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 maintain and update our existing Top 50 lists annually.  We are pleased to present our post-2025 revision of our top 50 Indianapolis Colts.

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

1.  Duration and Impact.

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

3.  Advanced Statistics.

4.  Playoff performance.

5. Their respective legacy on the team.

6. How successful the team was when he was there.

7. Respecting the era in which they played.

Criteria 1-4 will make up the lion’s share of the algorithm.  Please note that we have implemented this for the first time.  This has changed the rankings all throughout the board.

Last year, the Packers went 8-9 and missed the playoffs.  Only one new entrant made our Top 50.

As always, we present our top five, with no changes occurring.

1. Peyton Manning
2. Johnny Unitas
3. Gino Marchetti
4. Jim Parker
5. Marvin Harrison

You can find the complete list here:

Of note, Quenton Nelson remained at #15 despite another good season.

The new entrant is three-time Pro Bowl Running Back Jonathan Taylor, who debuts at a stellar #36.

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

When Jonathan Taylor steps into the backfield to launch the 2026 campaign, he does so as the undisputed focal point of the Indianapolis attack and one of the most dominant running threats of his era. Drafted in the second round out of Wisconsin in 2020, Taylor possesses a rare combination of 226-pound frame density and track-star breakaway speed (4.39 40-yard dash) that reshaped the Colts' offensive identity from his very first touch.

Taylor’s rise to elite status reached national ignition in 2021 when he put together one of the most remarkable individual rushing seasons in league history. Blasting through defensive fronts, he led the National Football League in rushing yards (1,811) and total touchdowns (20), earning unanimous First-Team All-Pro honors and taking home the Bert Bell Award. His ability to hit second-gear acceleration in the second half of games routinely turned tight contests into runaway victories.

Though nagging ankle injuries limited his availability in 2022 and 2023, Taylor’s long-term extension in Indianapolis reaffirmed his role as the franchise cornerstone. He responded with a ferocious return to form in 2024, churning out 1,431 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns in 14 games to secure his second Pro Bowl invitation and prove his game-breaking power remained intact.

In 2025, Taylor re-established total dominance over ground defenses, compiling 1,585 rushing yards and pacing the NFL with 18 rushing touchdowns. His 1,963 combined scrimmage yards powered Shane Steichen’s offense and earned him a third career Pro Bowl selection, confirming his status as the gold standard among active NFL backs.

As the Colts kick off the 2026 season, Taylor approaches his seventh active campaign in Indianapolis with 7,598 rushing yards, 69 rushing touchdowns, and 9,067 total scrimmage yards on his ledger. Indianapolis’ success this year will hinge on its star rusher's legs.

Regular visitors to notinhalloffame.com know that we are slowly working on the top 50 of every major team in the NHL, NBA, NFL, and MLB. Once that is done, we will examine how each team honors its past players, coaches, and executives. As such, it is important to us that the Indianapolis Colts will be inducting Adam Vinatieri into their Ring of Honor.

The ceremony will take place on October 18 at the Colts’ home game against the Tennessee Titans, and was announced a month prior to Vinatieri’s Pro Football Hall of Fame induction.

Vinatieri played his first ten seasons in New England, where he cemented his legacy as one of the greatest clutch kickers of all time and won three Super Bowls.  He joined the Colts in 2006, where he played 14 more seasons, and helped them win their first Super Bowl since the Colts relocated to Indianapolis. 

Vinatieri retired after the 2019 season and is the all-time leader in Field Goals Made (599) and Points (2,673).

Vinatieri becomes the 21st man to earn this honor.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate Adam Vinatieri for his impending honor.

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 maintain and update our existing Top 50 lists annually.  As such, we are delighted to present our post-2024 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 went 8-9 and missed the playoffs for the fourth straight year.  There were no new entrants, and two elevations.

As always, we present our top five, which remain unchanged. 

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 seven-time Pro Bowl Selection Quenton Nelson rose to #15 from #22.

The only new entrant was Center Ryan Kelly, who is now with the Minnesota Vikings.  He debuts at #45.

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

When the Indianapolis Colts spent the 18th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft on Ryan Kelly, they weren't just looking for a starting offensive lineman—they were searching for the anchor to stabilize an offense haunted by pre-snap pass protection issues. Arriving from the University of Alabama with three BCS/CFP National Championship rings and a Rimington Trophy to his name, Kelly stepped straight into the pivot, claiming the starting center job from day one and instantly elevating the front line's intelligence and toughness.

