Who are the five greatest players in Indianapolis Colts history?
Here are some hints: most of them are offensive players and three are enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, OH. All five of them share common ground – they all flourished during the memorable Tony Dungy era from 2002 to 2008.
You will see some familiar names as you go through this list. For the purposes of this article, we will limit the scope to the Indianapolis Colts’ history from 1984 to the present day. We will rank them according to two factors: their career production and long-term impact on the franchise.
Let’s now go on a trip down memory lane.
1.Peyton Manning, QB 1998-2011
Former Colts QB Peyton Manning (18) – Colts.com
Who else?
Nobody made a bigger long-term impact on the Indianapolis Colts than “The Sheriff,” Peyton Manning. The Colts never had a franchise quarterback who had his otherworldly potential since moving to the Circle City in 1984.
Although Jeff George had the potential and the rifle arm, his surly attitude wore thin on his teammates, coaches, and the fans. For his part, Jim “Captain Comeback” Harbaugh had his moments, but he wasn’t the long-term answer under center.
Enter Manning.
From the time Peyton first wore the Horseshoe in the fall of 1998, the Colts knew they had something special. Manning’s chemistry with Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, and Dallas Clark helped Indy become perennial Super Bowl contenders under the leadership of head coach Tony Dungy. Peyton’s rivalry with New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was the stuff of legends.
In Manning’s 14 seasons in Indy he produced 54,828 passing yards, 399 touchdowns, four NFL MVP awards, eight AFC South division titles, one Super Bowl title, and a slew of other accolades. The Colts, who were the NFL’s laughingstock during their early years in Indy, became a juggernaut with Manning at the helm.
Simply put, Peyton Manning is the greatest player in Indianapolis Colts history. His enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021 was the proverbial icing on the cake.
2. Marvin Harrison, WR 1996-2008
Former Colts WR Marvin Harrison (88) – Jamie Squire/Getty Images
If you watched Marvin Harrison play during his iconic 13-year career with the Indianapolis Colts from 1996 to 2008, you’d never thought he was one of the most reserved guys in the locker room.
Harrison’s otherworldly abilities at wide receiver make him one of the greatest Indianapolis Colts of all time. Just when you thought the football was out of his reach, he found a way to catch it with a defender draped all over him. Marvin stood out from a 1996 rookie wide receiver crop that also included Terrell Owens and Keyshawn Johnson, to name a few.
Marvin was Peyton Manning’s most reliable weapon during the latter’s rookie year in 1998. The two established remarkable chemistry during their eleven years together with the Colts.
Harrison had sure hands at the wide receiver spot – he hauled in at least 1,113 receiving yards per year in his first eight NFL seasons from 1999 to 2006. Marvin’s incredible one-handed, juggling touchdown catch against the Patriots in 2006 remains one of his finest moments with the Indianapolis Colts – the way he planted his feet inbounds defied logic.
When Marvin hung up his cleats after the 2008 NFL season, he racked up 14,580 receiving yards and 128 touchdowns on 1,102 receptions. He was also an eight-time Pro Bowler and three-time First-Team All-Pro selection who led the league in receiving yards twice.
When you think back to Indy’s glory days in the 2000s, Marvin Harrison was one of the focal points of a Colts offense that overwhelmed the opposition. Without him, they never would have become the juggernaut they became under Tony Dungy’s leadership. It’s only fitting Harrison earned his rightful place in Canton, OH, in 2016.
3. Reggie Wayne, WR 2001-2014
Former Colts WR Reggie Wayne (87) – Colts.com
Although the Indianapolis Colts had a formidable pass-catch duo of Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison from 1998 to 2000, they sorely needed another wideout to make defenses pay for converging on the latter.
Reggie Wayne was exactly what the Horseshoe needed prior to the 2001 NFL season. The former Miami Hurricanes standout complemented Harrison perfectly: they were both athletic wide receivers who established a great rapport with their quarterback. It also didn’t hurt one bit Manning and Wayne shared the same New Orleans, LA roots.
Wayne gave the Colts exactly what they wanted – another offensive threat which made the defense honest. Reggie was one of the major reasons why the Colts became so dominant during the Tony Dungy era – he racked up five consecutive 1,000-yard seasons during that time frame.
