Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the top 50 of each major North American sports team. That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists and consistently look to update them when necessary and based on necessity. As such, we are delighted to present our post-2023 revision of our top 50 Indianapolis Colts.

As for all of our top 50 players in football, we look at the following:

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2.  Traditional statistics and how they finished in the National Football League.

3.  Playoff accomplishments.

4.  Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles that are not reflected in a stat sheet.

Last year, the Colts failed to make the playoffs, but we saw one new entrant and one elevation.

As always, we present our top five, which saw no changes:

1. Peyton Manning
2. Johnny Unitas
3. Gino Marchetti
4. Marvin Harrison
5. Raymond Berry 

You can find the entire list here.

Offensive Lineman and six-time Pro Bowl Selection Quenton Nelson, advances to #22 from #30.

The lone new entry is Center Ryan Kelly, who debuts at #45.

Notably, Shaquille Leonard, who played half last season with Indianapolis, could not rise from his rank of #40.

Buddy Young fell out of the Top 50.

We thank you for your continued support of our lists on Notinhalloffame.com.

The first Center drafted in the 2016 Draft (16^th Overall), Ryan Kelly entered the NFL as a two-time National Champion with Alabama.

Clark was an immediate starter and had a good rookie campaign. His second year was marred by injuries (a broken foot and a concussion), but he had his first of three consecutive Pro Bowls in 2019 and another one last season.

Still, with Indianapolis, Clark can potentially be one of the top 30 all-time Colts.

Jack Doyle was not highly recruited when he finished high school. He received an offer from only Western Kentucky. After playing for four years with the Hilltoppers, he went undrafted. However, he was later signed by the Tennessee Titans. Unfortunately, he was cut during the training camp. The Indianapolis Colts claimed him, and he played for them for nine seasons.

Doyle started at the bottom of the depth chart but slowly worked his way up. He became a starter in 2016. In 2017, he had his best year ever, with 690 yards. He was named to the Pro Bowl that year and again in 2019. In total, he compiled 2,729 yards and 24 touchdowns. Doyle was not only valuable for his catching ability but also for his excellent blocking skills. He was an essential asset in Indianapolis’ running game.                              

Eric Ebron was selected as the highest drafted Tight End in 2014 with the 10th pick. He was previously an All-ACC player from North Carolina and spent his first four years in the NFL with the Detroit Lions. Although the Lions' performance was not great during his tenure, he helped them make two playoffs and achieved a 711-Yard year in 2016.

Ebron joined the Indianapolis Colts in 2018 and had the best season of his career, achieving personal bests in Yards (750) and Touchdowns (13). He played three more years with mixed results, spending his last two years as a Pittsburgh Steeler.

He retired from the NFL with a total of 33 Touchdowns and 3,837 Receiving Yards.                              

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the 50 of each major North American sports team. That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists out and we always consistently look to update them when we can and based on necessity. As such, we are very happy to present our post 2022 revision of our top 50 Indianapolis Colts.

As for all of our top 50 players in football we look at the following:

1. Advanced Statistics.

2. Traditional statistics and how they finished in the National Football League.

3. Playoff accomplishments.

4. Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles not reflected in a stat sheet.

Last year, the Colts entered another rebuilding year and were unable to make the playoffs. There was only one elevation resulting from the past season.

As always, we present our top five, which did not change.

1. Peyton Manning

2. Johnny Unitas

3. Gino Marchetti

4. Marvin Harrison

5. Raymond Berry

You can find the entire list here.

The only change is Offensive Lineman, Quenton Nelson, climbs ten rungs to #30. He is now a five-time Pro Bowl Selection.

We welcome your input and comments and as always, we thank you for your support.

2023 Pre-Season Rank: #107, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #111.  Peak Period: 2020-23*

After a good rookie year in 2020, Taylor exploded, leading the NFL in Rushing Yards (1,811) and Rushing Touchdowns (18), and a Running Back needs a year like this to place you on the tips of tongues of Hall of Fame voters.  In 2022, Taylor had a great start to the season, but was held to 11 Games due to ankle issues, and in 2023, he held out, delaying his start until 2023.

One monstrous season does not make a Hall of Fame career for a player, and Taylor will have to reclaim that 2021 magic for a serious Hall of Fame list jump. 

