Over the Indianapolis Colts’ 65 seasons, there has been an abundance of superstars to don the horseshoe. These are the 30 greatest NFL players to ever call Baltimore or Indianapolis home.
These days, it’s easy for the average NFL fan to overlook the Indianapolis Colts. They haven’t been relevant for a couple of seasons while Andrew Luck has battled his way through a career-threatening shoulder injury. While that may be the case, the franchise’s history is unforgettable.
Seriously, the amount of talent to have worn the Colts’ colors over the years is ridiculous. Dating back to the days of the Baltimore Colts, there have been countless superstars, from iconic quarterbacks to Hall of Fame defensive linemen. Some you likely know well, while others may seem alien to the younger generations.
No matter the maturity of your fandom, the following list of Colts greats includes names you need to know. Put simply, these are 30 of the greatest players to ever step foot on a football field as a member of this franchise. And considering the club’s long history of success, the list of playmakers to choose from was well beyond that of 30.
Either way you look at it, these former/current Colts stars deserve your respect.
Enough with the idle chatter, though. Let’s jump right in to the 30 greatest Colts players of all-time, ranging from the early days in Baltimore to some of the current team’s top talent. No matter the era, every name on this list needs to be known by even the most casual of Colts fans.
The list of outstanding running backs who suited up for the Colts is a long one. Isn’t that obvious based on that Marshall Faulk, a Hall of Famer and legendary runner, finds himself here at No. 30 on this list of all-time Colts greats?
Now don’t get me wrong — Faulk was a sensational runner for Indianapolis. The problem was that his best days as an NFL running back weren’t spent with his first team. Instead, the play that propelled him into the Hall of Fame came after he was traded away to the St. Louis Rams, spurring him to shine brighter than 99.5 percent of NFL backs, past or present.
Still, Faulk did work with the Colts. Despite only playing with the franchise for five years, he’s still third on the team’s all-time rushing yards list. He broke the 1,000-yard mark in four of those five seasons, and earned Pro Bowl honors in three of them. Faulk’s final season with Indianapolis ranks sixth among every other rushing effort any Colts back has put together.
Could things have gone better for Faulk during his days in Indy? Probably. But the past is the past, and that’s all there is to it. Despite the sour split between sides, he’s more than worthy of a spot on this list of the club’s all-time best players.
I know, right? A kicker? Well despite the fact that most people don’t carry about kickers all that much, Adam Vinatieri is one worth caring about. At least, that is when it comes to the Colts.
Although Vinatieri first made a name for himself as the clutch kicker for the New England Patriots, he joined the Colts in 2006 and never looked back. Since then, he’s broken numerous records and continues to be one of the most dependable kickers in the NFL.
What’s crazier is that he’s still getting it done at the ripe age of 45. Now the oldest active player in the league, Vinatieri is still out there earning the nickname “Automatic Adam,” which he originally earned back during his New England days.
Vinatieri’s best season from an accuracy perspective (96.8 percent) came with the Colts back in 2014, and he’s continued to be an important part of Indianapolis’ game day plans. Chances are retirement isn’t that far off for one of the NFL’s best kickers, but don’t be surprised to see at least another season or two of sure-fire kicking from the veteran with ice in his veins.
It’s still very early in T.Y. Hilton‘s career, as least when compared the other superstar wide receivers who have played for this franchise over the years. Despite that, what we’ve seen from Hilton so far more than warrants a spot on this list.
Entering the league the same year as Andrew Luck, he’s quietly asserted himself as one of the NFL’s most electric pass catchers. Although he doesn’t get nearly as much attention as some of the other big-name receivers in today’s NFL, the stats don’t lie.
Despite this being only Hilton’s seventh season with the club, he’s already worked his way up to fourth on the team’s all-time receiving yards list. He’s still got ways to go before he’s able to take the next step on that list, but that he’s already gotten to that point proves that Hilton is one of the Colts’ best receivers in franchise history.
His four Pro Bowls don’t do justice to just how outstanding Hilton has been in his time in Indianapolis. Heck, the kid led the league in receiving yards back in 2016. It’s time he got the credit he deserves as one of the NFL’s most electric receivers of the modern era.
