When it comes to the question of when did the colts win super bowl rings, the answer isn’t just a single date. It’s actually a tale of two cities. The franchise has two Super Bowl trophies in the case, but they were won 36 years apart, under different names, in vastly different eras of football.
If you’re just looking for the quick numbers, the Colts won Super Bowls in 1971 and 2007.
But honestly, that doesn't tell the whole story. To really get it, you've gotta look at the "Blunder Bowl" in Miami and that rainy night where Peyton Manning finally silenced every critic he ever had. It’s a weird, storied history that spans from the grit of Baltimore to the modern dome life of Indianapolis.
The First Ring: Super Bowl V (January 17, 1971)
The first time the Colts reached the mountaintop, they weren't even in Indiana yet. They were the Baltimore Colts. This game took place just after the AFL-NFL merger, and it’s basically gone down in history as one of the ugliest games ever played. People call it the "Blunder Bowl."
Why? Because the two teams—the Colts and the Dallas Cowboys—combined for 11 turnovers.
It was a mess. Johnny Unitas, the legendary quarterback, actually got knocked out of the game with an injury. Backup Earl Morrall had to come in and try to steer the ship. Even though the Colts turned the ball over seven times (yes, seven!), they somehow stayed in it.
How they pulled it off
The game was tied 13-13 late in the fourth quarter. It looked like it might be the first Super Bowl to go to overtime. But then, rookie kicker Jim O’Brien stepped up. With just five seconds left on the clock, he nailed a 32-yard field goal.
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The Colts won 16-13.
It’s still the only time in Super Bowl history where the MVP came from the losing team. Cowboys linebacker Chuck Howley took the honors because, frankly, the game was such a disaster that the voters couldn't pick a clear winner from the victorious side.
The Manning Era: Super Bowl XLI (February 4, 2007)
Fast forward three and a half decades. The team is in Indianapolis. Peyton Manning is the face of the league, but he’s got this "can't win the big one" label hanging around his neck like a lead weight.
That all changed on a very wet Sunday in Miami.
The Colts faced the Chicago Bears. It started out like a nightmare. Devin Hester took the opening kickoff back for a touchdown, and suddenly the Colts were down before they even touched the ball. But Manning didn't panic.
Rain, Turnovers, and Redemption
The rain was coming down in sheets—the first time a Super Bowl was ever played in a downpour. It made the ball slick and the footing treacherous. Despite an early interception, Manning stayed surgical. He finished with 247 passing yards and a touchdown to Reggie Wayne.
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The defense really stepped up too. Kelvin Hayden had a massive pick-six that basically iced the game. Joseph Addai ran like a man possessed, picking up 77 yards on the ground and another 66 through the air.
When the clock hit zero, the Colts had a 29-17 victory. Manning got his MVP, Tony Dungy became the first African American head coach to win a Super Bowl, and the city of Indianapolis finally had its world championship.
Why Do People Get the Years Confused?
You’ll often see people argue about the dates. "Wait, was it 2006 or 2007?"
The confusion comes from how the NFL marks seasons. The 2006 NFL Season culminated in a championship game played in February 2007. So, if you're talking about the season, it's '06. If you're talking about the calendar year they actually lifted the trophy, it's '07.
Same thing goes for the first win. It was the 1970 season, but the game was played in January 1971.
The Ones That Got Away
To give you the full picture of when did the colts win super bowl history, we have to mention the heartbreaks. They’ve actually been to the big dance four times total.
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- Super Bowl III (1969): The Baltimore Colts were massive 18-point favorites against Joe Namath and the New York Jets. They lost 16-7. It’s considered one of the biggest upsets in sports history.
- Super Bowl XLIV (2010): The Indianapolis Colts returned to face the New Orleans Saints. They were leading at halftime, but a gutsy onside kick by the Saints and a late Tracy Porter interception return for a touchdown ended the Colts' hopes for a third ring.
What Made the 2007 Team Special?
Looking back, that 2006-2007 squad wasn't even the best regular-season team the Colts ever had. They had gone 14-2 in previous years only to choke in the playoffs. This team went 12-4.
The difference was the defense. For years, the Colts were "soft" against the run. But in that postseason run, Bob Sanders—the "Eraser"—was healthy. He transformed that unit. They held the Chiefs to 8 points and the Ravens to 6 points leading up to the AFC Championship. Without that defensive surge, Manning might never have gotten that ring in Indy.
Key Takeaways for Fans
If you're settling a bet or just brushing up on your trivia, keep these points in mind:
- Total Wins: Two (Super Bowl V and Super Bowl XLI).
- The Cities: One win as Baltimore, one win as Indianapolis.
- The Kickers: Jim O'Brien (1971) and Adam Vinatieri (2007) were both huge in those respective runs.
- The Coaches: Don McCafferty (V) and Tony Dungy (XLI) are the only two men to lead this franchise to a Super Bowl title.
The history of the Colts is a long one, stretching back to 1953. While they won NFL Championships in 1958, 1959, and 1968, those happened before the "Super Bowl" era really solidified or before the merger was fully integrated. When people ask about the Super Bowl specifically, those 1971 and 2007 dates are the only ones that count.
To get a deeper feel for this legacy, you might want to look up highlights of the 2006 AFC Championship game against the New England Patriots. Many fans in Indianapolis actually consider that comeback win more meaningful than the Super Bowl itself because it was the moment they finally got past their "big brother" rivals to earn the right to play for the ring.