1986 Indianapolis Colts season


The 1986 Indianapolis Colts season was the 34th season for the team in the National Football League and third in Indianapolis. The team finished the year with a record of 3 wins and 13 losses, and fifth in the AFC East division.
The 1986 Colts were the last team until the 2007 Miami Dolphins to lose their first thirteen games in a season. Head Coach Rod Dowhower was fired with three games left in the season and was replaced by Ron Meyer. It appeared that the Colts could be on their way to the NFL’s first anti-perfect season since the 1976 Buccaneers, and indeed there were many critics who argued that Colts wanted to go 0–16 to gain hot college quarterback prospect Vinny Testaverde, despite some fears Testaverde – like John Elway – would refuse to play for the team.
However, at 0–13, the Colts defeated the Atlanta Falcons 28–23 in Week 14, by returning a blocked punt for a touchdown. They then won their last two games, to finish with three wins on the season. The Colts are the only team in NFL history to win the remainder of their games after starting winless.

Personnel

Staff

Roster

Regular season

Schedule

Standings