You’re probably thinking this is a little early for Andrew Luck, and you’d probably have a case. However, based on what’s going on in 2018, this seems like a safe place for the young gunslinger to land.
Chances are he’s going to end his career much higher — likely in the top-5. He’s an elite quarterback talent who, if he stays healthy, could turn out to be one of the best the game has ever seen. Unfortunately, at this cross-section of his career, it’s unclear if he’ll ever be able to return to his former glory.
When he was playing at his best, though, Luck was unstoppable. After going No. 1 overall to the Colts back in 2012, the Stanford product immediately asserted himself as a generational talent. He took Indianapolis from a broken franchise to a potential playoff squad. Just look at his 2014 campaign and three-straight Pro Bowl appearances to start his career if you need evidence.
My hope is that Luck skyrockets up this list in the coming years, proving himself to be among the greatest gunslingers to ever grace the gridiron. After a shoulder injury held him out for a year and a half, though, I’ll remain skeptical until I see the old Luck for more than a game or two at a time.
Chances are not many general NFL fans are going to remember Ryan Diem. He was an outstanding asset for the Colts during his 12 years in town, but he was far from an unforgettable name — especially among offensive tackles.
While that may be the case, Indianapolis fans will surely remember him for being one of the sturdiest pieces of the Colts offense during the Peyton Manning era. The starting right tackle was a star who wasn’t treated as one, but certainly earned his place among the best blockers in franchise history.
Among all the players on this list, Diem will go down as one of the most underrated. While he did manage one Super Bowl victory with the Colts, he never made a single Pro Bowl or All-Pro team. That’s bonkers considering how dominant Indianapolis’ former starting right tackle was for much of his NFL career.
Regardless, what’s done is done. All we know is that Diem is more than worthy of this spot on the list of greatest Colts players of all-time. You may not agree, but I’m sure Manning would vouch for Diem if asked to.
Quality centers are hard to come by. While I wouldn’t go as far as calling Ray Donaldson the greatest Colts center of all-time (the guy earning that designation isn’t too much further down this list), he certainly made his presence felt in Indianapolis.
After spending his rookie season as a reserve and special teams staple, Donaldson transitioned to a starting role as a second-year player. From there, it was nothing but terrific play from the Georgia alum, as he quickly became one of the NFL’s best starting centers.
During his days with the Colts, he earned four straight trips to the Pro Bowl and was a centerpiece of the Indianapolis offense. When his 12th and final campaign with the franchise ended in 1992, Donaldson was second on the team’s all-time list of seasons played.
There’s one more reasons why Donaldson consistently receives praise for his emergence as a starter for the Colts. It’s believed he was the first African-American starting center in NFL history, a true feat all on its own. When you carry that sort of historical significance, you’re more than worthy of this type of recognition.
The first and only fullback on this list, Alan Ameche was a rock star upon entering the league in 1955. Although the position has since died out, the bowling ball of a running back helped pave the way for the Baltimore running game during the late 1950s.
You must remember that it was a different day in the NFL. Fullbacks carried the ball nearly as often as running backs, serving as the power in the ground game. Ameche, who broke the then-NCAA record for career rushing yards at Notre Dame, was an instant spark plug for the Colts offense.
As a rookie, Ameche led the league in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. From there, he would continue his ways of destruction, rumbling over defenses on his way to four straight Pro Bowl selections. Although his career only lasted six seasons, Ameche made the most of every single carry.
Ameche may not be regarded among the greatest running backs in Colts history, but we must again remember that it wasn’t the NFL of today. Rushing for 961 yards in a season was quite the feat, which is exactly what the Baltimore bruiser, a.k.a. “The Horse,” accomplished as a rookie.
Realistically, Dallas Clark was never a superstar. He wasn’t a ridiculous athlete who ran a blistering 40-yard time and gave defensive backs/linebackers nightmares. Instead, he was a dependable, go-to target for one of the greatest quarterbacks in Colts history.
Now even though he wasn’t a superhuman, Clark racked up some ridiculous numbers during his time in Indianapolis. Over his nine seasons with the franchise, he amassed 427 receptions for 4,887 yards and 46 touchdowns. His best year came in 2009, when he caught 100 passes for 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns, earning him his only Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors.