While comparisons to franchise icon Jeff Saturday set a sky-high bar, Kelly spent the next nine seasons establishing his own reputation as one of the premier interior line commanders in professional football. Alongside Quenton Nelson and Anthony Castonzo, Kelly provided surgical pre-snap protection calls for Andrew Luck, Philip Rivers, and Jonathan Taylor, clearing massive lanes for Taylor's 2021 rushing crown while anchoring one of the league's top-ranked offensive lines.

Kelly's individual peak was rewarded with four Pro Bowl honors across a five-year stretch (2019, 2020, 2021, and 2023), alongside a Second-Team AP All-Pro nod in 2020. Resilient through multiple coaching changes, quarterback carousels, and nagging injuries, his veteran leadership inside the locker room served as the heartbeat of the Indianapolis offense throughout the post-Luck transition era.

Despite Kelly's stellar individual play and steady presence at the pivot, the Colts couldn't assemble a true Super Bowl-contending roster during his tenure, making only two postseason appearances in his nine years in Indiana. Following the 2024 season, Kelly departed Indianapolis as an unrestricted free agent in 2025, signing with the Minnesota Vikings to begin the next chapter of his career.

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.

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.

2025 Pre-Season Rank #70, 2024 Pre-Season Rank #98, 2023 Pre-Season Rank: #107, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #111.  Peak Period: 2021-25

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 tip of the tongue of Hall of Fame voters, regardless of how early in your career you do it.  In 2022, Taylor had a great start to the season but was held to 11 Games due to ankle issues. In 2023, he held out, delaying his start until that year.

We said two years ago that one monstrous season doesn’t make a Hall of Fame career, and Taylor would have to reclaim that 2021 magic for a serious Hall of Fame list jump.   He had a bounce-back 1,431-yard/11-touchdown year and returned to the Pro Bowl in 2024, but last season he was better, with a third Pro Bowl year and league-leading 18 TDs along with 1,963 YFS. 

As such, he vaulted up the list and can again if he has another great year.

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.

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.

When the Indianapolis Colts selected an overlooked linebacker out of FCS-level South Carolina State in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft, critics questioned whether his small-school dominance would translate to Sunday football. Shaquille Leonard spent his entire rookie campaign silencing those doubters, earning the nickname "The Maniac" from teammates for his relentless sideline-to-sideline pursuit and instinctive playmaking that immediately transformed the identity of the Colts' defense.

Leonard’s debut 2018 season stands as one of the most explosive rookie campaigns by a defender in modern pro football history. Pacing the league with 163 combined tackles while adding 7.0 sacks, four forced fumbles, and two interceptions, he captured AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors and earned First-Team AP All-Pro recognition—a rare feat after being conspicuously snubbed from the Pro Bowl roster. He followed up in 2019 with his first Pro Bowl selection and Second-Team All-Pro honors, proving his rookie performance was no fluke.

Between 2020 and 2021, Leonard solidified his reputation as the sport’s premier turnover-generating off-ball linebacker. He earned First-Team AP All-Pro honors in back-to-back seasons, highlighted by a dominant 2021 masterclass in which he perfected the punch-out technique to lead the NFL with eight forced fumbles, 122 tackles, and four interceptions. His uncanny ability to strip the football in high-leverage moments made him the unquestioned heart and soul of Matt Eberflus' defense.

Tragedy struck in 2022 when a lingering back injury required surgery, cutting his season short after just three games. Upon his return in 2023, lingering nerve issues hampered his signature closing speed, leading to fewer snaps in Gus Bradley's scheme. Frustrated by his diminished role on defense, Leonard was released by Indianapolis midway through the 2023 season and later signed with the Philadelphia Eagles to finish the year.  For the Shoe, Leonard had 614 tackles, 15 sacks, 12 interceptions and 17 forced fumbles.

Selected sixth overall out of Notre Dame in the 2018 NFL Draft, Quenton Nelson stepped onto the turf in Indianapolis and immediately established a new gold standard for interior offensive line play. Plugging straight in at left guard as a rookie, his rare combination of mauling functional strength, light-footed mobility, and nasty finishing ability transformed the entire culture of the Colts' offense from his very first snap.

