History of the Indianapolis Colts facts for kids

The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team. They are based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team plays in the National Football League (NFL). They are part of the American Football Conference (AFC) South Division. The team started in 1953 as the Baltimore Colts in Baltimore, Maryland. They moved to Indianapolis after the 1983 season.

Carroll Rosenbloom brought an NFL team to Baltimore in 1953. He owned the team until 1972. Then he traded it to Robert Irsay. The Baltimore Colts won the NFL Championship in 1958, 1959, and 1968. They lost to the New York Jets in Super Bowl III. The Colts won their first Super Bowl title in 1970. They beat the Dallas Cowboys. Star quarterback Johnny Unitas led the team during this time. He was traded in 1973. After some tough seasons and low fan attendance, the team moved. They moved to Indianapolis in 1984. In Baltimore, the team reached the playoffs ten times. They won four championships.

The Colts had a hard time when they first moved to Indianapolis. From 1984 to 1997, their record was 88 wins and 135 losses. During this time, they had seven different head coaches. They also had seventeen different starting quarterbacks. The team made the playoffs three times. Their best years were 1995 and 1996. Quarterback Jim Harbaugh led them. The 1995 team reached the AFC Championship Game. They lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Robert Irsay owned the Colts until he died in 1997. His son, Jim Irsay, then took over. Jim Irsay is still the owner today.

After a 3-13 season in 1997, the team drafted quarterback Peyton Manning. He played for the Colts for thirteen seasons. This was from 1998 to 2010. With Manning, the Colts had their greatest success. They made the playoffs 11 times. This included nine years in a row from 2002 to 2010. The Colts won eight division titles. They also won two conference championships. These were in 2006 and 2009. The Colts won their second Super Bowl title in 2006. This was their first Super Bowl win in Indianapolis. From 1998 to 2011, the Colts had three coaches. They were Jim Mora, Tony Dungy, and Jim Caldwell. In 2011, Manning was out for the whole season. The team had a 2-14 record. The Peyton Manning era ended in 2012. The team released him after neck surgeries. The Colts started to rebuild. They drafted quarterback Andrew Luck. Luck retired in 2019.

The Baltimore Colts Team

The Baltimore Colts were the team before the Indianapolis Colts. They moved after the 1983 season. This was because of a long argument about their stadium.

Moving to Indianapolis

In the 1970s, the NFL grew from 26 to 28 teams. Indianapolis was one of ten cities considered. But Indianapolis didn't have a good stadium. So, they were not chosen at first.

In 1979, Indianapolis leaders created the Indiana Sports Corporation. Their goal was to attract big sports events. The next year, Mayor William Hudnut started a committee. They looked into building a new stadium for a pro football team. In 1982, construction began on the Hoosier Dome. It was later called the RCA Dome.

On December 18, 1983, the Colts played their last home game in Baltimore. In February 1984, the relationship between owner Robert Irsay and Baltimore was very bad. Baltimore's Mayor Schaefer asked for money to fix Memorial Stadium. The state government did not approve the money until after the Colts' lease ended.

Baltimore offered Irsay a loan and guaranteed ticket sales. But Irsay kept talking to other cities. He narrowed his choices to Phoenix and Indianapolis. Robert Welch, a real estate developer, had been trying to bring an NFL team to Indianapolis. Indiana Pacers' owner Herb Simon helped with talks. Mayor Hudnut then had his deputy, David Frick, start secret talks with the Colts. Robert Irsay visited Indianapolis on February 23.

"He was visibly moved," said former deputy mayor Dave Frick. This was about Irsay seeing the new dome. "Emotionally, he was making the move."

Meanwhile, in Baltimore, things got worse. On March 27, the Maryland government passed a law. It would let Baltimore take ownership of the team. Robert Irsay said this law made him move. The Colts' lawyer said, "They forced him to make a decision that day." Indianapolis offered Irsay a loan and a new training complex. They also offered the new $77.5 million Hoosier Dome.

Irsay agreed to the deal. On March 29, 15 trucks were sent to the team's training complex. This was at 2:00 AM. They feared the team would be taken by the city. Workers loaded everything. The trucks left for Indianapolis. By 10:00 AM, the Colts were gone from Baltimore. Each truck took a different route. This was to confuse the Maryland police. Indiana state troopers met each van at the state line. They escorted them to Indianapolis.

