A three time Pro Bowl Selection with the Baltimore Colts, Rick Volk would represent his team three times in the Pro Bowl.  Volk went from the Rose Bowl to the Super Bowl, although in Super Bowl III he would be knocked out of the game with a severe concussion in Baltimore’s shocking loss to the New York Jets.  Super Bowl V would be a much better result for Volk as not only did he help them win he picked off Dallas Quarterback, Craig Morton to set up a touchdown that tied the game.  Volk would tally 31 Interceptions as a Colt.

Spending his entire career with the Baltimore Colts, Defensive Tackle, Fred Miller would participate in three championship games on behalf of his team.  Miller would win a ring in his final attempt, Super Bowl V, and along the way would go to three Pro Bowls.

Alan Ameche went from Heisman Trophy Winner to UPI NFL Rookie of the Year and was the starting Running Back for the Baltimore Colts for six seasons.  That was from 1955 to 1960, the glory period for Baltimore.   We have referenced the two straight Championships for Baltimore (and we will again) and the “Greatest Game Ever Played”.  Ameche was a part of that and was the man who scored the winning touchdown in that game.

Following Johnny Unitas couldn’t be easy.

A former Super Bowl Champion, Offensive Lineman, Bob Vogel would helm the Left Tackle slot for the Baltimore Colts for a decade earning five Pro Bowls and a First Team All-Pro nod along the way.  Vogel remains an icon in Professional Football in Baltimore.

Considered by many to be the meanest football player of his day (and that says a lot doesn’t it?) Mike Curtis feasted on Quarterbacks the way we feast on turkeys at Thanksgiving.  Curtis was originally drafted as a Fullback but converted to the defensive side of the ledger much to the benefit of the Colts.  He would be named the AFC Defensive Player of the Year in 1970 by the NFL 101 writers and aided the Colts in their Super Bowl V win.

If this were a list based on charisma and personality, the legendary Art Donovan would be at the top.  Known for one generation for his radio show and David Letterman appearances, another generation knew him for his excellent defensive play and “Bulldog” like tendencies.  Donovan was actually a member of the first version of the Baltimore Colts that folded in 1950, and then the New York Yanks, which folded the following year.  Coincidentally, it happened again as he signed with the Dallas Texans in 1952, which would make him the only player in NFL history to play for three teams in three years that all went out of business (though the new Baltimore Colts bought all the Texans’ assets, which was how he came to Baltimore a second time.)

The holder of the all-time Interception Record in franchise history, Cornerback, Bobby Boyd was a converted Quarterback who adapted well to the defensive side of the ball.  Boyd would accumulate 9 Interceptions in a season twice and six times would exceed 100 Yards in Interception Return Yards.  The three time First Team All Pro is still in the top ten in that category all-time.

A Baltimore Colt for all twelve seasons of his career, Halfback, Lenny Moore was a bona fide dual threat.  Moore was one of the rare players who was equally adept at rushing and receiving and scored more than 100 Touchdowns.  Moore would lead the National Football League in Yards/Attempt four times, Touchdowns twice, and Yards from Scrimmage once.  The offensive superstar would be a five-time First Team All-Pro and was named the MVP in 1964.  

In the history of professional football, there have been multiple names that have been tagged as someone who “redefined the position”.

John Mackey is one of those guys.

Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1973 (his first year of eligibility) Jim Parker spent his entire eleven year career as a Baltimore Colt. The prolific Lineman was a champion in College (with Ohio State) and helped the Colts win the NFL Title in 1958 and 1959.  Parker was named to the 50th, 75th Anniversary and 100th Teams as well as eight Pro Bowls and eight First Team squads.

Raymond Berry was all about the details with every aspect of his game.  An expert route runner, Berry rarely fumbled or dropped passes and was essential to the two consecutive Baltimore Colts Championships in the late 1950s.  Most notably, he caught 12 passes in the 1958 Championship Game for 178 Yards and a Touchdown.  

Had it not been for the greatness of Manning, Johnny Unitas would easily be at the top of this list and certainly would be for over half of the NFL teams in existence.  

Easily the best defensive player in Colts history, Gino Marchetti might also have been the best pass rusher in the NFL for a decade.  Marchetti was also a great run defender and was regarded by many offensive players as the toughest player they ever faced.  The Pro Football Hall of Famer would be named a First Team All-Pro seven times and many have stated that the Colts would never have won the 1958 and 1959 NFL Championship without him.

The Colts retired his number 89.

As much as football changes, there are some statistics that will always remain critical to the game.  One such stat is the Interception, which is one of the biggest game-changers regardless of era.  In the ’60s, Bobby Boyd was one of the masters of the pick.

As the second draft pick of 1969, George Kunz had the fortune of playing for Notre Dame (when that mattered) and winning a National Championship there.  He did not have the same luck when he was selected by the Atlanta Falcons.