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Former Colts Head Coach and Commentator Ted Marchibroda Passes Away at 84

By Luke Schultheis

Jan 11, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Detailed view of an Indianapolis Colts helmet on the sidelines against the Denver Broncos in the 2014 AFC Divisional playoff football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Colts defeated the Broncos 24-13. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 11, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Detailed view of an Indianapolis Colts helmet on the sidelines against the Denver Broncos in the 2014 AFC Divisional playoff football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Colts defeated the Broncos 24-13. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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It’s with heavy hearts that we’ve learned that former Indianapolis Colts head coach and radio color commentator Ted Marchibroda has passed away at the age of 84:

Marchibroda serves as the Baltimore Colts head coach from 1975-1979, and later the Indianapolis Colts head coach from 1992-95. While with the Colts franchise, he compiled a 71-67 record (.514) in 9 seasons.

Marchibroda’s Colts teams made the playoffs in 4 of his 9 seasons–most notably making a 1995 AFC Championship Game appearance against the Pittsburgh Steelers. His 1995 team was just an Aaron Bailey hail mary catch away from making the Super Bowl and facing the Dallas Cowboys.

Of course, for many of the Colts younger fans, they may remember Marchibroda most as the radio color commentator for the team–a position he held from 1996-2006.

Personally, I remember growing up and hearing the excellent tag team of Marchibroda and Bob Lamey call games for the Colts on radio–an annual rite of my fall Sunday’s. There’s no question he was one of the “voices of my childhood” and should go down as an all-time great in Colts folklore. 

Marchibroda is clearly a key figure in the history of the Colts franchise. As such, it’s worth noting that he was inducted into the Colts Ring of Honor in 2000.

He’ll be missed, but certainly not forgotten:

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