Some may say that Clark was often aided by Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne’s presence, which could be true to some extent. However, if you watched him play, then you know that he was a unique talent who quickly became a reliable safety valve for Manning.
Clark may not be able to claim numerous Pro Bowl appearances or All-Pro honors, but he was a star in his own right. He made a valiant effort in unseating John Mackey as the best tight end in team history, even supplanting him atop the list of tight end leaders in touchdowns.
One of the Colts’ first stars along the offensive line, Bob Vogel didn’t wait long to assert himself as a driving force behind Baltimore’s high-octane offense of the 1960s. As a matter of fact, his arrival in town bumped arguably the Colts’ best blocker inside so he could start at left tackle.
Now that’s not to say the guy he replaced on the blindside (more on him later) was a worse player. It just means that Vogel seemed like a better overall fit at left tackle. As it turns out, the position suited him very well.
During his time with the franchise, Vogel was awarded with five Pro Bowl appearances and one All-Pro selection. Although not quite as decorated as a couple of the other offensive linemen on this list, the Ohio State product certainly knew how to make his presence felt. I’m sure Johnny Unitas would have vouched for his top-notch talents when it came to protection.
Some will argue that Vogel should be higher on this list. That’s all good and dandy. However, based on what I know of the two-time champion is that he did his job, protected one of the greatest players in team history, and received many accolades along the way. Does sitting at No. 22 among the greatest Colts of all-time really seem like that hard of a pill to swallow?
When you mention Eric Dickerson, most people seem to remember only his time with the Los Angeles Rams. However, it would be naïve to forget about the impact he made during his days with the Colts.
In fact, he did plenty of phenomenal work during his few years in Indianapolis. After being traded to the Colts midway through the 1987 season, he put together his best effort with the club the next year. Amassing 1,659 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground, Dickerson earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors in 1988.
Unfortunately, it was mostly downhill from there. After two sensational seasons, he had a solid campaign in 1989 before starting a significant decline from there. It wasn’t bad, but it certainly wasn’t the Dickerson of old. That’s partly why folks seem to remember his days in Los Angeles more fondly.
Either way, Dickerson was a star during his brief time in Indianapolis. For as much success as he had with the Rams, his impact with the Colts can’t be ignored. He’ll still go down as one of the greatest running backs to ever play for the franchise.
It may not seem that way considering his position on this list, but Mike Curtis may have been the best linebacker to have suit up for the Colts. It just so happens that this list is so loaded with talent that, despite his elite playmaking skills, Curtis barely cracked the top-20.
It’s no knock on his abilities, though.
“The Mad Dog” was a monster in the middle of the Baltimore defense, striking fear in the heart of any opponent who had to cross his path. Whether he was rushing the quarterback or demolishing a poor running back who happened to wander into his vicinity, Curtis always found a way to make life difficult for offensive players.
Unfortunately, I have no stats to throw at you. Curtis played during the days before defensive stats were kept, meaning it’s unclear how many tackles or sacks he amassed during his career. Based on the four Pro Bowl nods and two All-Pro selections, though, I’d say the rest of the NFL knew how great he was.
Curtis was one of the most feared linebackers of his era. He spent 11 years with the Colts, winning two championships and cementing his status as an unforgettable talent along the way.
There haven’t been too many offensive tackles to assert themselves as stars for the Colts over the years. While there have been a couple of offensive linemen better than him in franchise history, Tarik Glenn certainly earned his place among the best.
One of the most impressive left tackles to ever call Indianapolis home, Glenn was one of the most consistent, dependable blindside blockers in Colts history. Spending his entire career protecting Manning’s backside, he earned three trips to the Pro Bowl as a result of his dominant play and ability to keep opposing pass rushers at bay.
Glenn played an important role in the Colts’ run to the Super Bowl in 2006. Although he eventually lost his passion for playing football, he left his mark in Indianapolis before calling it quits.
There’s a reason Glenn was drafted 19th overall during the 1997 NFL Draft. The Colts needed someone to keep their quarterbacks clean and upright, and that’s exactly what he spent all 10 of his NFL seasons doing extremely well.
Imagine where Bob Sanders would be on this list if he had managed to maintain some semblance of health during his NFL career. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case, as he was almost always battling some sort of ailment that limited his playing time or effectiveness.
