15 years ago, the Indianapolis Colts won a Super Bowl. How long before the franchise wins another?
On February 4, 2007, the Indianapolis Colts won a Super Bowl over the Chicago Bears. Led by Super Bowl MVP, Peyton Manning, Indy won 29-17.
The game is famous for legendary Bears returner, Devin Hester, taking the opening kick back for a Chicago score. Many thought that was a sign that it would be a long day for Indianapolis.
However, the game was ultimately a close contest until Kelvin Hayden recorded a pick-six for the Colts to get some breathing room in the fourth quarter.
February 4, 2007. The greatest day in #Colts franchise history:
— Locked On Colts Podcast (@LockedOnColts) April 10, 2020
- Peyton ➡️ Reggie answers Hester's TD
- Bob Sanders puts his fingerprints all over this one with forced fumble + INT
- Dominic Rhodes runs wild on Chicago
- Kelvin Hayden ices it with pick 6 pic.twitter.com/dkTWG70zQI
This was a monumental moment in franchise history, a Super Bowl always is, but it means more for franchisees who don’t get them often.
Super Bowl 41 was the Colts’ second Super Bowl victory in franchise history. The first was Super Bowl 5 in 1970 when the team was the Baltimore Colts.
Prior to the merger, the franchise did win three NFL championships in a decade, led by Johnny Unitas. But since his final title in 1970, it has been a rough climb for the franchise to consistently get to the top.
Will it be another 36 years between the Colts’ Super Bowl wins?
How long before the Colts win another Super Bowl?
It’s hard to predict Super Bowl champions but if it’s another 21 years before Indianapolis wins its next championship, that would be a failure by the franchise.
After all, Colts owner, Jim Irsay, did guarantee at least two Lombardis this decade.
Colts Nation,don’t you worry…we’re gonna get The Horseshoe at least 2 Lombardis this decade…as sure as the sun rises and the seasons change,it’s COMING🏈💪🏼! Don’t you ever doubt that,EVER! YOU WILL SEE GREATNESS🏈 BELIEVE AND YOU WILL SEE🏈💪🏼🙏🏼
— Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) October 12, 2021
The good news is, the current team isn’t far from being a contender. Sure, they missed the playoffs this year but that was because of a slow start and an epic collapse in the final two games.
There was a stretch of the season when Indy looked like the best team in the NFL and it wasn’t a fluke. Indianapolis can really run the ball on anyone and the defense has a special ability to generate turnovers.
Even with all the criticism, Carson Wentz had stretches of reliable football. It’s fair to assume that the Colts team that “no one wanted to see in the postseason”, can return to the field.
However, they now have the potential to be even more dangerous. Indianapolis had some very obvious flaws last season, from left tackle to receivers and pass rush. If those are addressed this offseason, Indy could be serious contenders.
This is all to say, Colts Nation shouldn’t have to wait until 2042 for another Super Bowl. Winning it all in the NFL is hard, even with a talented roster. But Indianapolis is setting up to be a threat for the next five years.
At least one Super Bowl in the next decade is a reasonable goal for the Colts.
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