Summary
The Baltimore Colts were an NFL franchise from 1953-1983, winning three NFL titles and a Super Bowl. Quarterback John Unitas, the face of the franchise, took the field for injured starter George Shaw in 1956. He led the Colts to a .500 record the rest of that season and would go on to become a Hall of Famer and one of the city's most beloved athletes of all-time. In 1958, the Colts defeated the Giants at Yankee Stadium in what became known as "The Greatest Game Ever Played." The game boosted the NFL's popularity, due largely to the fact that it was broadcast to a national television audience. Running back Alan Ameche scored from 1 yard out to give the Colts a 23-17 win in the first overtime game ever and t...
The Baltimore Colts were an NFL franchise from 1953-1983, winning three NFL titles and a Super Bowl. Quarterback John Unitas, the face of the franchise, took the field for injured starter George Shaw in 1956. He led the Colts to a .500 record the rest of that season and would go on to become a Hall of Famer and one of the city's most beloved athletes of all-time. In 1958, the Colts defeated the Giants at Yankee Stadium in what became known as "The Greatest Game Ever Played." The game boosted the NFL's popularity, due largely to the fact that it was broadcast to a national television audience. Running back Alan Ameche scored from 1 yard out to give the Colts a 23-17 win in the first overtime game ever and their first championship. The Colts found themselves in a familiar spot in 1959, facing the Giants again in the NFL championship game, which was played at Memorial Stadium this time. New York took a 9-7 lead, but Unitas led the Colts to 24 fourth-quarter points and a 31-16 victory for their second straight title. Weeb Ewbank coached the Colts from 1954-1962. The franchise's first owner was Carroll Rosenbloom. After the Colts finished 7-7 in 1962, Ewbank was fired and Don Shula was brought in. Shula helped the Colts to a 12-2 record in 1964, and Unitas was named the league's Most Valuable Player. But the Colts lost to the Cleveland Browns in the NFL championship game. The Colts played in Super Bowl III in 1968 behind quarterback Earl Morall, who won the MVP filling in for an injured Unitas. However, they were defeated by quarterback Joe Namath, former Colts coach Ewbank and the Jets in what some consider the biggest upset in NFL history. The Colts were shifted to the AFC in 1970 as part of the NFL-AFL merger. They advanced to the Super Bowl for the second time in three years and won this time, defeating the Dallas Cowboys for the championship. In 1972, the Colts had their first losing record since 1955, and Unitas was traded after the season. The Colts won three straight AFC East titles from 1975-1977 under Ted Marchibroda. The franchise selected future Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway with the first pick in the 1983 draft, but he refused to join the team. The Colts played their final game in Baltimore on Dec. 18, 1983. Owner Robert Irsay, who took over the team in 1972, began to think about moving the Colts to another city in the offseason because of poor attendance and an aging Memorial Stadium. The Maryland legislature tried to use eminent domain laws to keep the team in Baltimore, so Irsay used now infamous Mayflower vans to take the team to Indianapolis in the middle of the night. Colts fans woke up the next morning without a football team. The Indianapolis team kept the Colts' records, uniforms and logo, which angers Baltimore fans to this day. Baltimore was without a professional football team until 1996 when the Ravens arrived. The original Baltimore Colts played in Baltimore from 1947-1950 as part of the All-America Football Conference. The following players have had their numbers retired: Unitas, Buddy Young, Lenny Moore, Art Donovan, Jim Parker, Raymond Berry and Gino Marchetti.