So when you consider how amazing he was despite the health issues, it’s all the more impressive. Despite never playing a full 16-game season and only managing more than six appearances twice, Sanders found a way to carve out a niche for himself as one of the Colts’ most impactful defenders of all-time.
You need look no further than his 2007 campaign for evidence of his elite talents. The closest he ever came to playing a full season (15 games), he was an unstoppable force for the Colts, proving himself to be the prototypical playmaking safety with his ability to strike fear in receivers, make plays on the ball, and shut down the run game.
Most folks will remember Sanders for his infuriating inability to stay healthy, and understandably so. When you consider how dominant he was when on the field and the integral role he played in the Colts’ 2006 Super Bowl run, though, you can’t help but give credit where it’s due.
Man, there have been some outstanding running backs to sport the horseshoe over the years. While Lydell Mitchell isn’t quite at the top of the list of the best ball carriers in franchise history, he certainly made his mark before calling it a career.
If only Mitchell’s time in Baltimore had lasted longer. Unfortunately, only six of his NFL seasons were spent with the Colts. Still, if it wasn’t for one more recent runner landing with the club, he’d still be atop the team’s all-time rushing yards list. He was the leader for nearly 30 years, having 5,487 rushing yards to his name.
To top if off, Mitchell was quite the receiver. In the days before pass-catching backs were the in thing, he was routinely striking fear in defenses with his abilities out of the backfield. For five straight seasons, he had at least 57 receptions and 500 receiving yards. In fact, he led the NFL in receptions on two separate occasions — as a running back.
All of that success earned him three trips to the Pro Bowl and two All-Pro selections. More importantly, though, Mitchell cemented himself as one of the truly dynamic playmakers to ever don a Colts jersey.
The Colts have had plenty of quality centers suit up for them over the years. However, not many have been as consistent, reliable or resilient as Jeff Saturday.
There was just so much to love about Saturday’s career in Indianapolis. After only starting a few games during his rookie season, he asserted himself as the full-time starting center in year two and never looked back. In his final 12 seasons with the Colts, he started every single game he played in and only missed eight games over that stretch.
It’s not just his longevity though, that made Saturday one of the greatest Colts of all-time. It was also his ability to anchor the offensive line during Peyton Manning’s historic stretch with the franchise. The two worked as one, ensuring the future Pro Football Hall of Famer the best protection possible.
Offensive linemen rarely get the credit they deserve because blocking just isn’t a glorified role. However, if there’s one center in team history that belongs high on this list, it’s Saturday.
As you can tell by this list, there haven’t been a ton of sensational cornerbacks to come through the Colts organization over the years. However, if there’s one who warrants recognition on this list of all-time Colts greats, it’s Bobby Boyd.
A star for Baltimore during the 1960s, Boyd was one of the NFL’s premier cover men during those times. The franchise’s all-time leader in interceptions, the Oklahoma alum somehow managed to get his hands on 57 passes throughout his nine-year career. Twice he hauled in nine in one year, which still stands as the Colts’ single-season interception record.
Surprisingly, Boyd didn’t quite get the recognition he probably deserved. Despite his otherworldly ability to intercept passes, he only has two Pro Bowls and three All-Pro honors to his name. Considering the impact he had for Baltimore’s defense, both of those numbers should have been higher by the time he called it quits.
Still, Boyd had no trouble writing his name into the Colts record books. As a result, he goes down as arguably the greatest defensive back to ever don the blue and white. That is though, only because of Sanders’ inability to stay healthy.
The forgotten quarterback of Colts lore, Bert Jones was a superstar in his own right. Taking over for Johnny Unitas as the next long-term starter under center, he quickly caught on as a capable leader of the Baltimore offense.
Now, Jones often gets overlooked for a few reasons. The first is that the Colts never enjoyed huge success during his time at the helm. Sure, they won the AFC East three years in a row, but were knocked out of the playoffs in the first round each of those years. His overall record as Baltimore’s starter was an unspectacular 46-46. Injuries were also a constant issue.
And yet, Jones was a rock star for the Colts. When his time with the team was over, he was second in nearly every passing category and earned one trip to the Pro Bowl and two All-Pro honors. To top it off, he won the NFL MVP award in 1976, his best season by far.