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the 50 of each major North American sports team.  That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists out and we always consistently look to update them when we can and based on necessity.  As such, we are very happy to present our post-2021 revision of our top 50 Indianapolis Colts.

As for all of our top 50 players in football we look at the following: 

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2.  Traditional statistics and how they finished in the National Football League. 

3.  Playoff accomplishments.

4.  Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles not reflected in a stat sheet.

Last year, the Colts went 9-8 but did not make the playoffs.  No new players made the top 50, but two players elevated their ranking.

As always, we present our top five, though there were no changes in this elite group:

1. Peyton Manning

2. Johnny Unitas

3. Gino Marchetti

4. Marvin Harrison

5. Raymond Berry

You can find the entire list here.

Linebacker, Darius Leonard, advanced ten spots to #39.

One spot below, Offensive Guard, Quentin Nelson also rocketed up multiple spots to #40.

We welcome your input and comments and as always, we thank you for your support.

Playing his college ball at South Dakota State, Vinatieri began his pro career with the Amsterdam Admirals of the World League of American Football.  The New England Patriots signed him after and in 1996, he was officially a National Football League player.

New England was a team on the rise and if we are to agree that New England has been the best team in the last 20 years, it was Vinatieri’s kick in the snow that began the dynasty.  Against the Oakland Raiders in the playoffs, Vinatieri booted a 45 Yard Field Goal in a blizzard to send the game in Overtime, which he would win for them with a 23 Yard FG.  The Patriots would then beat the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI, with Vinatieri again kicking the winning Field Goal, this time from 48 Yards out.  He would go to two Pro Bowls and earn two First Team All-Pro Selections as a Patriot, and would also win two more Super Bowls.

Vinatieri signed with the Indianapolis Colts in 2006 and he would win his fourth Super Bowl in his debut season in the Hoosier State.  He played for Indianapolis until 2019, and left the game as the all-time leader in Points (2,673) and Field Goals (599), and if any kicker has a shot at first ballot induction, it is Vinatieri.

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the 50 of each major North American sports team.  That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists out and we always consistently look to update them when we can and based on necessity. As such, we are very happy to present our pre-2021 revision of our top 50 Indianapolis Colts of all-time.

As for all of our top 50 players in football we look at the following: 

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2.  Traditional statistics and how they finished in the NFL. 

3. Playoff accomplishments.

4. Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles not reflected in a stat sheet.

There are two new additions in the Top 50, and one small elevation, from our current Colts, but none of which impact our top five.

As always, we present our top five.  They are:

1. Peyton Manning

2. Johnny Unitas

3. Gino Marchetti

4. Marvin Harrison

5. Raymond Berry

You can find the entire list here.

Wide Receiver, T.Y. Hilton moved up one spot to #24.

Left Guard, Quenton Nelson, who has been a First Team All-Pro in all three of his seasons comes in at #48.

2018 Defensive Rookie of the Year, Darius Leonard enters at #49.

We welcome your input and commentsand as always, we thank you for your support.

Quenton Nelson had only been with the Indianapolis Colts for six years (the same amount that he has been in the NFL), but it has been amongst the most prolific of any six-year period of any Offensive Linemen in Colts history.

Nelson was highly coveted, going number three overall in 2018 from Notre Dame, and he was immediately plugged in as the starting Left Guard.  In the six seasons he has played, he has been a First Team All-Pro three times, a Pro Bowler in all of them has had at least 14 in Approximate Value in the first three seasons, an incredible accomplishment that few can match.

Still a Colt, he could easily vault many spots on this list in the coming years.

ShaquilleLeonard was a beast at South Carolina State, winning the MEAC Defensive Player in the Year in both 2016 and 2017.  The Linebacker may have played at a small school, but he was noticed and was the Indianapolis Colts gladly took him in the Second Round.

Leonard, who was given the nickname of “Maniac” by his teammates, had one of the best rookie years by a Colt. He won the Defensive Rookie of the Year, and he led the NFL in Combined Tackles (163).  Conspicuously, he was not chosen to the Pro Bowl, though he was a First Team All-Pro.

Leonard missed a few games in 2019, but was still a stud Linebacker who made his first Pro Bowl.  In 2020, Leonard was a First Team All-Pro again, which was also his third straight year with an Approximate Value of at least 12.  He was even better in 2021, earning a third First Team All-Pro, a third Pro Bowl, and for the first time in his career, he was the league-leader in Forced Fumbles (8).  Sadly, Leonard suffered a back injury that prematurely ended his 2022 season, and when he returned he saw his playing time decrease.  Frustrated with management, Leonard wold be released during the 2023 season, and he signed with Philadelphia.

