Indianapolis Colts · Franchise era 5 of 7
The Peyton Manning machine: the Indianapolis Colts story
Franchise era
1998—2011
The Peyton Manning machine
Indianapolis Colts
The story in one sentence
Manning and a precisely constructed offense won at least twelve games seven straight times and captured Super Bowl XLI after a defining comeback against New England.
Pre-snap command creates a perennial contender
Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne gave the era its recognizable core.
Its ending created the conditions for andrew luck's brilliant sprint.
Timeline
How it unfolded
Before 1998
What came before
Dickerson supplied the first playoff breakthrough and Harbaugh's 1995 team came within one catch of the Super Bowl before the franchise found its defining draft pick.
April 15, 1999
The two-pick trade that completed the Greatest Show on Turf
The Colts had drafted Edgerrin James and moved an unhappy Faulk. The Rams saw the receiving back Mike Martz needed to connect every part of a new offense.
12Championship catalystApril 15, 1999STL⇄INDMarshall Faulk to St. LouisSt. Louis acquired Marshall Faulk from Indianapolis for second- and fifth-round picks in the 1999 draft.3 assets · 2 outcomes＋
The original receipt
St. Louis Rams received
- • Marshall Faulk
Indianapolis Colts received
- • 1999 second · No. 36
- • 1999 fifth · No. 138
Faulk won three straight Offensive Player of the Year awards, an MVP and a championship while becoming the tactical center of the Greatest Show on Turf.
Open full trade tree →2007-01-21
Conference Championship: New England Patriots vs Indianapolis Colts
2007-02-04
Super Bowl: Indianapolis Colts vs Chicago Bears
2010-02-07
Super Bowl: New Orleans Saints vs Indianapolis Colts
After 2011
What came next
Luck reached the playoffs in each of his first three seasons and authored a massive comeback, but accumulated injuries led to his sudden retirement.
The core