It’s easy to forget about a guy who tried to fill Unitas’ shoes. However, when you reflect on the history of the Colts franchise, you simply can’t ignore a talent like Jones. It’s safe to say that, had he played for a better team and avoided injuries, Jones’ legend would have been much larger when he finally hung up his cleats.
People tend to mark Edgerrin James as the Colts’ top running back of all-time, but that’s recency bias. We’ll talk about the top back further on down the list. Still, Edge was quite the impressive playmaker during his seven years in Indianapolis.
I think that’s part of my problem, though. James only played for the Colts for seven seasons, spending most of that time riding the coattails of Manning. That’s not necessarily to say he wouldn’t have been successful without the legendary gunslinger, but his presence absolutely boosted James’ production.
Still, with that said, James did some serious damage on the stat sheet. He’s the owner of four of the Colts’ five best rushing seasons, including a career-high 1,709 yards during his sophomore campaign. Although there were a few down years in the middle of his tenure with Indianapolis, he bookended his time with the team with four total Pro Bowl appearances.
Don’t get me wrong — James was a star in his own right. However, it seems that in general, he’s overrated a bit. His legacy will never die, although it may have been bigger had he stuck around one more year to see the Colts win a Super Bowl in 2006.
It seems crazy to think that an eight-time Pro Bowler and an eight-time All-Pro offensive lineman could find himself here at No. 12. And yet, with how many elite players have worn the horseshoe over the years, it seems fitting for a Hall of Famer like Jim Parker.
Don’t let the ranking fool you, though. Parker was a monster for the Colts during his 11 seasons with the team. Split between left tackle and left guard, those 11 seasons saw him pave the way towards one of greatest careers the NFL ever saw along the front-five.
Despite coming from a different era, Parker was the epitome of a premier pass blocker during those days. Helping to protect Johnny Unitas’ backside, the Ohio State product made it his personal duty to keep the iconic quarterback clean no matter what. That passion for protection helped him earn a bust in Canton.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again — offensive linemen don’t get the love and respect they deserve. While you could say that’s still the case with Parker being ranked No. 12, I think it’s more than fair considering the ridiculous amount of talent still ahead.
An absolute brute and destructive force at defensive tackle, there’s a reason Art Donovan was nicknamed “the Bulldog” during his time in the NFL. Fortunately for the Colts, they were the main beneficiaries of his otherworldly talent along the interior.
Unfortunately, Donovan did his damage during the days when defensive stats simply weren’t a priority. So while we can’t gauge his impact by the amount of tackles for loss or sacks he racked up, there are other indicators of his immense talent. How about his five straight seasons of Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors? Or maybe that he’s now in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?
It’s easy to overlook someone like Donovan, whose playing days were over well before most of the folks reading this were even born. However, if you’re a true Colts fan, then you need to at least be familiar with the name.
Here’s another tidbit for you: Donovan played for the original Baltimore Colts, a team that folded in 1950 before eventually resurfacing a couple of years later. Look at that — a history lesson on a legendary defensive tackle and the franchise you root for.
The Colts’ underappreciated edge rusher of the early 2000s, Robert Mathis spent much of his time in Indianapolis playing in the shadow of Dwight Freeney. However, when you look back at his production and impact, there’s no denying he deserves a spot among the Top 10 Colts of all-time.
The franchise leader in career sacks, Mathis just had a knack for tracking and taking down quarterbacks. Although not quite as effective or consistent as Freeney, the amount of sacks he racked up and nightmares he induced were just as impressive.
Here are two numbers to consider: 19.5 and 123. The first is the Colts’ single-season record for sacks and the other is the franchise record for a career. Believe it or not, Mathis owns both. Yes, he has more sacks for Indianapolis than Freeney, and topped his teammate’s best single-season sack number a year after he left town.
People will try to make the case that Mathis belongs above Freeney on this list. While I don’t agree with that assertion, it still seems as though No. 10 is more than sufficient to give the underrated defensive end some well-earned credit.
John Mackey was ahead of his time as a dominant tight end. He played for the Colts well before the days of long, athletic tight ends who are really just heavy wide receivers. And yet, he would probably still be a superstar if he were playing in today’s NFL.