Nelson's early career run ranks among the most decorated start-to-finish dominant stretches by any guard in gridiron history. He burst out of the gates as a First-Team AP All-Pro in each of his first three seasons (2018, 2019, 2020), becoming only the second offensive lineman since the AFL-NFL merger to accomplish that feat. Generating Approximate Value (AV) marks of 17, 15, and 14 across those initial three campaigns, Nelson set the tone for an offensive line that consistently ranked among the elite unit protections in the league, spearheading massive rushing lanes for backfield stars like Marlon Mack and Jonathan Taylor.

As he has evolved into the franchise’s veteran heart and soul, Nelson's consistency has remained virtually unrivaled. Through his eight seasons in Indianapolis, he has earned a Pro Bowl nod in every single year of his career (2018–2025). He added three Second-Team AP All-Pro selections (2021, 2024, 2025) to his resume, anchored by a brilliant 2025 campaign where he started all 17 games, surrendered just a single sack, and compiled a 13 AV rating. His durability has been a hallmark of his tenure, and he has started all 129 games he has appeared in for the horseshoe.

Nelson begins 2026 with a perfect eight-for-eight record in Pro Bowls, and a ninth one is a distinct possibility. 

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.

2025 Pre-Season Rank #2025, 2024 Pre-Season Rank #29, 2023 Pre-Season Rank #42, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #51, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #78, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #89. Peak Period: 2018-20/2024-25

Here is another fascinating one for us.

Quenton Nelson shot out of a cannon in 2018, finishing third in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting, a rare feat for an Offensive Lineman, and in all of his eight seasons in the NFL (all with Indianapolis), he was named to the Pro Bowl.  Notably, he has six AP All-Pros (three First Team and three Second Team), yet the Colts haven’t been great around him, and he has appeared in only three playoff games.

Nelson looks like an early candidate for an All-Decade nod, and though he has not made the NFL 100 often (only four times), his AV/G is well over the MPA.  Throw in the association with only one team (thus far), his spot as the number two active O-Lineman on the list is well earned.

2025 Pre-Season Rank #46, 2024 Pre-Season Rank #41, 2023 Pre-Season Rank #45, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #48, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #66, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #82.  Peak Period: 2017-21

We have said for years that Keenan Allen’s path to Canton would have to be through longevity and compiling as many yards and touchdowns as possible.  While he is a six-time Pro Bowl selection and the Chargers’ WR1 for years, he wasn't the enigmatic, dynamic force that took your breath away.

What he is, however, is a consistent producer who passed 12,000 yards and reached 70 touchdowns last season, but how many times have we said how high the bar is for Wide Receivers?  Time is running out for Allen, but if he can remain on the field for a few more years, it is not impossible, and this year, he will see what he can do to help his third franchise, the Indianapolis Colts.

He should receive some type of post-career acknowledgment from the Chargers when all is said and done.

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.

When the Baltimore Colts drafted Alex Sandusky in the 16th round (184th overall) out of tiny Clarion University in 1954, nobody expected a longshot prospect from a small Pennsylvania college to lock down a starting offensive line spot for over a decade. Armed with low-center-of-gravity leverage, brute physical strength, and exceptional mobility, Sandusky shattered expectations by seizing the starting right guard spot as a rookie and refusing to relinquish it for the next 13 years.

Sandusky’s defining qualities were his exceptional consistency and remarkable durability on the offensive line. Playing alongside Hall of Famer Jim Parker and center Dick Szymanski, Sandusky provided Johnny Unitas with a reliable interior pocket while opening running lanes for Alan Ameche and Lenny Moore. His tenacious pass protection and speed as a pulling guard played a key role in Weeb Ewbank’s offense during the team’s consecutive NFL Championship victories in 1958 and 1959.

Even as the league expanded and defensive fronts grew heavier through the 1960s, Sandusky remained a quiet force on the interior. His individual peak earned national recognition in 1964 when he garnered Second-Team AP All-Pro honors after starting all 14 games for a Colts squad that captured the Western Conference title and advanced to the NFL Championship Game.

After retiring following the 1966 campaign, Sandusky left as a two-time champion and a fixture in franchise history. Across 13 seasons in horseshoe blue and white, he missed just one of 166 regular-season games, becoming an unsung hero of Baltimore’s golden era.