9 Best Indianapolis Colts of All Time, Ranked

With Peyton Manning under center, the Indianapolis Colts were one of the best teams in the NFL during the 2000s. It’s too bad this was before legal online sports betting because those Colts teams would’ve been often featured in football parlays. 

During the 2000s, the Colts appeared in two Super Bowls. Looking at the NFL betting odds, they were 7-point favourites in Super Bowl XLI, where they won, and 5-point favourites in Super Bowl XLIV, where they lost to the New Orleans Saints. 

The Colts also had plenty of success before this era, winning three NFL championships and two Super Bowls, including XLI. 

With so much history, including their years in Baltimore, it took some time, but I’ve put together the nine best Colts players in franchise history. 

9 Best Indianapolis Colts of All Time, Ranked

1. Peyton Manning

Manning played in 208 games for the Colts from 1998 to 2010 before missing all of the 2011 season with a neck injury and departing for the Denver Broncos in 2012. 

In that time, Manning completed 4,682 passes on 7,210 attempts, 54,828 passing yards, and 399 touchdowns. These are all Colts records. 

Manning threw for 4,00 yards or more in 11 of his 13 seasons with Indianapolis. 

He won Super Bowl XLI with the Colts and was the MVP after completing 25 of 38 passes for 247 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. 

Manning won four league MVP awards with the Colts and was the Offensive Player of the Year in 2004. 

The Man of the Year in 2005, Manning was also a five-time first-team All-Pro, a three-time second-team All-Pro, went to 11 Pro Bowls, won two Bert Bell Awards, and led the league in passing yards twice, passing touchdowns three times, passer rating three times, and completion percentage once. 

He’s in the Colts Ring of Honor, and they retired his No. 18. 

Manning is enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 

September 6, 1998.

A rookie QB named Peyton Manning threw his first NFL TD pass.

📺 #JAXvsIND | 9/10 on FOX pic.twitter.com/XEhJ8i8tHp

— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) September 6, 2023

2. Johnny Unitas 

Playing 206 games for the Colts, Unitas completed 2,796 passes on 5,110 attempts for 39,768 yards and 287 passing touchdowns. These are all second in Colts history. 

He was the starting quarterback for Super Bowl V and won three NFL Championships with the team in 1958, 1959, and 1968. 

Unitas won three MVP awards, was the Man of the Year in 1970, a five-time first-team All-Pro, a three-time second-team All-Pro, went to 10 Pro Bowls, and led the league in passing yards four times, passing touchdowns four times, passer rating twice, and completion percentage once. 

In addition to winning three Bert Bell Awards, the Colts retired his No. 19. 

He’s enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 

3. Raymond Berry

Designated as a split end, Berry played in 154 games from 1955 to 1967 with the Colts. He caught 631 passes (tied for third) for 9,275 yards (fourth) and 68 touchdowns (third). 

With the Colts, he won two NFL Championships, was a three-time first-team All-Pro and a three-time second-team All-Pro, went to six Pro Bowls, and led the league in receiving yards and receptions three times and receiving touchdowns twice. 

He’s in the Colts Ring of Honor, the team retired his No. 82, and he’s enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 

4. Marvin Harrison

Harrison holds Colts records in targets (1,781), receptions (1,102), receiving yards (14,580), and touchdowns (128). He played in 190 games for the Colts from 1996 to 2008 and was part of the Super Bowl XLI squad. 

He was a three-time first-team All-Pro and five-time second-team All-Pro, played in eight Pro Bowls, led the NFL in receiving yards and receptions twice, and was the co-leader in receiving touchdowns once. 

Harrison is in the Colts Ring of Honor and enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 

5. Gino Marchetti

Playing defensive end and offensive tackle for the Colts from 1953 to 1964 and again in 1966. Marchetti’s sacks data dates back to 1960, eight years after he started playing. From 1960 to 1966 (excluding 1965, as he didn’t play), Marchetti recorded 56 sacks. He didn’t have one in his final season, but in the five years before, he had four double-digit sack seasons and 8.5 in 1963. 

Even without eight years of official data, his 56 sacks are tied for fifth in Colts history. 

He was a two-time NFL Champion, was a nine-time first-team All-Pro, a second-team All-Pro, went to 11 Pro Bowls, and led the NFL in sacks in 1960. 

The Colts retired his No. 89, and he’s enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 

6. Lenny Moore

Moore was designated a halfback and flanker for the Colts from 1956 to 1967. In that time, he won two NFL Championships, was the NFL MVP and Comeback Player of the Year in 1964, was the Rookie of the Year in 1956, a five-time first-team All-Pro, a two-time second-team All-Pro, went to seven Pro Bowls, and led the NFL in rushing and scoring in 1964. 

He rushed 1,069 times (seventh) for 5,174 yards (fifth) and 63 touchdowns (second). 

Moore is tied for the NFL record for most consecutive games with a touchdown at 18. His No. 24 was retired by the team, and he’s enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 

7. John Mackey

A tight end, Mackey played for the Colts from 1963 to 1971. He caught 320 passes (11th) for 5,126 yards (eighth) and 38 touchdowns (ninth).

He was part of the Super Bowl V squad, won an NFL Championship in 1986, was a three-time first-team All-Pro, and went to five Pro Bowls. 

Mackey is enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 

8. Edgerrin James

James holds Colts records in rush attempts (2,188), rushing yards (9,226), and rushing touchdowns (64). 

He was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1999, was a first-team All-Pro, a two-time second-team All-Pro, went to four Pro Bowls, led the NFL in rushing twice, and is in the Colts Ring of Honor. 

James is enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 

9.  Reggie Wayne

Wayne wrapped up his career with the Colts in 2014 after starting there in 2001. He finished just over 200 yards shy of Harrison’s receiving yards record with the Colts, with 14,345 yards. He saw 1,714 targets, caught 1,070 of them, and had 82 touchdowns, which are all second in Colts history. 

However, one record he holds for the Colts is games played with 211. 

He was part of the Super Bowl XLI team, was a first-team All-Pro, a two-time second-team All-Pro, went to six Pro Bowls, and is in the Colts Ring of Honor.