Later, John Moag Jr. from the Maryland Stadium Authority spoke. He said Baltimore's leaders failed to offer a firm stadium plan. This led Irsay to accept Indianapolis's offer. Baltimore Mayor Schaefer was very upset. He had been promised a call if the team moved. After the Colts left, he made building a new stadium his top goal.

Irsay moved the team without the NFL's approval. But the NFL had lost a court case about team moves. So, they did not try to stop Irsay.

Baltimore Moves On

Fans in Baltimore were sad to lose their team. They were also sad to lose the team's name. The Colts name honored the city's horse racing. It also recognized Maryland's horse farms.

Later, in March 1986, Baltimore and the Colts settled their lawsuits. The Colts agreed to support a new NFL team for Baltimore. But many old Baltimore Colts players cut ties with the team. Johnny Unitas was one of them. He only saw himself as a player for the Baltimore Colts.

Despite the agreement, the Irsay family did not support Baltimore's bid for a new team in 1993. This led to the Cleveland Browns moving to Baltimore. On November 6, 1995, Browns owner Art Modell announced his move. This caused more legal issues. Finally, in February 1996, a settlement was reached. The Browns' name, colors, and history stayed in Cleveland. Modell took his players to Baltimore. This new team was seen as an expansion team.

After the Browns moved, Modell offered Irsay $5 million for the Colts heritage. Jim Irsay said it would cost at least $50 million. So, the new Baltimore team was named the Ravens. Fans voted for the name. The Ravens have won Super Bowls in 2000 and 2012.

Early Struggles in Indianapolis (1984–1997)

First Seasons in Indianapolis (1984–1986)

The Colts moved to Indianapolis in 1984. Fans were very excited. Over 143,000 people asked for season tickets in just two weeks. Frank Kush stayed as head coach. Quarterback Mike Pagel started eight games. But the Colts did not find much success. They finished 1984 with a 4–12 record. They were last in the AFC East. Their offense gained the fewest yards in the NFL that season.

Kush quit in December 1984. Hal Hunter replaced him. Then Rod Dowhower took over in 1985. Dowhower also struggled. The Colts had a 5–11 record in 1985. They were again last in the AFC East. In 1986, Dowhower was still coach. But the team started 0–13. Many thought they would lose every game. Dowhower was fired with three games left. Ron Meyer replaced him. The Colts won their first game in week fourteen. They won three straight games. They finished the season with a 3–13 record.

1987: A Playoff Appearance

Ron Meyer continued as head coach in 1987. The team lost its first two games. A player strike caused one game to be canceled. The league used replacement players. After the strike, the Colts made a big trade. They got future Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson. They gave up six draft picks and two players. After Dickerson joined on October 31, the team started winning. They had a 6–3 record later in the season. They finished 9–6. They won the AFC East division. This was their first division title in Indianapolis. It was the first for the Colts since 1977.

The team made the playoffs for the first time in Indianapolis. They played the Cleveland Browns. They lost 38–21. This ended an impressive season.

Playoff Drought (1988–1994)

The future looked good for the Colts. But Meyer did not lead them to another playoff appearance. In 1988, Dickerson played a full season. He again led the league in rushing. But the Colts started 1–5. They finished 9–7. But the 12–4 Buffalo Bills won the division easily. The team got worse in 1989. They finished 8–8.

In 1990, the Colts made another big move. They traded players and draft picks. This was to draft Jeff George with the first pick. But the Colts fell to 7–9 in 1990. Coach Ron Meyer was in trouble. The 1991 team started 0–9. They finished 1–15. This was the worst record for any Indianapolis Colts team. Ron Meyer was replaced after five games. Rick Venturi coached for a bit. He was fired at the end of the season.

In 1992, Ted Marchibroda became the new head coach. He had coached the Baltimore Colts before. The Colts had the number one pick in the 1992 draft. They picked defensive tackle Steve Emtman. Indianapolis also traded Eric Dickerson. The team changed a lot. They went 9–7 in Marchibroda's first season. But they had very few rushing yards. This success did not last. In 1993, they started 3–4. They finished 4–12.

More changes happened in 1994. The Colts traded Jeff George. They drafted running back Marshall Faulk. Faulk became another great Colts running back. Owner Robert Irsay also changed team management. He replaced his son, Jim Irsay, with Bill Tobin as general manager. Tobin helped get quarterback Jim Harbaugh in 1994. These changes helped the Colts. They improved to an 8–8 record in 1994. This was not enough for the playoffs. They had missed the playoffs for seven seasons.