Indianapolis Colts fans will never forget Wayne hauling in a touchdown pass from Peyton Manning in Super Bowl XLI against the Chicago Bears. His trademark fist-pump touchdown celebration made him stand out from other Colts of his era.
Wayne’s tribute (he wore orange gloves) for Colts head coach Chuck Pagano in that 30-27 comeback win against the Green Bay Packers in 2012 was also one of his finest moments. It only seemed fitting that Wayne, who had 212 receiving yards, score the game-winning touchdown.
Wayne, a six-time Pro Bowler, finished his 14-year NFL career with 14,345 receiving yards and 82 touchdowns on 1,070 receptions. Just like his namesake Reggie Miller of the NBA’s Indiana Pacers, he was the epitome of l0yalty – he spent his entire pro football career with the Horseshoe.
Reggie Wayne, one of the greatest players in Indianapolis Colts history, will finally earn his elusive gold jacket and bust in Canton, OH someday.
4. Dwight Freeney, DE 2002-2012
Former Colts DE Dwight Freeney (93) – Colts.com
Here’s the knock against the Indianapolis Colts during the Jim Mora era from 1998 to 2001 – although they could score against anybody, their shoddy and porous defense held them back considerably.
When Dungy took over the reins prior to the 2002 NFL season, Colts general manager Bill Polian provided him with one of the greatest defensive players the franchise ever produced – Dwight Freeney.
Although Freeney stood just 6’1″, his freakish athleticism made him one of the best pass rushers of his generation. It turns out he derived his patented spin move from his days as a high school basketball player in Bloomfield, CT. That move frustrated offensive linemen more times that this writer could possibly count.
Better yet, Freeney smothered quarterbacks with reckless abandon – he had double-digit sack figures in seven of his first nine seasons with the Colts from 2002 to 2010. Freeney also had a penchant for knocking balls loose – he had 44 forced fumbles during his eleven-year career with the Horseshoe. Freeney and Robert Mathis gave the Colts a remarkable one-two punch at edge rusher in the mid-to-late 2000s.
Freeney had 107.5 sacks, 316 tackles, 44 forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries for the Colts from 2002 to 2012. His defensive prowess helped the Indianapolis Colts maintain their Super Bowl contender status in the Tony Dungy and Jim Caldwell eras.
Just like Reggie Wayne, Dwight Freeney deserves his rightful spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, OH someday.
5. Edgerrin James, RB 1999-2005
Former Colts RB Edgerrin James (32) – Colts.com
“The Edge” had more than just a catchy nickname – it was a moniker that spoke volumes about his impact on the Indianapolis Colts.
Yes, James gave the Colts the edge they needed at running back in the late 1990s to mid-2000s. After Marshall Faulk left for the then-St. Louis Rams, Polian and Co. needed a running back who could shred the defense and help the Colts gain valuable yardage on the ground.
At the time of the 1999 NFL Draft, Colts fans wanted the team to draft 1998 Heisman Trophy-winning running back Ricky Williams. When Polian passed on Williams and drafted the unheralded James fourth overall, fans of the Horseshoe were on the verge of an all-out mutiny.
Fortunately, James’ outstanding play prevented that from happening.
James was a physical and elusive running back who made tacklers miss time and again with his exemplary footwork and trademark move – his patented stiff arm. Before long, James formed a memorable triumvirate with Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison during his early years with the Horseshoe.
Just how valuable was Edge? Indy won at least 10 games in six of his seven seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. The only time they failed to do that was in 2001. That was the year James tore his ACL and sat out ten games. It wasn’t coincidental the Colts went 3-7 in his absence and missed the postseason for the first time in three seasons.
James returned with a vengeance and racked up three 1,000-yard seasons in the next four years. The Colts made the postseason each time.
Edge finished his stellar career with the Horseshoe with 9,226 rushing yards and 64 touchdowns on 2,188 carries. He was a four-time Pro Bowler who led the league in rushing yards in his first two NFL seasons.
Although we can state a case for Faulk and Eric Dickerson, Edgerrin James remains the best running back in Indianapolis Colts history. James, the man with the dreadlocks and gold teeth, gave one of the best speeches in Pro Football Hall of Fame history in the summer of 2021. He certainly made his mark during his time with the Colts.
