyton Manning won four MVP awards during his career with the Colts.
MVP National Football League Most Valuable Player Award
SB MVP Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award
OPOY National Football League Offensive Player of the Year Award
DPOY National Football League Defensive Player of the Year Award
OROY National Football League Offensive Rookie of the Year Award
DROY National Football League Defensive Rookie of the Year Award
Pro Bowl MVP National Football League Pro Bowl Most Valuable Player Award
CPOY National Football League Comeback Player of the Year Award
COY National Football League Coach of the Year Award
AFC Off. POY AFC Offensive Player of the Year Award
AFC ROY AFC Rookie of the Year Award
MOY Walter Payton Man of the Year Award
NFL ROY NFL Rookie of the Year Award

Season records

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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] Head coaches
Finish W L T
Baltimore Colts
1953 1953 NFL Western 5th 3 9 0 Keith Molesworth
1954 1954 NFL Western 6th 3 9 0 Weeb Ewbank
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) (at Giants) 23–17[d]
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 Don Shula
1964 1964 NFL Western* 1st* 12 2 0 Lost NFL Championship (at Browns) 0–27 Johnny Unitas (MVP)[21]
Don Shula (COY)[22]
1965 1965 NFL Western 2nd+ 10 3 1 Lost Conference Playoff (at Packers) 10–13
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 Conference Playoffs (Vikings) 24–14
Won NFL Championship (at Browns) 34–0
Lost Super Bowl III (vs. Jets) 7–16
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 AFC Championship (Raiders) 27–17
Won Super Bowl V (3) (vs. Cowboys) 16–13
Johnny Unitas (WP MOY)[24] Don McCafferty
1971 1971 NFL AFC East 2nd# 10 4 0 Won Divisional Playoffs (at Browns) 20–3
Lost AFC Championship (at Dolphins) 0–21
1972 1972 NFL AFC East 3rd 5 9 0 Don McCafferty (1–4)
John Sandusky (4–5)
1973 1973 NFL AFC East 4th 4 10 0 Howard Schnellenberger
1974 1974 NFL AFC East 5th 2 12 0 Howard Schnellenberger (0–3)
Joe Thomas (2–9)
1975 1975 NFL AFC East^ 1st^[f] 10 4 0 Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Steelers) 10–28 Ted Marchibroda (COY)[25] Ted Marchibroda
1976 1976 NFL AFC East^ 1st^[g] 11 3 0 Lost Divisional Playoffs (Steelers) 14–40 Bert Jones (MVP, OPOY)[26]
1977 1977 NFL AFC East^ 1st^[h] 10 4 0 Lost Divisional Playoffs (Raiders) 31–37 (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 Mike McCormack
1981 1981 NFL AFC East 4th 2 14 0
1982 1982 NFL AFC [j] 14th 0 8 1 Frank Kush
1983 1983 NFL AFC East 4th 7 9 0 Vernon Leroy Maxwell (DROY)[27]
Indianapolis Colts
1984 1984 NFL AFC East 4th 4 12 0 Frank Kush (4–11)
Hal Hunter (0–1)
1985 1985 NFL AFC East 4th 5 11 0 Duane Bickett (DROY)[28] Rod Dowhower
1986 1986 NFL AFC East 5th 3 13 0 Rod Dowhower (0–13)
Ron Meyer (3–0)
1987 1987 NFL AFC East^ 1st^[k] 9 6 0 Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Browns) 21–38 Ron Meyer
1988 1988 NFL AFC East 3rd 9 7 0
1989 1989 NFL AFC East 3rd 8 8 0
1990 1990 NFL AFC East 3rd 7 9 0
1991 1991 NFL AFC East 5th 1 15 0 Ron Meyer (0–5)
Rick Venturi (1–10)
1992 1992 NFL AFC East 3rd 9 7 0 Ted Marchibroda
1993 1993 NFL AFC East 5th 4 12 0
1994 1994 NFL AFC East 3rd 8 8 0 Marshall Faulk (OROY)[29][30]
1995 1995 NFL AFC East 2nd# 9 7 0 Won Wild Card Playoffs (at Chargers) 35–20
Won Divisional Playoffs (at Chiefs) 10–7
Lost AFC Championship (at Steelers) 16–20
