NFL Team History - The Indianapolis Colts

The Colts franchise originated in Miami, Florida, and the team was known as the Miami Seahawks. The Seahawks franchise began playing in the All-American Football Conference in 1946. Following a woeful season which ended with a record of 3-11, the Miami Seahawks were relocated to Baltimore, Maryland in 1947. To concur with the repositioning, the Miami Seahawks became the Baltimore Colts. The Colts joined the National Football League in 1950 along with the Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers.

Due in large part to monetary impediments from a 1-11 losing season in 1950, Colts owner, Abraham Watner, sold the team as well as the players' contracts to the NFL for a sum of $50,000. The team resurfaced in 1953 as Carroll Rosenbloom, leading a Baltimore-based group, acquired the rights to a Baltimore NFL franchise.

In 1958, led by head coach Weeb Eubanks and quarterback Johnny Unitas, the Baltimore Colts challenged the New York Giants in the NFL Championship showdown, and proceeded to win by a score of 23-17. This became the Colts first NFL Championship.

A year later, the Colts replicated their championship season as they defeated the New York Giants 31-16. They returned to the NFL's crown jewel event in 1964, only to be shutout by the Cleveland Browns 27-0.

Following a brilliant season in 1968 in which the Colts boasted a record of 13-1, they claimed the NFL Championship by defeating the Cleveland Browns. With their regular season record and their NFL Championship triumph, members of the media were motivated to declare the Colts as 'the greatest pro football team of all time'.

The Colts faced the New York Jets in Super Bowl III, and were significantly favored to win by a 17 point spread over the American Football League champion New York Jets. Conversely, the Jets stunned the Colts with a 16-7 victory. This game has been recognized as perhaps the greatest upset in sports history. Also noteworthy, the opposing quarterback Joe Namath guaranteed a Jets victory , therefore the loss was that much more stinging.