Still, he didn’t need a pass-heavy attack like the modern offense to put up huge numbers. He still stands as the Colts’ all-time receiving yards leader among tight ends, and is eighth all-time among all pass catchers in franchise history. Not too shabby for a tight end who played most of his football in the 1960s.
So just how good was Mackey? Well, let’s see. The guy had five Pro Bowls, three All-Pro selections and two championships to his name. On top of that, he was only the second pure tight end inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Heck, he even had college football’s award for the nation’s top tight end named after him. Yes, he was THAT good.
One of Johnny Unitas’ go-to targets, Mackey spent much of his NFL career carving up defenses and making life miserable for anyone unfortunate enough to be assigned to cover him.
During his heyday, Dwight Freeney was one of the most feared pass rushers in the NFL. With his patented spin move, the explosive edge rusher made life miserable for offensive tackles and quarterbacks alike.
The crazy part was that, as his career went on, Freeney continued to be an impactful defensive end. Although the last few years saw him turn into a journeyman, it became clear that NFL clubs still saw the value in his abilities as a situational pass rusher. That just shows you how good he was at hunting opposing passers.
Enough about his final days as an NFL player, though.
As a Colt, Freeney was simply unstoppable. Although some would make the case that Robert Mathis made the longer-lasting impact, his counterpart was a star from the get-go. Freeney finished with more double-digit sack seasons, including seven of his first nine campaigns in Indianapolis.
The fear he struck in opposing blockers and passers was simply uncanny. As much as some try to knock Freeney’s legacy when compared to Mathis’, there’s little reason to suggest the former wasn’t the better overall player.
Although his numbers weren’t always gaudy, Reggie Wayne was a special talent during his days in Indianapolis. Breaking the 100-catch mark on numerous occasions, he was the go-to target for the Colts during his final few seasons in the NFL.
Unfortunately, as great as Wayne was during his days with the Colts, it seems as though he’ll always be seen as the Robin to Marvin Harrison’s Batman. He spent much of his career in the Hall of Famer’s shadow, although a couple of his best seasons came after his predecessor’s retirement in 2008.
Still, no matter how you see it, Wayne was a star in his own right. Owning the No. 2 spot for nearly every Colts receiving record, he’ll undoubtedly go down as one of the franchise’s all-time best pass catchers.
Harrison or not, Wayne’s resume is impressive. Just remember that he’s got one Super Bowl ring, seven Pro Bowl selections, three All-Pro honors and a receiving yards title (2007) to his credit. That’s quite the showing, even from a college legend and second-round pick.
It’s a bit mind-boggling how many elite playmakers the Colts had to rely on during their success in the pro football’s early days. Before the sport had truly caught fire the way it has in the last few decades, Baltimore found a way to uncover unusual amounts of sensational talent.
Lenny Moore was just the beginning of that. A multi-dimensional running back who could strike fear as a runner or receiver, he played an integral role in Baltimore’s two championship runs in 1958 and 1959.
Here’s one stat that really stands out to me: as of today, Moore still sits in the fifth spot on the Colts’ all-time receiving yards list. As a running back. That’s quite the impressive stat, seeing as it was a completely different game back in those days. Suffice it to say, Moore was well ahead of his time as a dynamic NFL running back.
Put simply, Moore was the complete package — he’d be one of the league’s highest-paid runners in today’s NFL. Not only was he an excellent receiver, but he had the power to make potential tacklers buckle at the knees and the speed to pull away from the rest.
Moore is only fifth on the Colts’ all-time rushing yards list, but did more than enough to merit the seven Pro Bowl appearances and seven All-Pro selections he earned during his career.
One of the first truly dominant receivers in NFL history, Raymond Berry set the standard for superstar pass catchers. Not only did he make minced meat of opposing defenses, but he was the favorite target of one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time (more on him later).
Well before the days of the passing bonanza that is today’s NFL, Berry was still putting up huge numbers for the Colts. Here’s the perfect example of this. Despite playing in the 1950s and 1960s, Berry is behind only two other receivers in franchise history in career receiving yards. That’s bonkers considering the state of the passing game back then.