Jim Harbaugh (CBPOY)[29][31]
1996 1996 NFL AFC East 3rd# 9 7 0 Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Steelers) 14–42 Lindy Infante
1997 1997 NFL AFC East 5th 3 13 0
1998 1998 NFL AFC East 5th 3 13 0 Jim E. Mora
1999 1999 NFL AFC East^ 1st^ 13 3 0 Lost Divisional Playoffs (Titans) 16–19 Edgerrin James (OROY)[32]
2000 2000 NFL AFC East 2nd# 10 6 0 Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Dolphins) 17–23 (OT)
2001 2001 NFL AFC East 4th 6 10 0
2002 2002 NFL AFC South 2nd# 10 6 0 Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Jets) 0–41 Tony Dungy
2003 2003 NFL AFC South^ 1st^ 12 4 0 Won Wild Card Playoffs (Broncos) 41–10
Won Divisional Playoffs (at Chiefs) 38–31
Lost AFC Championship (at Patriots) 14–24
Peyton Manning (MVP)[33]
2004 2004 NFL AFC South^ 1st^ 12 4 0 Won Wild Card Playoffs (Broncos) 49–24
Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Patriots) 3–20
Peyton Manning (MVP, OPOY)[33][34]
2005 2005 NFL AFC South^ 1st^ 14 2 0 Lost Divisional Playoffs (Steelers) 18–21 Peyton Manning (WP MOY)[35]
2006 2006 NFL AFC* South^ 1st^ 12 4 0 Won Wild Card Playoffs (Chiefs) 23–8
Won Divisional Playoffs (at Ravens) 15–6
Won AFC Championship (Patriots) 38–34
Won Super Bowl XLI (4) (vs. Bears) 29–17
Peyton Manning (SB MVP)[36]
2007 2007 NFL AFC South^ 1st^ 13 3 0 Lost Divisional Playoffs (Chargers) 24–28[l] Bob Sanders (DPOY)[37]
2008 2008 NFL AFC South 2nd# 12 4 0 Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Chargers) 17–23 (OT) Peyton Manning (MVP)[33]
2009 2009 NFL AFC* South^ 1st^ 14 2 0 Won Divisional Playoffs (Ravens) 20–3
Won AFC Championship (Jets) 30–17
Lost Super Bowl XLIV (vs. Saints) 17–31
Peyton Manning (MVP)[38] Jim Caldwell
2010 2010 NFL AFC South^ 1st^ 10 6 0 Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Jets) 16–17
2011 2011 NFL AFC South 4th 2 14 0
2012 2012 NFL AFC South 2nd# 11 5 0 Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Ravens) 9–24 Bruce Arians (COY)[m][39] Chuck Pagano
2013 2013 NFL AFC South^ 1st^ 11 5 0 Won Wild Card Playoffs (Chiefs) 45–44
Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Patriots) 22–43
2014 2014 NFL AFC South^ 1st^ 11 5 0 Won Wild Card Playoffs (Bengals) 26–10
Won Divisional Playoffs (at Broncos) 24–13
Lost AFC Championship (at Patriots) 7–45
2015 2015 NFL AFC South 2nd 8 8 0
2016 2016 NFL AFC South 3rd 8 8 0
2017 2017 NFL AFC South 3rd 4 12 0
2018 2018 NFL AFC South 2nd# 10 6 0 Won Wild Card Playoffs (at Texans) 21–7
Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Chiefs) 13–31
Shaquille Leonard (DROY)[40]
Andrew Luck (CPOY)[41]
Frank Reich
2019 2019 NFL AFC South 3rd 7 9 0
2020 2020 NFL AFC South 2nd# 11 5 0 Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Bills) 24–27
2021 2021 NFL AFC South 2nd 9 8 0
2022 2022 NFL AFC South 3rd 4 12 1 Frank Reich (3–5–1)
Jeff Saturday (1–7)
2023 2023 NFL AFC South 3rd 9 8 0 Shane Steichen

All-time records

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Statistic Wins Losses Ties Win%
Baltimore Colts regular season record (1953–1983) 222 194 7 .533
Indianapolis Colts regular season record (1984–2023) 334 307 1 .521
All-time regular season record (1953–2023) 556 501 8 .526
Baltimore Colts post-season record (1953–1983) 8 7 .533
Indianapolis Colts post-season record (1984–2023) 15 18 .455
All-time post-season record (1953–2023) 23 25 .479
All-time regular and post-season record 579 526 8 .524

