indianapolis colts history
indianapolis colts history
Could this be the year that Indianapolis Colts ticket holders get to celebrate a Super Bowl? Will Peyton Manning and company finally break through in 2005? Will the RCA Dome turf be scorched again by the Colts high-octane offense? Will Coach Tony Dungy ever be able to implement a stingy system like he had in Tampa Bay? The answers to these questions will have to wait until the end of the year, but one thing is certain. It is going to be a heck of a good time for Colts fans regardless. After all, buying Indianapolis Colts tickets is akin to watching a big-budget action movie: There are relentless offensive explosions, a dashing set of heroes, and the good guys almost always win.
The Colts got their start in Miami, as the Seahawks. The franchise became the Colts and moved to Baltimore in 1946. The brand new team struggled to a 2-11-1 record and soon the team’s ineptness began to hurt the franchise financially. The team folded in two years.
In 1953, the Colts were back in Baltimore and stayed there for the next 30 years. In those years, Colts ticket holders were able to enjoy some of the greatest football in the history of the NFL. Legends like Johnny Unitas, Don Shula, and Marion Berry took the franchise to great heights, bringing them world championships in 1958 and 1959.
From there Unitas went on to become a legend, setting records for completions in a season and becoming larger than the sport itself. He became the NFL's answer to baseball's Mickey Mantle. Kids grew up idolizing him, getting crew cuts in reverence to the ultimate quarterback.
In 1968, the Colts advanced to their first Super Bowl but lost to a mouthy quarterback named Joe Nameth, who guaranteed a win before the game. It would go down as one of the greatest upsets in sports history.
Baltimore would make it back to the big game in the 1970 season, beating the Dallas Cowboys for their first Super Bowl win. Ticket holders are still waiting for their second chance at an NFL title.
The team was relocated in 1984 and came to call Indianapolis home. The football-starved city was only too happy to welcome the struggling franchise.
In 1995, the Colts took the NFL by storm, pushing their way into the playoffs, and pushing around teams that were supposed to dispose of them easily. Quarterback Jim Harbaugh earned his nickname "Captain Comeback" with two fourth-quarter comebacks before succumbing to the Pittsburgh Steelers when a final Harbaugh Hail Mary went unanswered. Ticket holders got to see Indy return to the playoffs the following year, but Harbaugh's magic was not enough to advance.
Much to the delight of Indianapolis Colts ticket holders, the next wave of Indy greats came in the late 90's, as Peyton Manning joined running back Edgerrin James and receiver Marvin Harris and created one of the most feared triplets the NFL has ever seen.
The Holy Trinity has been together for over five years now, and the Colts offense continues to feast on opponents. But the Achilles heel has always been the defense. Off-season moves looked to remedy this deficit, as the Colts were able to add Corey Simon to the mix. His addition, along with Pro Bowl defensive end Dwight Feeney, up front should give Tony Dungy’s defensive line instant credibility. With the firepower of Peyton and company a credible defense may be all that Indianapolis needs to punch the Colts tickets to the Super Bowl.
