The Indianapolis Colts are one of the most legendary franchises in NFL history, dating back to 1946 in Baltimore. And while there are countless star players who have stood out during the Colts' storied history, the people off the field have made a big difference, too.
There have been numerous coaches that were successful with the Colts; of the 22 head coaches that ever led the team, over half of them had at least a .500 winning record. But there are always those few that will stand out above the rest - and these are our picks for the greatest Indianapolis Colts coaches of all time.
5. Ted Marchibroda
Originally a quarterback, Marchibroda had two separate stints as a head coach for the Colts, first in Baltimore in the 70s and then in Indianapolis in the 90s. With his two seasons combined, he has the third highest number of wins among all Indianapolis head coaches, with 71.
He led the Colts to the playoffs multiple times, and was a relatively consistent coach. The Colts won the AFC East division his first three years as coach, and then in 1995, took the Colts to the AFC Championship Game. He was named the NFL Coach of the Year in 1975, and inducted into the Colts' Ring of Honor in 2002.
4. Don McCafferty
McCafferty only served as head coach for the Colts from 1970 - 1972, but he made a huge impact in that short time. He led the Colts to the Super Bowl his very first year, and then to the AFC Championship the next.
His time in Baltimore could have been longer; however, arguments with Joe Thomas, the general manager at the time, led to his leaving the Colts for the Detroit Lions. Thomas wanted McCafferty to bench the legendary Johnny Unitas; McCafferty refused, and Thomas fired him for it. His replacement, John Sandusky, was nowhere near as successful as his predecessor had been.
Tragically, we'll never know how much more success McCafferty may have had as a head coach with the Lions; he passed away in 1973 of a heart attack. But that Super Bowl championship earns him a spot on this list.
3. Don Shula
The legendary Shula edges out Marchibroda at 73 wins with the Colts franchise, and while he's more well-known for his time with the Miami Dolphins, he worked his magic in Baltimore, too.
Under Shula, the Colts didn't have a single season with a losing record, and he did this at just 33 years old. In his seven seasons with the Colts, he was named the NFL Coach of the Year three times. He took the Colts to the playoffs, including to championship games and the Super Bowl, on a regular basis. The fact that he wasn't a Super Bowl champion with the Colts leaves him to frequently be overlooked, particularly in comparison to his incredible run in Miami, but Shula should be remembered by Indianapolis fans for what he did for the Colts, too.
#2: Weeb Ewbank
Ewbank coached the Baltimore Colts from 1954 through 1962, and he was excellent at developing his players into the best they could be - which is why his record got progressively better throughout his time in Baltimore. He led the Colts to back-to-back Championships in 1958 and 1959, and he also was the person responsible for drafting, signing, and developing multiple players into future Hall-of-Famers.
Not everyone loved Ewbank; various players have mixed feelings about him. Some loved him, while others hated him. But his successes can't be ignored. He's been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Indiana Football Hall of Fame, and as the first coach to lead the Colts to a winning record, he deserves a place in Colts' lore.
#1. Tony Dungy
Could anyone be number one but Tony Dungy? He has, by far, the highest number of wins during his time with the Colts, and while he did only win one Super Bowl during his seven seasons in Indianapolis, he still shattered numerous records -- including being the first Black coach to win the Super Bowl.
Under Dungy, the Colts went to the playoffs every single year. He isn't just the best head coach for the Colts; he's easily one of the best head coaches of all time. He's been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Colts' Ring of Honor, and is still considered to be the moral compass of the NFL today.