Notes

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  • 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.[42]
  • 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.[43]
  • 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).[44]
  • 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).[45]
  • 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).[45]
  • i The game involved the infamous Ghost to the Post play.[46]
  • j 1982 was a strike-shortened season so the league was divided up into two conferences instead of its normal divisional alignment.[47]
  • k A 24-day players' strike reduced the 16-game season to 15, causing week 3 to be canceled.[48]
  • l This was the last game played in the RCA Dome.[49]
  • m Arians served as interim head coach for twelve games during the season due to Pagano's leukemia diagnosis,[50] posting a 9–3 record en route to the AP NFL Coach of the Year award.

References

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General
  • "Indianapolis Colts: History". CBS Sports. Archived from the original on October 18, 2011. Retrieved November 21, 2010.
  • "Indianapolis Colts Franchise Encyclopedia". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on April 17, 2012. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
  • "Indianapolis Colts History". Football @ JT-SW.com. John Troan. Archived from the original on August 15, 2012. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
Specific
  1. ^ MacCambridge, Michael (2004). America's Game: The Epic Story of How Pro Football Captured a Nation. New York City: Random House. pp. 78–79. ISBN 0-375-50454-0.
  2. ^ "Baltimore Colts Back In League". The Times-News. United Press. February 4, 1953. Archived from the original on December 14, 2020. Retrieved December 25, 2010.
  3. ^ "Colts: Team History". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on September 4, 2009. Retrieved February 17, 2007.
  4. ^ "This Day In History – Jun 8, 1966: NFL and AFL announce merger". History. Archived from the original on March 8, 2010. Retrieved December 25, 2010.
  5. ^ Trotter, Jim (February 5, 2007). "Colts prove naysayers wrong: Indianapolis becomes first dome team to win Super Bowl". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on February 2, 2013. Retrieved December 25, 2010.
  6. ^ Byrne, Kerry (January 13, 2010). "Kerry J. Byrne: Why dome teams struggle in playoffs". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on June 25, 2022. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
  7. ^ "Dungy hired as Colts head coach". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. January 22, 2002. Archived from the original on November 8, 2012. Retrieved December 25, 2010.
  8. ^ Banks, Don (August 6, 2010). "Colts' history shows team should avoid Super Bowl hangover". CNN Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on October 6, 2010. Retrieved December 26, 2010.
  9. ^ Richard, Phil. "Greatness by Design". Indianapolis Star. Archived from the original on December 25, 2007. Retrieved December 29, 2007.
  10. ^ Keefer, Zak. "Dungy and Harrison: Hall of Famers, together". The Indianapolis Star. Archived from the original on December 7, 2022. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  11. ^ Wilson, Josh (May 27, 2013). "ESPN Ranks Dungy as NFL's 20th Best Coach Ever". Stampede Blue. Archived from the original on August 18, 2022. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  12. ^ "Tony Dungy on Building Relationships With Athletes". SportsEngine. April 5, 2021. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  13. ^ "Bill Polian Lends His Expertise To Colts About General Manager Opening". www.colts.com. Archived from the original on May 19, 2022. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  14. ^ Miller, Matt. "Peyton Manning, the Indianapolis Colts and the End of a Dynasty". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on May 29, 2022. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  15. ^ Smedley, Kyle (May 13, 2022). "Peyton Manning's 13 Seasons With The Indianapolis Colts, Ranked Worst To Best". TheSportster. Archived from the original on May 29, 2022. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  16. ^ "Peyton Manning latest of 2000s Colts to reach Canton; more to come?". Fox 59. February 7, 2021. Archived from the original on October 22, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  17. ^ Staff Writer. "Colts, Patriots still the gold standard". Columbia Daily Tribune. Archived from the original on October 7, 2022. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
  18. ^ "Colts, Patriots Make Arguments For Decade's Best Team". www.cbsnews.com. November 18, 2010. Archived from the original on June 25, 2022. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
  19. ^ "Alan Ameche Named Pro Rookie of Year". The Pittsburgh Press. United Press. December 19, 1955. Archived from the original on December 10, 2020. Retrieved December 20, 2010.
  20. ^ "Lenny Moore Pro Rookie of the Year". The Newburgh News. United Press. January 3, 1957. Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 20, 2010.