» Search within 616 items
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11-20
>
616 items on Baltimore Colts
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11-20
>
-
A fan's guide
Sun ReporterJust as it did back in the days of Johnny U. and the old Colts, Westminster is starting to feel like home for Ray Lewis and Co. This will be the 13th summer for the Ravens, compared with 21 years for their pro football predecessors. Here are a few ideas...Tags: Agriculture, Owen Wilson, Kirstie Alley, Ray Lewis, Brian Billick
-
Story Lines For NFL Season
By PAUL DOYLE / Courant Staff WriterAs the NFL returns with training camps opening around the country this week, we offer 10 story lines to consider: SUPER BOWL HANGOVER When the Giants won Super Bowls after the 1986 and 1990 seasons, they failed to make the playoffs the next year. So...Tags: Peyton Manning, Terrell Owens, John Beck, Jason Taylor, Ricky Williams
-
Another team gets off the Island
shaun.powell@newsday.comThis is nothing like the Baltimore Colts, who sneaked out of town in the middle of the night, but the moving vans are coming this way, anyway. They'll line up outside Weeb Ewbank Hall and form a caravan that will snake its way over the George Washington...Tags: Weeb Ewbank, Vinny Testaverde, Long Island, Jim Brown, Julius Erving
-
Are you ready for some football?
Tribune staff reporterYes, the Bears have some issues as they head into training camp this week. But they are not alone. Each of the 32 teams in the NFL will be trying to answer deep questions, tie together loose ends and bury ghosts of the past. Here is a look at the other...Tags: Peyton Manning, Jason Taylor, Shaun Alexander, Al Davis, Ahman Green
-
Another of our teams is whisked off the Island
This is nothing like the Baltimore Colts, who sneaked out of town in the middle of the night, but the moving vans are coming this way, anyway. They'll line up outside Weeb Ewbank Hall and form a caravan that will snake its way over the George Washington...Tags: Weeb Ewbank, Vinny Testaverde, Long Island, Jim Brown, Julius Erving
-
NFL training camp preview
Los Angeles Times Staff WriterIn San Diego and Indianapolis, they're talking about legs. Specifically, the healing wheels of Philip Rivers, Antonio Gates, LaDainian Tomlinson and Peyton Manning. In Green Bay and St. Louis, the buzzword is legacy -- one Brett Favre could be damaging,...Tags: Peyton Manning, Ricky Williams, Superman, Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns
-
20,000 more tickets available for stadium tours
More free tickets for public tours of Lucas Oil Stadium will be available next week. The additional 20,000 tickets for a tour of the new $700 million stadium in downtown Indianapolis will be distributed starting at 10 a.m. Tuesday from Ticketmaster...Tags: Conseco Incorporated, Buffalo Bills, Major League Baseball
-
Joseph L. Fosler, 77
Joseph LeRoy Fosler, a retired University of Maryland police officer and a football fan, died of pneumonia July 8 at Baltimore Washington Medical Center. The Glen Burnie resident was 77. Mr. Fosler, who was born in Baltimore and raised near Johns Hopkins...Tags: Memorial Stadium, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Christianity, Law Enforcement, Roman Catholic
-
Track coach Trevor Graham banned for life by USADA
From Times Staff and Wire ReportsTrack coach Trevor Graham received a lifetime ban from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency on Tuesday for his role in helping his athletes obtain performance-enhancing drugs. Graham has been banned from participating in any event sanctioned by the U.S. Olympic...Tags: Patty Schnyder, Peyton Manning, Claudio Reyna, Tyson Chandler, New York Red Bulls
-
Manning out 4-6 weeks after knee procedure
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning had a medical procedure Monday to remove an infected bursa sac from his left knee. Colts president Bill Polian announced the procedure, described as routine, on Monday night. Polian said the team's medical...Tags: Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, Indianapolis Colts
Jul 20, 2008
|Story| Baltimore Sun
Jul 20, 2008
|Story| Hartford Courant
Jul 20, 2008
|Column| Newsday
Jul 19, 2008
|Story| Chicago Tribune
Jul 19, 2008
|Column| Newsday
Jul 19, 2008
|Story| Los Angeles Times
Jul 17, 2008
|Story| Associated Press
Jul 16, 2008
|Story| Baltimore Sun
Jul 16, 2008
|Story| Los Angeles Times
Jul 15, 2008
|Story| Associated Press