Cardiac Colts (1995 and 1996)

The team kept getting better. This was clear in 1995. The Colts started 1–2. But they finished the season 9–7. The 1995 Colts were called the "Cardiac Colts." This was because of their close games. They often made big comebacks. Quarterback Jim Harbaugh was known for leading late comebacks. He was nicknamed "Captain Comeback."

Indianapolis made the playoffs. It was their first time in eight seasons. They beat the San Diego Chargers 35–20. Then they beat the Kansas City Chiefs 10–7. They reached the AFC Championship Game. This was their first time in Indianapolis. They faced the Steelers. The Steelers were expected to win easily. But the game was very close. The Steelers led 13–9 in the fourth quarter. Harbaugh led the Colts. Receiver Floyd Turner scored a touchdown. The Colts led 16–13. The Steelers took the lead back. But the Colts had five seconds left. Harbaugh threw a long pass to Aaron Bailey. It bounced off Bailey's chest. The Steelers won. The Colts were one catch away from the Super Bowl.

Ted Marchibroda moved to coach the Baltimore Ravens. The Colts hired Lindy Infante. In the 1996 draft, the Colts drafted wide receiver Marvin Harrison. Harrison led the team in receiving in his first year. The Colts started 1996 with a 4–0 record. But they went 5–7 after that. They finished 9–7. They made the playoffs again. But they lost to the Steelers 42–14.

1997 Season

Team owner Robert Irsay died in January 1997. He had brought the team to Indianapolis. His son, Jim Irsay, became the owner. Coach Infante led the team to a 3–13 record in 1997. They finished last in their division. This gave the Colts the number one pick in the draft. The new owner decided to rebuild the team. He would build around that top draft pick.

The Peyton Manning Era (1998–2011)

1998 Offseason Changes

After the 1997 season, Jim Irsay began to rebuild. He fired general manager Tobin. He hired Bill Polian. Polian had led the Buffalo Bills to four Super Bowl appearances. He also helped the Carolina Panthers reach the NFC Championship.

Polian immediately changed the team. He traded quarterback Jim Harbaugh. He fired coach Lindy Infante. He decided to build the Colts through the draft. The Colts had the first pick in the 1998 NFL Draft. Polian and the team chose between Peyton Manning from Tennessee and Ryan Leaf from Washington State. Polian picked Manning. Leaf went to the San Diego Chargers. Leaf was out of football in four years. Manning went on to a Hall of Fame career.

Manning’s Rookie Season (1998)

Jim Irsay and Bill Polian hired Jim Mora as head coach. This was for the 1998 season. With Mora and rookie quarterback Peyton Manning, the Colts had a 3–13 record. They finished last in their division. Manning set NFL rookie records. He threw for 3,739 yards and 26 touchdowns. He was on the NFL All-Rookie First Team. But Manning also threw 28 interceptions. Running back Marshall Faulk had 2,227 total yards. This was a club record.

Playoff Appearances (1999 and 2000)

The Colts got the fourth pick in the 1999 NFL Draft. They picked running back Edgerrin James. The Colts also traded Marshall Faulk to the St. Louis Rams. After these changes, the Colts started 1999 with a 2–2 record. After a loss on October 10, the Colts won eleven games in a row. They won the AFC East division. This was their first division title since 1987. The Colts were the second seed in the AFC with a 13–3 record. They hosted the Tennessee Titans in the playoffs. They lost 19–16.

In 2000, the Colts had a 10–6 record. They finished second in the AFC East. They made the playoffs as the sixth seed. They played the Dolphins. The Colts led at halftime. But they missed a late field goal. The Dolphins scored the winning touchdown. The final score was 23–17. Peyton Manning, Edgerrin James, and Marvin Harrison all played in the Pro Bowl.

2001 Season Struggles

The Colts had high hopes for 2001. They had made the playoffs twice. They drafted Reggie Wayne. But the Colts had a 6–10 record. They missed the playoffs. Their defense was bad. They gave up 486 points. This was about 30 points per game. Despite this, Peyton Manning threw for 4,131 yards. Marvin Harrison had 109 catches. After the season, coach Jim Mora was fired.

Tony Dungy Arrives (2002)

The Colts hired Tony Dungy as head coach. He had coached the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Owner Jim Irsay really wanted Dungy. He called Dungy himself. "I just wanted him to know... there was no other coach on the planet I wanted," Irsay said.