  21. ^ a b "Johnny Unitas". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on November 15, 2013. Retrieved December 20, 2010.
  22. ^ a b c "Shula Is Top Boss". Ocala Star-Banner. December 19, 1968. Archived from the original on December 9, 2020. Retrieved December 20, 2010.
  23. ^ "Earl Now Number 1". Ocala Star-Banner. Associated Press. December 19, 1968. Archived from the original on December 9, 2020. Retrieved December 20, 2010.
  24. ^ "Unitas Voted NFL's Man Of The Year". The Morning Record. Associated Press. January 11, 1971. Archived from the original on December 9, 2020. Retrieved December 20, 2010.
  25. ^ "Marchibroda is top coach". Rome News-Tribune. Associated Press. January 11, 1976. Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2010.
  26. ^ "Colts' quarterback Bert Jones named 'Most Valuable Player'". Daily Union. Associated Press. December 30, 1976. Archived from the original on December 13, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2010.
  27. ^ "Colts' linebacker named Defensive Rookie of Year". The Sumter Daily Item. Associated Press. December 22, 1983. Archived from the original on December 10, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2010.
  28. ^ "Colts' Bickett notches rookie award on defense". The Fort Scott Tribune. Associated Press. January 2, 1986. Archived from the original on December 12, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2010.
  29. ^ a b 2009 ESPN Sports Almanac. New York City: ESPN Books. 2008. p. 279. ISBN 978-0-345-51172-0.
  30. ^ "Faulk runs away with Associated Press rookie honor". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. Associated Press. December 28, 1994. Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2010.
  31. ^ "AP Comeback Player of the Year winners". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on December 22, 2010. Retrieved December 21, 2010.
  32. ^ "James claims 49 of 50 Rookie of the Year votes". The Argus-Press. Associated Press. January 11, 2000. Archived from the original on December 13, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2010.
  33. ^ a b c "Peyton Manning wins record-tying third NFL MVP award". USA Today. Associated Press. January 3, 2009. Archived from the original on November 16, 2010. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
  34. ^ Wilner, Barry (January 6, 2005). "No surprise: Manning wins Offensive Player". The Victoria Advocate. Associated Press. Archived from the original on December 9, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2010.
  35. ^ Mullin, John (February 5, 2006). "Payton Award goes to Peyton". The Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on September 13, 2012. Retrieved December 18, 2010.
  36. ^ "Super Bowl History". National Football League. Archived from the original on February 23, 2011. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
  37. ^ "AP picks Colts' Sanders as top defensive player". ESPN. Associated Press. January 7, 2008. Archived from the original on March 2, 2009. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
  38. ^ "Manning claims fourth MVP in landslide". ESPN. Associated Press. January 9, 2010. Archived from the original on February 10, 2010. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
  39. ^ "Bruce Arians wins Coach of the Year for work with Colts". NFL.com. February 2, 2013. Archived from the original on March 28, 2013. Retrieved March 25, 2013.
  40. ^ "Colts' Darius Leonard wins Defensive Rookie of Year". NFL.com. Archived from the original on February 3, 2019. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
  41. ^ "Andrew Luck named AP Comeback Player of the Year". NFL.com. Archived from the original on February 3, 2019. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
  42. ^ "History Release: Greatest game ever played". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on May 15, 2013. Retrieved January 1, 2011.
  43. ^ 2000 National Football League Record & Fact Book. New York City: Workman Publishing Company. 2000. pp. 295–299. ISBN 0-7611-1982-5.
  44. ^ 2000 National Football League Record & Fact Book, p. 294.
  45. ^ a b 2000 National Football League Record & Fact Book, p. 293.
  46. ^ Reid, Ron (January 2, 1978). "The Ghost To The Post". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on February 13, 2011. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
  47. ^ 2000 National Football League Record & Fact Book, p. 292.
  48. ^ "Chronology Of Professional Football" (PDF). National Football League. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 21, 2010. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  49. ^ Lapointe, Joe (January 14, 2008). "One Big Win, Two Huge Losses for Chargers". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 17, 2013. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
  50. ^ Smith, Michael David (October 1, 2012). "Colts coach Chuck Pagano diagnosed with leukemia". ProFootballTalk. Archived from the original on September 1, 2022. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
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