5 Other Candidates for Colts Ring of Honor
Jan 31, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Indianapolis Colts, Buffalo Bills and Carolina Panthers former general manager Bill Polian reacts during a press conference to introduce the 2015 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees at Symphony Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Bill Polian, General Manager/Team President (1997-2011)
Age: 72
Career Highlights: Super Bowl champion XLI, Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee (2015), PFWA Executive of the Year (1996)
Colts Highlights: PFWA Executive of the Year (1999), PFWA Executive of the Year (2005), PFWA Executive of the Year (2009)
Summary: The grand architect of the “Peyton Manning era” of Colts football, Bill Polian drafted the likes of not only Manning with the 1st pick in the 1998 NFL Draft, but later other highly regarded former first rounders such as Edgerrin James, Reggie Wayne, Dwight Freeney, Dallas Clark, and even Anthony Castonzo. Additionally, he also selected Bob Sanders in the 2nd round of 2004.
Not to mention, Polian discovered late round sleepers like Robert Mathis, Antoine Bethea, and Pierre Garcon, while finding undrafted free agent gems such as Jeff Saturday, Gary Brackett, and Dominic Rhodes. Some of those players are clearly more important in Colts history than others, but the fact remains the same that Polian had the “Midas touch” for an extended period of time as the Colts lead executive.
From 1997-2009, Polian’s Colts teams went 134-74 (.644), failing to make the playoffs in just 3 of his 13 seasons heading the Colts football operations. His greatest feat came in 2006, when his well-constructed Colts team went on to win a Super Bowl championship.