Dungy and the team quickly changed things. They drafted defensive end Dwight Freeney. Freeney set an NFL rookie record. He forced nine fumbles in 2002. He was also runner-up for Defensive Rookie of the Year. The Colts had a 10–6 record. They finished second in the new AFC South division. But they lost in the playoffs. They lost to the New York Jets 41–0. Manning struggled in that game.

Division Championships (2003 and 2004)

After their big playoff loss, the Colts had high hopes for 2003. They started 9–2. They played the New England Patriots. The Patriots were also 9–2. This game was important for home-field advantage. The Colts were at the Patriots' one-yard line late in the game. They could not score. They lost 38–34. But the team finished 12–4. They won the AFC South for the first time. This was their first division title since 1999. Quarterback Peyton Manning won his first NFL Most Valuable Player Award. He shared it with Steve McNair.

Indianapolis won their first home playoff game. They beat the Denver Broncos. Then they beat the Chiefs. They reached the AFC Championship Game. This was their first time since 1995. The Colts faced the Patriots again. This time it was in New England. The Patriots won 24–14. They went to the Super Bowl.

The Colts started 2004 at Gillette Stadium. They played the Patriots again. Colts kicker Mike Vanderjagt missed a field goal. The Patriots won 27–24. After that loss, the Colts had a 12–4 record. They won the AFC South again. They were the third seed in the playoffs. In 2004, Peyton Manning had one of the best seasons ever. The Colts set an NFL record with 49 touchdown passes. Manning won his second NFL MVP award. He broke Dan Marino’s record of 48 touchdown passes.

The Colts beat the Broncos again in the playoffs. Then they played the Patriots again. The Colts lost 20–3. Their season ended without a Super Bowl.

Pursuit To Perfection (2005)

The Colts kept improving their team. They tried to re-sign running back Edgerrin James. But they could not. They kept him with a special tag. They lost some players. But they got cornerback Marlin Jackson in the draft.

The 2005 Colts started 13–0. Peyton Manning and Tony Dungy led them. They beat the Patriots 40–21. Indianapolis lost their first game in week fifteen. They lost to the San Diego Chargers. This ended their perfect season. Manning and Marvin Harrison broke an NFL record. They had the most touchdowns by a quarterback-receiver pair. This was 86 touchdowns.

In week sixteen, Tony Dungy was not with the team. His son had died. The team rested many key players. They lost their second straight game. They lost to the Seattle Seahawks. Dungy returned for the last game. The Colts beat the Arizona Cardinals 17–13. They rested most starters. The team's 14–2 record was their best ever. They won their third AFC South title. They were the top seed in the playoffs.

But on January 15, 2006, the Colts lost. They lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 21–18. This was in the divisional round. The Steelers later won the Super Bowl. The Colts were down 21–10. They scored eight points to make it 21–18. A Steelers player fumbled near the goal line. Nick Harper picked it up. He almost ran it back. But he was tackled. The Colts drove down the field. Mike Vanderjagt missed a 46-yard field goal. This ended one of the Colts' best seasons. They missed the Super Bowl again.

Super Bowl XLI Champions (2006)

The Colts improved their team again in 2006. They drafted running back Joseph Addai. Edgerrin James left. The Colts got former Patriot kicker Adam Vinatieri. He replaced Mike Vanderjagt.

The Colts started 2006 with a 9–0 record. They were the first NFL team to start two straight seasons with nine wins. But they lost three of their next four games. Their run defense was the worst in the league. But they still won their fourth straight AFC South title. They beat the Cincinnati Bengals. Their defense played well. The Colts finished 12–4. They were the third seed in the playoffs. This was their fifth straight season with ten or more wins. Manning and Harrison became the all-time leaders in quarterback-wide receiver touchdowns.

The Colts beat the Kansas City Chiefs 23–8 in the wild card round. Peyton Manning threw three interceptions. But the Colts’ defense held the Chiefs to very few yards. The Colts then beat the Baltimore Ravens 15–6. Kicker Adam Vinatieri made five field goals. Their defense played great again. This win sent the Colts to the AFC Championship Game. It was their first since 2003. They faced the New England Patriots again. This game was at the RCA Dome. It was the first time the AFC Championship was in a dome.

The Colts were down 21–3. But they came back. They beat the Patriots 38–34. This was a classic game. The 18-point comeback was the biggest ever in an NFL conference championship. It was the fourth largest NFL playoff comeback. This win sent the Colts to their first Super Bowl in Indianapolis. It was their first as a team since Super Bowl V.

