Last Sunday’s Pro Bowl seems to have marked the final appearance for center Jeff Saturday. Saturday played 13 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, before spending the past season with the Green Bay Packers. Although Saturday announced his retirement while in a Packers’ uniform, he will undoubtedly always be known for his time in Indianapolis.
In a move previously unheard of in the Pro Bowl, Saturday actually lined up for both teams at one point. Although Saturday had a sub-standard season with the Packers, he was still named as the starting center for the NFC. Aside from that, Saturday was even allowed to line up with the AFC as well, taking one more snap with former Colts quarterback, Peyton Manning. Letting Manning and Saturday get one last snap together was a simple sign of respect and appreciation for two players who made history during their time together in Indianapolis.
Five of Jeff Saturday’s six Pro Bowl bids were made with the Indianapolis Colts, and all five of those came alongside Manning. Michael Jordan may have played for the Washington Wizards, but he will always be a Chicago Bull. Brett Favre finished his career with the Minnesota Vikings, but he will be remembered mostly as a Green Bay Packer. Even two of the most notable Colts in history, Manning and Johnny Unitas, rode off into the sunset with a different jersey on. Jeff Saturday may have left the Indianapolis Colts for his final season, but there will soon be a place made for his name to go up in the Ring of Honor at Lucas Oil Stadium.