The Indianapolis Colts currently are the NFL's 12th oldest team. However, because the NFL does NOT recognize the history of the Colts prior to it being purchased in November of 1952 to begin play for the 1953 season, there is debate as to how old the Colts actually are. The Colts and the assets of the teams prior, including players, have not missed a single NFL season.
Would you believe me if I told you that the history can be traced to 1913? AND include one of the original - the "charter" - members of the NFL? It's true. Thanks to mergers and folds, the following is the history of the Indianapolis Colts from 2023 until 1913 in reverse chronilogical order.
1984-Present - Indianapolis Colts
Owners: Irsay Family (1972-Present)
Robert Irsay (1972-1997)
Jim Irsay (1997-Present)
1953-1984 - Baltimore Colts
Owners:
Carroll Rosenbloom (1953-1972)
Robert Irsay (1972-1984)
1952 - Dallas Texans Owners: Glenn and Connell Miller
After this season, the NFL completed a sale to Mr. Rosenbloom and awarded all the rights to the team, including players.
The following teams were owned by Ted Collins:
1950-1951: New York Yanks. After the 1951 season, Mr. Collins would sell the team back to the NFL, who in turn would sell it to the Miller brothers in January 1952 in time for the 1952 season.
1949: New York Bulldogs. After the season, a stadium and name change would occur.
1946-1948: Boston Yanks
1945: Yanks: Merged with the Tigers (see below)
1944: Boston Yanks: New team started.
1944: Brooklyn Tigers The following year, the Tigers and the Yanks would merge operations and be known as simply Yanks. This was the end for the Brooklyn Tigers.
1930-1943: Brooklyn Dodgers: This team was formed after two Brooklyn businessmen purchased the Triangles for $2,500. Yet the NFL considers this a new franchise. Not in today's world. Ravens notwithstanding.
Owners:
Bill Dwyer & Jack Depler (1930-33)
Chris Cagle & John Simms "Shipwreck" Kelly (1934)
John Simms "Shipwreck" Kelly & Dan Topping (1934-45)
1913-1929: Dayton Triangles
No ownership on record, just coaches and managers.
So why does the NFL and the Colts not want to recognize this history? I'm not sure, especially since during wartime other teams merged as well, only they went back to being separate teams. I'm looking at you Pittsburgh and Philladelphia (1943), as well as Pittsburgh and Chicago (1944).