Indianapolis played the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI. This was in Miami on February 4, 2007. The Bears returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown. Manning threw an early interception. But Indianapolis won 29–17. It rained during the game. This was a first for the Super Bowl. It led to many turnovers. Peyton Manning won Super Bowl MVP. He completed 25 of 38 passes for 247 yards and a touchdown. Running backs Dominic Rhodes and Joseph Addai had 190 rushing yards and a touchdown. Adam Vinatieri made 3 of 4 field goals. On defense, Bob Sanders and Kelvin Hayden intercepted Bears' quarterback Rex Grossman. Hayden returned his for a touchdown. This sealed the Colts’ win.

Indianapolis became the first "dome team" to win a Super Bowl in an outdoor stadium. They were also the first to win in the rain. They were the first to win with the worst rushing defense. Tony Dungy became the first African-American head coach to win a Super Bowl. The Colts became the only team from the AFC South to win a Super Bowl. They were the first team to win a pro sports title for Indianapolis since the Indiana Pacers in the ABA.

Playoff Losses (2007 and 2008)

On February 19, 2007, the Colts kept Dwight Freeney. They signed him to a big contract. He became the highest-paid defensive player.

The Colts kept winning in 2007. They started 7–0. The undefeated Colts and Patriots met. The Patriots won 24–20. They went on to a 16–0 season. The Colts finished 13–3. They won their fifth straight division title. They were the first NFL team with five straight seasons of 12 or more wins. Peyton Manning broke Johnny Unitas’ record for career touchdown passes. Tony Dungy broke the franchise record for wins. Dungy was the only coach in Colts history with 10+ wins and playoff appearances for six straight seasons. But the Colts lost in the playoffs. They lost to the San Diego Chargers 28–24. This was the last Colts game at the RCA Dome.

Tony Dungy said he would coach one more season. The Colts announced Jim Caldwell would be head coach after Dungy retired. Peyton Manning had surgery before the 2008 season. He missed all preseason games.

The Colts started 2008 in their new home. This was Lucas Oil Stadium. They lost to the Chicago Bears. They started 3–4. But they won nine games in a row. They finished 12–4. They made the playoffs as a wild card. This extended their record to six straight seasons with 12 or more wins. Manning won his third NFL MVP award. But the Colts lost to the San Diego Chargers again in the playoffs. Tony Dungy retired after the 2008 season. He finished with a 92–33 record as a Colt.

Lucas Oil Stadium

After 24 years at the RCA Dome, the Colts moved. They moved to Lucas Oil Stadium in 2008. In 2004, Indianapolis and Jim Irsay agreed to a new stadium deal. It cost about $675 million. Lucas Oil paid $122 million for the naming rights.

It is a seven-level stadium. It has a retractable roof. It seats 63,000 for football. It can hold more for other events. It covers 1.8 million square feet. The retractable roof lets the Colts play outdoors. The field is about 25 feet below ground. The new stadium is bigger and better than the RCA Dome. It has more concession stands, escalators, and restrooms. It has HD scoreboards and 142 luxury suites.

Besides the Colts, the stadium hosts many events. It hosts NCAA basketball tournaments. It is a backup host for the Final Four. It also hosts conventions. The stadium hosted Super Bowl XLVI in 2012.

A company from Baltimore oversaw the demolition of the RCA Dome. "It's a little ironic," said Mark Loizeaux. He is the president of the company. He is also a Baltimore Ravens fan.

Conference Champions (2009)

Many changes happened in 2009. Jim Caldwell became head coach. Tony Dungy retired. Clyde Christensen became offensive coordinator. Peyton Manning was the starting quarterback for his twelfth season.

Indianapolis had their best start ever in 2009. The Colts won their first 14 games. This included a comeback win over the Patriots. Manning was sacked only ten times. The Colts could have gone 16–0. But in week sixteen, Jim Caldwell rested the starters. They lost to the New York Jets. Caldwell and Bill Polian were criticized. Fans and experts were upset. But the Colts finished 14–2. This matched their 2005 record. They were the top seed in the AFC playoffs. Manning won his fourth NFL MVP award.

The Colts beat the Baltimore Ravens 20–3 in the playoffs. The Jets had an unexpected playoff run. They beat Cincinnati and San Diego. So, the Colts played the Jets again. This was for the conference title. Indianapolis easily beat the Jets 30–17. They went to their second Super Bowl in three years.