As a Colt, Leonard had 549 Tackles.

We have our first significant retirement in this NFL post-season as Indianapolis Colts’ Left Tackle, Anthony Castonzo, has announced his departure from pro football.

A First Round Pick from Boston College, Castonzo began his rookie season as a starter, and he never appeared in an of his 144 Games with Indianapolis without beginning the game. Castonzo was never chosen for a Pro Bowl but he did have three years where he scored a double-digit in Approximate Value according to Pro Football Reference.

Injuries began to compile, as he missed nine Games in the past three years.  Castonzo flirted with retirement before this season, but it is official now.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to wish Anthony Castonzo, the best in his post-playing career.

2023 Pre-Season Rank #74, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #76, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #93, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #128.  Peak Period:  2018-22

Buckner played his first four seasons with San Francisco, and in his first year in Indianapolis (2020), he set a personal best of 16 in Approximate Value and earned his inaugural First Team All-Pro. Throw in a 2021 and 2023 Pro Bowl and you have a player trending in the right direction.

2023 Pre-Season Rank #38. 2022 Pre-Season Rank #42, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #77.  Peak Period: 2018-22

Shaq Leonard had one of the best first four seasons in Colts history.  During that time, he won the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year, was a three-time First Team All-Pro, and was a league leader in Forced Fumbles (8 in 2021). However, back issues reared their ugly head in 2022, and when he came back, he wasn’t the same player.

Leonard was traded to Philadelphia during the 2023 season and is currently a Free Agent. Unless he signs (and fully recovers), his Hall of Fame dream has ended.

2023 Pre-Season Rank #42, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #51, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #78, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #89. Peak Period: 2018-22

No other Offensive Linemen who debuted in 2018 have been as good as Nelson.  Six years don’t make the Hall for an O-Lineman (well, it did for Tony Boselli), but when you lay out a three-year streak of First Team All-Pro with a Pro Bowl every year, this bodes well for a bust in Canton.  Nelson’s AV/G is well over the MPA, which is very impressive.

Steve Stipanovich was the Big Eight Player of the Year at the University of Missouri, and he parlayed that into the second overall pick in 1983.  The 6' 11" Center would quickly start for the Pacers and over the next five years, would put forth very consistent numbers.  He would average between 12.0 and 13.7 Points per Game in each season while also posting between 6.9 and 8.3 Rebounds per Game during that same run.  In his last four seasons, he would also have a PER between 15.0 and 15.9.

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the 50 of each major North American sports team.  That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists out and we always consistently look to update them when we can and based on necessity.  As such, we are very happy to present the first revision of our top 50 Indianapolis Colts of all-time.

As for all of our top 50 players in football we look at the following: 

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2. Traditional statistics and how they finished in the NFL.

3. Playoff accomplishments.

4. Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles not reflected in a stat sheet.

Please note that this is the first update since 2016, and it does not reflect the 2019 season.

Remember, this is ONLY based on what a player does on that particular team and not what he accomplished elsewhere and also note that we have placed an increased importance on the first two categories, which has altered the rankings considerably.

This list is updated up until the end of the 2018 Season.

The complete list can be found here, but as always we announce our top five in this article.  They are:

1. Peyton Manning

2. Johnny Unitas

3. Gino Marchetti

4. Marvin Harrison

5. Raymond Berry

We have used a different algorithm from our initial list, and this has resulted in Colts who have long since retired being shuffled despite not having added any accomplishments.  

We have since rectified that.

As always, we thank you for your support.

There are many forgotten players in the history of the NFL, which needless to say is the case for many an NFL team.  This is especially true if that franchise relocates.

Exit Peyton Manning.  Enter Andrew Luck.

Everybody knew that Andrew Luck was going to be the first overall pick in 2012 as it was widely believed that the Stanford superstar was going to be a difference-maker in the National Football League.  The Colts, who had Peyton Manning, had to watch their stud Quarterback sit out that year resulting in Indianapolis having a terrible year and drafting #1 overall, which of course led to Luck donning the horseshoe.  How appropriate is that?

We almost forgot about him!