His immense production and dominance on game days resulted in two NFL championships, six Pro Bowl selections, six All-Pro honors and numerous franchise records by the time he retired. Although many of his records have since been broken by two of the Colts’ more recent receiving superstars, his impact speaks for itself.
Berry is now in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, having been inducted way back in 1973. His overall body of work and status as an all-time great is all the more inspiring when you consider he was drafted by Baltimore in the 20th round. Talk about an epic underdog story.
If there’s one guy on this list who doesn’t get nearly the attention he deserves, it’s Gino Marchetti. Now it’s easy to overlook a defensive tackle who played well before most current Colts fans were even born. However, you now have no excuse to be unaware of Marchetti.
Just take a look at this guy’s list of accolades: 11 Pro Bowls, nine All-Pro honors, two NFL championships, and inclusion on the NFL’s 75th Anniversary All-Time Team.
Seriously, his Pro Football Hall of Fame bio calls him one of “game’s greatest and most feared defensive ends.” Just a quick peak at the film available of Marchetti will show you an unstoppable force whose goal was to demolish any plans the offense had of moving the ball down the field. Whether he was stuffing the run or terrorizing opposing quarterbacks, he did it all.
Marchetti may be overlooked by the younger generation, and it’s understandable to an extent. However, you can’t legitimately call yourself a Colts fan until you’ve gotten a glimpse at the greatness that was Marchetti.
As you can tell by the other names on this list, the Colts have a long history of outstanding wide receivers. Players like Reggie Wayne and Raymond Berry were the cream of the crop when it came to making big plays in the passing game.
When it all comes down to it, though, no Colts wide receiver had a bigger impact on the franchise than Marvin Harrison. Like many of these last few players, someone will try to debate it and rightfully so. However, Harrison is more than deserving of the No. 3 spot on this list.
Now I know that Harrison played in a different era than Berry. It’s easy to cite that as the main reason the former is far ahead of the latter on the Colts’ all-time receiving list. Well, you can tell yourself whatever you’d like to hear. The fact remains that Harrison stuffed the stat sheet, scored a heaping pile of touchdowns, and embarrassed countless defenders in the process.
Here’s a quick comparison to put things in perspective: Harrison played in 21 fewer games than Wayne yet scored 46 more touchdowns. The 1996 first-round pick was a man among boys, playing a pivotal role on some of the Indianapolis’ most successful offenses of the 1990s and 2000s.
How lucky can the Colts be to have a quarterback as talented as Johnny Unitas land at No. 2 on their all-time list? Seriously, the guy is a legend who many consider one of the greatest to ever play the game.
And yet, here he is as the second-best Colt to ever sling it.
Many folks would argue that Unitas belongs in the No. 1 spot — it’s an understandable stance. He was light years ahead of his time, serving as one of the first truly dominant quarterbacks in pro football history. While the rest of the league was still trying to figure out the forward pass, Unitas was busy carving up secondaries.
When Unitas hung up his cleats for good, he was the leader in nearly every Colts passing category imaginable. Although his records were all crushed by another legend during the modern era, his feats during the franchise’s days in Baltimore were truly amazing.
I could also point out that Unitas won four championships, three MVP awards, was named to 10 Pro Bowls and eight All-Pro teams and led the NFL in passing yards for three straight seasons. Realistically though, you already know how stellar Unitas’ career was.
I know there are plenty of Colts fans out there who believe Johnny Unitas deserved this spot, and they’d have a solid argument. However, there’s no logical way (at least in my mind) to say that Peyton Manning isn’t the greatest player to ever suit up for the Colts.
Sure, it’s easy to just point at his never-ending list of awards as reason for this ranking. The NFL’s all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns, a 14-time Pro Bowler, a seven-time First-Team All-Pro, a five-time NFL MVP and a two-time Super Bowl champion, Manning is the prototype for a pocket passer.
Even before he joined the Denver Broncos, Manning’s career was already worthy of GOAT status. His understanding of and ability to manipulate defenses was uncanny, as shown by his famous pre-snap audibles. The guy understood football on a level that almost no one else can, and it helped him dissect defenses like no other.
Now, he’s enjoying retirement with a unanimous first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Fame induction just around the corner. He’s certainly one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever toss a pigskin, and the best Colts player to ever grace the gridiron.