The Colts played the New Orleans Saints in Super Bowl XLIV. Both teams were top seeds. The Colts led 10–0 early. But New Orleans caught up. They used an onside kick after halftime. The game was decided in the fourth quarter. Peyton Manning threw an interception. Saints cornerback Tracy Porter returned it for a touchdown. The Colts made mistakes. The Saints beat the Colts 31–17.

2010 Season

After the Super Bowl loss, the Colts kept rebuilding. The 2010 season started with a loss to the Texans. Manning took many hits. The next week, the Colts hosted the Giants. Peyton easily beat his brother's team 38–14. But the rest of the season had injuries and inconsistent play. The Colts were 6–6 at one point. This ended their streak of seven straight seasons with 12+ wins. But the team won their last four games. They clinched their second straight AFC South title. They also made their ninth straight playoff appearance. This tied an NFL record.

Indianapolis was the third seed in the playoffs. They faced the New York Jets again. This was in the wild-card round. It was a close game. Coach Jim Caldwell made some controversial play calls. A last-second field goal by the Jets ended the Colts’ season. Peyton Manning became a focus of discussion. He was 35. He had neck surgery.

Manning Injury (2011)

Indianapolis had questions about Peyton Manning's health in 2011. He signed a contract extension. But his availability was uncertain due to surgery. A league lockout prevented him from training. He was on the "Physically Unable to Perform" list. Manning was out for the whole season. He had multiple neck surgeries. Veteran quarterback Kerry Collins was signed. This was because of issues with backup quarterbacks Curtis Painter and Dan Orlovsky.

For the first time since 1997, Peyton Manning did not lead the Colts. Collins led them in a 34–7 loss. The season got worse without Manning. The team was 0–3. Curtis Painter started after Collins got hurt. The Colts were 0–11. This included a 62–7 loss to the Saints. Dan Orlovsky replaced Painter. Orlovsky tried to beat the Patriots. But the Colts lost 31–24. They were 0–12. Many thought they would lose all 16 games. But the Colts finally won. They beat the Titans and Texans. They finished 2–14. This was their second-worst record in Indianapolis. This record gave the Colts the number one pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. It also caused talk about Manning's future.

The Peyton Manning era ended on March 8, 2012. Jim Irsay announced Manning was released. Manning later signed with the Denver Broncos. Manning's health was improving. But Irsay said the Colts were rebuilding. Manning was 36. Irsay felt he could not win another Super Bowl before the rebuild finished. Also, the Colts would have owed him $20 million if he stayed one more week.

Rebuilding and the Andrew Luck Era (2012–2018)

2012 Offseason Changes

Jim Irsay started rebuilding after 2011. After releasing Peyton Manning, Irsay fired team president Bill Polian. He also fired his son, Chris Polian. This ended Bill Polian's 14 years with the team. Head coach Jim Caldwell was also fired. Irsay hired Ryan Grigson as general manager. He hired Chuck Pagano as head coach. The Colts also cut many veteran players from the Manning era. These included Joseph Addai, Dallas Clark, and Gary Brackett.

All these changes led to the draft. The Colts picked Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck first overall. They also picked tight end Coby Fleener from Stanford.

Return to the Playoffs (2012–2014)

2012 Season

The Colts started 2012 with new coaches and players. Many expected them to struggle. They thought it would be a rebuilding year. In his first game, Andrew Luck threw for 309 yards. But the Colts lost 41–21. The Colts were 1–2 in their first three games. They won their first game in week two.

During the bye week, coach Chuck Pagano was diagnosed with leukemia. He would miss much of the season. Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians became interim head coach. In their first game without Pagano, the Colts played the Green Bay Packers. The Packers had a 15–1 record the year before. The Colts stunned the Packers. They won 30–27. They came back from a 21–3 deficit.

After the Green Bay win, Indianapolis went 5–1 in their next six games. They lost only to the Jets. The Colts were 6–3. They had a chance for the playoffs. They lost to New England again. But they won five of their next six games. They finished 11–5. This guaranteed them a playoff spot. Chuck Pagano returned for week 17. The Colts beat the Texans 28–16. Luck set a rookie record for passing yards. He threw for 4,374 yards.

The Colts played the Baltimore Ravens in the playoffs. But they could not score touchdowns. They lost 24–9.

2013 Season

The team's success with Luck continued in 2013. In week three, Luck played against his old Stanford coach, Jim Harbaugh. This was in San Francisco. Luck played well. The defense was strong. Luck threw for 159 yards. He rushed for 24 yards. He scored a touchdown late in the game. The Colts won 27–7. New running back Trent Richardson scored a touchdown on his first carry.

