The Indianapolis Colts have had their share of strong campaigns and seasons to forget during the last decade. They’ve also had their share of some of the best players to compete in the division during that span.
ESPN reporters who cover teams in the AFC South recently voted on an All-Decade team in the division. The Colts had seven players, both current and former, make the list.
As voted by the reporters from ESPN, here are the seven Colts who made the team:
- QB Andrew Luck (2012–2018)
- WR T.Y. Hilton (2012–present)
- WR Andre Johnson (2015)
- G Quenton Nelson (2018–present)
- DE Robert Mathis (2003–2016)
- LB Darius Leonard (2018–present)
- K Adam Vinatieri (2006–2019)
It should come as no surprise that Luck was named the team’s best player throughout the decade. Though he called it a career in his prime, the injuries and constant cycle of rehab and pain simply took too much of a mental toll. Colts fans will always wonder “What If?” when it comes to the former No. 1 overall pick. Hilton was the Colts’ honorable mention for player of the decade.
Luck, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 draft, replaced Peyton Manning as the Colts’ franchise quarterback. Luck led the Colts to the playoffs in each of his first three seasons in the NFL, including consecutive AFC South titles and an appearance in the AFC Championship Game in 2014. Injuries, which led to Luck’s early retirement at age 29, started to take a toll on him in 2015. He missed 26 games — including the entire 2017 season — because of shoulder, kidney and rib injuries. It was during the 2017 season that Luck questioned whether he would be able to continue his career. Luck shocked the sports world when he announced his retirement during an emotional news conference on Aug. 24, 2019. He finished his career with 2,000 completions, 3,290 attempts, 23,671 yards, 171 touchdowns and 83 interceptions. Luck would likely be the front-runner to be the team’s player of the decade in the next 10 years, too. If only.
Honorable mention: T.Y. Hilton, WR, 2012-present. Hilton, who was also part of the 2012 draft class with the Colts, followed in the footsteps of Reggie Wayne and Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison. Hilton has 8,598 yards, including five seasons of at least 1,000 receiving yards in his eight seasons in the league to go with 45 touchdowns. — Mike Wells
The Colts are hoping to get this decade started on the right foot with the new regime showing plenty of depth at multiple positions. They have a chance to make a run for the division in 2020 with some of the names that appeared on this list.