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Glam Monitor

How many years were the Colts in Baltimore?

Author

Mia Smith

Updated on July 24, 2026

This article is about the American football team that had a 31-year tenure in the city of Baltimore, Maryland. For other usages, see Baltimore Colts (disambiguation). The Baltimore Colts, founded in 1953, played in the National Football League from 1953 to 1983.

How long ago did the Colts leave Baltimore?

On March 28, 1984, Bob Irsay (1923-1997), owner of the once-mighty Baltimore Colts, moves the team to Indianapolis. Without any sort of public announcement, Irsay hired movers to pack up the team's offices in Owings Mills, Maryland, in the middle of the night, while the city of Baltimore slept.

What year did the Colts move from Baltimore to Indianapolis?

Twelve years later on March 28, 1984, Irsay moved the Colts to Indianapolis, where they now play in Lucas Oil Stadium.

When did the Colts come to Baltimore?

On January 23, 1953, with the encouragement of the city's civic and business leadership, under the principal ownership of Carroll Rosenbloom, the NFL sold the Dayton Triangles-Dallas Texans franchise to Baltimore where, keeping the "Colts" nickname, the Triangles-Texans team colors of blue and white were inherited.

Why did the Colts leave Baltimore in the middle of the night?

Irsay moved the team in the dead of night on March 28–29, 1984, after the city of Baltimore proved unwilling to replace Memorial Stadium and the Maryland General Assembly was on the verge of passing legislation allowing the city to seize the team via eminent domain.

22 related questions found

Did the Colts use Baltimore?

The franchise, originally known as the Baltimore (Maryland) Colts (1953–84), has won three NFL championships (1958, 1959, 1968) and two Super Bowls (1971, 2007). The Colts originated from the dissolved Dallas Texans NFL team in 1953.

What NFL team moved to Baltimore?

The Ravens originated when Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell decided to relocate his historic franchise, and he reached a deal with the city of Baltimore to move his team in 1996.

What year did the Baltimore Ravens start?

In their inaugural regular season game, the Ravens defeated the Oakland Raiders, 19-14, on September 1, 1996. A Memorial Stadium record crowd of 64,124 witnessed the historic moment.

What is the history of the Baltimore Colts?

The Colts have been a member club of the NFL since their founding in 1953 in Baltimore. The Colts were one of three NFL teams to join the teams of the American Football League (AFL) to form the AFC following the 1970 merger.

What year did the Colts move?

INDIANAPOLIS — Looking back three decades, it all happened so fast. Rick Russell was having lunch at the Indianapolis Athletic Club on March 28, 1984, when a phone was brought to his table.

What year did the Colts win the Super Bowl?

The Colts defeated the Bears by the score of 29–17. The game was played on February 4, 2007, at Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Who moved the Baltimore Colts to Indianapolis?

However, Irsay was able to move the team to Indianapolis, but the output wasn't much better. The Colts suffered many difficult years of mediocrity in their first 14 years in Indianapolis. During that span, the Colts were exceedingly pedestrian, as they accumulated a record of 88-125.

Where was the Baltimore Colts practice facility?

On August 1, 1953, for the first time, the Baltimore Colts opened their football training camp at Western Maryland College in Westminster. More than 2,500 fans watched that first practice at Hoffa Field, then surrounded their sweaty heroes, asking for autographs. For 19 years, that scene played out.

When did the Browns leave Baltimore?

The Cleveland Browns relocation controversy - colloquially called "The Move" by fans - was caused by the announcement from then-Browns owner Art Modell that he intended to move the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League from its long-time home of Cleveland to Baltimore during the 1995 NFL season.

Why did Baltimore choose the nickname Colts?

The professional American football team now known as the Indianapolis Colts played in Baltimore, Maryland, as the Baltimore Colts from its founding in 1953 to 1984. The team was named for Baltimore's history of horse breeding and racing.

How did Cleveland keep the Browns name?

The name of the team was at first left up to Brown, who rejected calls for it to be christened the Browns. McBride then held a contest to name the team in May 1945; "Cleveland Panthers" was the most popular choice, but Brown rejected it because it was the name of an earlier failed football team.

How many rings does the Baltimore Colts have?

How many Super Bowls have the Baltimore Colts won? While in Baltimore, the Baltimore Colts won the Super Bowl once, in 1970. In their full franchise history, they've won 2 championships.

What is the oldest NFL team?

The Green Bay Acme Packers, founded in 1919 (joined the NFL in 1921, now the Green Bay Packers) is the oldest NFL franchise with continuous operation in the same location.

What is the oldest football team?

The Arizona Cardinals, formed in Chicago in 1898, are the oldest team in the National Football League.

Who is the newest NFL team?

The agreement was that the Browns retain their name and franchise history. Cleveland Browns rejoined the league in 1999. 2002: The Houston Texans entered the NFL, making it the newest NFL team.

Did the Cleveland Browns ever move to Baltimore?

In late 1995, Modell announced the move of the franchise to Baltimore. Browns owner Art Modell claimed financial hardships, but announced the move before Cleveland was able to propose an offer to keep the Browns. In fact, voters approved a renovation of Cleveland Municipal Stadium that November.

Did the Browns go to Baltimore?

The Cleveland Browns relocation controversy was the decision by then Browns owner Art Modell to move the National Football League team from its longtime home of Cleveland, Ohio to Baltimore, Maryland for the 1996 NFL season.