In Week 6, Peyton Manning returned to Lucas Oil Stadium. The Colts hosted the 5–0 Denver Broncos. Emotions were high. The Colts played a video thanking Manning. The Colts led 26–14 at halftime. They were up 36–17 in the fourth quarter. Manning and the Broncos came back with two late touchdowns. But the Colts held on. They beat their former hero 39–33. Luck played well. He completed 21 of 38 passes for 228 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also had a rushing touchdown.

After beating the Broncos, the Colts beat Houston. They had a 6–2 record. The Colts won the AFC South again. They finished 11–5. But the second half of the season had some bad losses. They lost 38–8 to the St. Louis Rams. They lost 40–11 to the Arizona Cardinals.

The Colts made the playoffs again. They hosted the Kansas City Chiefs. The Colts had beaten the Chiefs two weeks earlier. But they fell behind 38–10 in the third quarter. This was due to turnovers. The offense struggled. In the third quarter, the defense played better. The offense came alive. The Colts scored three touchdowns. They cut the Chiefs' lead to 41–38. Andrew Luck scooped up a fumble. He scored a touchdown. Kansas City scored a field goal. The Colts got the ball back. Wide receiver T. Y. Hilton caught a 64-yard touchdown pass from Luck. The Colts led 45–44. They stopped Kansas City. They won the game. This was the second-largest playoff comeback in NFL history. Luck threw for 443 yards and four touchdowns. Hilton had 224 yards and two touchdowns.

The next week, the Colts played New England. Luck threw four interceptions. The Colts gave up six rushing touchdowns. This was the second-most in NFL playoff history. They lost 43–22. Their season ended.

2014 Season

Indianapolis started 2014 with two losses. They lost to the Denver Broncos and the Philadelphia Eagles. But they came back. They were 6–3 at their bye week. The Colts finished 11–5 again. They won the AFC South for the third straight year. The Colts also had 300+ passing yards in eight straight games. This was a Super Bowl era record.

In the wild-card round, the Colts hosted the Cincinnati Bengals. The game was close at halftime. The Colts scored 13 unanswered points in the second half. Luck threw a 36-yard touchdown pass to Donte Moncrief. The Colts defense played well. They held the Bengals to 254 yards. They sacked quarterback Andy Dalton three times. The Colts won 26–10. This was the Bengals' fifth wild card loss in six seasons.

The Colts then played Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos. The Broncos had beaten them earlier. The Colts' offensive line played great. They did not allow a sack. Andrew Luck threw for 265 yards and two touchdowns. Manning struggled. He completed 26 of 46 passes for 211 yards. The Broncos only converted 25% of their third downs. The Colts won 24–13. This was Manning's ninth playoff loss in his first game. It was Luck's third playoff win. Manning did not reach this until his seventh year.

Indianapolis played the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game. This was their first conference title game since 2009. The Colts started slow. They were down 17–7 at halftime. They lost 45–7. This was the second-most lopsided AFC Championship game. Andrew Luck played poorly. He completed only 36% of his passes. He had 126 yards and two interceptions. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady threw three touchdowns. Running back LeGarrette Blount ran for 148 yards and three scores. The Patriots went on to win the Super Bowl. This was the Colts' sixth straight loss to the Patriots. Luck had lost to New England four times.

After the game, controversy arose. The Patriots were accused of underinflating footballs. This became the Deflategate scandal. Some called for New England to be disqualified from the Super Bowl.

Luck Injuries and Quarterback Struggles (2015–2017)

2015 Season

The Colts had gone 11–5 and won the AFC South for three straight years. But in 2015, they started 3–5. Their three wins were against division opponents. Two wins were led by 40-year-old backup quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. He replaced Andrew Luck, who had a shoulder injury. After some close losses, the Colts fired offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton. Rob Chudzinski replaced him. The next week, the Colts beat the Denver Broncos 27–24. This was Peyton Manning's last game against his old team. But after the game, it was revealed Luck had a lacerated kidney. He was out for the rest of the season.

Hasselbeck led the Colts to two more wins. But then they lost 45–10 to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Hasselbeck left the game with neck and shoulder pain. Charlie Whitehurst replaced him. Hasselbeck started the next three games. But Whitehurst replaced him in each. The Colts' quarterback situation was bad. They signed Josh Freeman and Ryan Lindley for the last game. These two quarterbacks had not played all season. They led the Colts to a 30–24 win over the Tennessee Titans. The Colts finished 8–8. But they missed the playoffs. The Texans won their division. This was the first time the Colts missed the playoffs since 2011.

