The Indianapolis Colts’ storied franchise history is littered with amazing players who could make this list, but these next eight guys are the greatest of the great. Here’s our list of The 8 Best Players In Indianapolis Colts History.
8. RB Marshall Faulk (1994-98)
Faulk went on to solidify his star with the St. Louis Rams, but it was his time with the Colts which established him as one of the great ground threats of his era. Faulk made three Pro Bowls during his five years in Indy, amassing 5,320 yards and 42 touchdowns. The partnership between Faulk and the Colts ended in a trade, but his half decade with the team was spectacular enough to warrant inclusion on this list.
7. C Jeff Saturday (1999-2011)
Part of one of the greatest center/quarterback duos of the modern era with the #X entrant on our list, Saturday was a true stalwart of the Colts' offensive line for over a decade. Named to the NFL's All-Decade Team for the 2000s, Saturday made five Pro Bowls while functioning as one of the perhaps unsung heroes in franchise history.
6. DE/OLB Robert Mathis (2003-present)
Mathis missed the entire 2014 season with a torn Achilles, but that doesn't detract from the absolute havoc he's wreaked on opposing offenses for the past decade or so. Mathis is the franchise leader in career sacks (111.0) and forced fumbles (50), and he's undeniably one of the most impressive pure defensive forces the franchise has ever seen.
5. RB Edgerrin James (1999-2005)
The all-time leading rusher in Colts history by a margin of just under 3,800 yards, James amassed 9,226 yards and 64 touchdowns over his seven years with the team. Named as the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1999, James made five Pro Bowls while cementing himself as the greatest running back to ever put on a Colts uniform.
4. WR Reggie Wayne (2001-2014)
Wayne's tag team with the #2 entrant on our list qualifies as one of the most talented and productive receiving duos we've ever seen. A six-time Pro Bowler, Wayne wrapped up his Colts career in 2014 just 235 yards shy (14,345) of the aforementioned #2 entrant's franchise receiving yards record for a career, and his impact on the franchise's rising stars over the past few seasons will resonate for years to come.
3. DE/OLB Dwight Freeney (2002-2012)
Robert Mathis may have passed Freeney on the all-time sacks list, but Freeney's stat line along with his seven Pro Bowls and 2005 AFC Defensive Player of the Year award are just the tip of the iceberg for one of the most dominant pass-rushing forces of his era or any era. No one could stop his spin move when he was on, and the bone-crunching hits he laid on ball carriers over and over again still bring smiles to Colts fans' faces in retrospect.
2. WR Marvin Harrison (1996-2008)
Stack Harrison's career up against any receiver in the modern era and it'll more than hold up. Harrison is a franchise icon, amassing eight Pro Bowl appearances, 1,102 receptions, 14,580 receiving yards, and 128 touchdown receptions -- the latter three qualifying as franchise records. His 112 touchdown connections with our (less than) mysterious #1 entrant counts as the most between any quarterback and wideout in league history. A true legend.
1. QB Peyton Manning (1998-2011)
He's both one of the greatest players of all time and the greatest Colts player to ever don the trademark blue and white. Manning left with a sense of class and grace after his release in 2011, leaving behind him an unassailable legacy. During his time in Indy, Manning was voted into the Pro Bowl 12 times, won the NFL MVP award four times, brought a Super Bowl championship home and finished as the team's all-time leader in wins, passing touchdowns, passing yards and completions. Beloved to this day regardless of his Broncos uniform, Manning and the legacy of the Colts are one and the same.
Follow our Indianapolis Colts team page for the latest Colts rumors!
Back to the Indianapolis Colts Newsfeed