There was talk that coach Chuck Pagano might be fired. But he was given a contract extension. General manager Ryan Grigson also got an extension.

2016 Season

The Colts’ 2016 season started well for Andrew Luck. But not for the defense. Seven key defensive backs were hurt. The Colts signed Antonio Cromartie. The defense allowed many passing yards and touchdowns. The Colts lost their first game. They lost the next game too. They started 0–2 again. The team finished 8–8. They missed the playoffs again. They were swept by the Houston Texans for the first time.

2017 Season: No Luck

Andrew Luck had a shoulder injury from 2015. He had surgery. But he was not ready to play in 2017. He needed more surgery. The Colts traded receiver Phillip Dorsett. They got quarterback Jacoby Brissett. After a bad performance by Scott Tolzien, Brissett became the starter. The Colts struggled in 2017. They finished 4–12. Coach Chuck Pagano was fired.

2018 Season

The Colts tried to hire Josh McDaniels as head coach. He was the Patriots' offensive coordinator. They even announced it. But McDaniels backed out. He returned to the Patriots. The Colts then hired Frank Reich as head coach. Reich had been the offensive coordinator for the Super Bowl champion Eagles. He was also a backup quarterback for the Buffalo Bills.

Andrew Luck was cleared from his shoulder surgery. He returned in 2018. The Colts started weak. But they won nine of their last ten games. They clinched a playoff spot at 10–6. They were the third team to make the playoffs after starting 1–5. They beat the Houston Texans in the wild-card round. But they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 31–13 in the Divisional round.

Post Andrew Luck Era (2019-2022)

2019 Season

During a preseason game on August 24, 2019, Andrew Luck announced his retirement. He said he had not been planning to announce it until the next day. But news broke during the game. Luck said, "I've been stuck in this process. I haven't been able to live the life I want to live. It's taken the joy out of this game. The only way forward for me is to remove myself from football. This is not an easy decision. It's the hardest decision of my life. But it is the right decision for me."

After Luck's retirement, backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett became the starter again.

Before the 2020 season, the Colts signed Philip Rivers as their starting quarterback.

2020 Season

With Rivers and a top-ranked defense, the Colts went 11–5. They returned to the playoffs. But they lost 27–24 to the Buffalo Bills. After 17 seasons, Rivers retired. Offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni became the Head Coach for the Philadelphia Eagles.

2021 Season

The Colts got QB Carson Wentz in a trade. Second-year players like running back Jonathon Taylor and wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. led the offense. The defense was still top 10. The Colts were 9–7 going into the last game. A win would get them into the playoffs. But they lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars. They finished 9–8 and missed the playoffs. Many fans wanted coach Frank Reich fired. They also wanted Wentz released or traded. Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus became the Head Coach for the Chicago Bears.

2022 Season

New defensive coordinator Gus Bradley and the defense played well in 2022. But the offense struggled. Recently acquired quarterback Matt Ryan struggled. He was replaced by Sam Ehlinger midseason. After a 3–5–1 start, the Colts fired head coach Frank Reich. They surprised everyone by naming Jeff Saturday interim head coach. He was a retired center and ESPN analyst. Under Saturday, the Colts went 1–7. This included a loss to the Minnesota Vikings. They led that game 33–0 at halftime. This set a new record for the largest blown lead in NFL history. The Colts finished 4–12–1. They earned the 4th pick in the 2023 NFL draft.

The Shane Steichen Era (2023–Present)

On February 14, 2023, Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen was hired. He became the Colts' new head coach. In free agency, the Colts signed quarterback Gardner Minshew. They also signed kicker Matt Gay to a big deal.

On August 15, 2023, Coach Steichen named Richardson the starting quarterback. He was chosen over Gardner Minshew and Sam Ehlinger. Richardson became the first rookie quarterback in NFL history to rush for a touchdown in his first three games. On October 18, 2023, the Colts announced Richardson would miss the rest of the season. He had a shoulder injury. He had surgery on October 24. Steichen named Minshew the starter.

The Colts' 2023 season had key injuries. Richardson and All-Pro running back Jonathan Taylor were hurt. But the Colts improved their record. They finished 9–8. They just missed the playoffs. They lost to the Houston Texans in the last game.