Indianapolis Colts Uniform History
Posted by JerseyZenith on Oct 25th 2026
- The Colts inherited blue and white from the Dallas Texans when they moved to Baltimore in 1953.
- The Baltimore uniforms were almost identical to today's, with shoulder stripes and horseshoes on white helmets.
- The Colts announced a secondary Indiana logo and minor uniform changes in 2020.
- The team wore 1956 throwbacks in 2021 and 2023.
This guide covers the Colts' uniform history from 1953 to 2026, mostly from search summaries and Colts.com. It does not cover every minor change.
Indianapolis Colts uniform timeline
| Year | What changed | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1953 | Franchise moves from Dallas to Baltimore; inherits blue and white | Origin of the colors |
| 1956 | Colors reversed in one source: white helmet, blue stripe, horseshoes at the rear | The basis for the throwbacks |
| 1984 | Move to Indianapolis; white helmet, blue horseshoe and stripe, white facemask | Uniform barely changes |
| 2004 | Helmet and home uniform updates listed (details not confirmed) | Mid-era refresh |
| 2020 | Updated wordmark and numeral fonts (April 13); secondary Indiana-outline logo | State tribute |
| 2021 | 1956 throwback uniforms worn vs. Tampa Bay | Throwback debut |
| 2023 | 1956 throwbacks worn again | Throwback return |
| 2026 | Anvil Strike Rivalries, White Out and Indiana Nights | Current rotation |
Baltimore blue and white (1953–1983)
The Colts moved from Dallas to Baltimore in 1953, kept the "Colts" nickname and took the Texans' blue and white colors. Their uniforms in Baltimore were almost identical to what they wear now, with blue and white jerseys with shoulder stripes and horseshoes on both sides of a white helmet. One source says the colors were reversed for 1956, with the horseshoes at the back of the helmet.
Indianapolis and the unchanged look (1984–2019)
The franchise moved to Indianapolis in 1984 with a white helmet, blue horseshoe and stripe and a white facemask. The team has barely changed its primary uniforms since. A 2004 helmet and home-uniform update appears in a logo timeline, but we could not confirm its details, so we do not describe it.
Updates and alternates (2020 to now)
On April 13, 2020, the Colts announced an updated wordmark, new numeral fonts and a secondary logo with an outline of Indiana; the traditional horseshoe stays the primary logo. The 1956 throwbacks came in 2021 against Tampa Bay and again in 2023. In 2026 the team wears its Anvil Strike Rivalries uniform against the Texans, a White Out uniform against Dallas and Indiana Nights against Cincinnati. For what to buy today, see Indianapolis Colts jerseys 2026.
Looks you can wear today
We do not have a dedicated Colts throwback page. The classic blue home and white away styles are the closest to the Baltimore look, and the alternate and Rivalries pages cover the newer sets. For the numbers behind each era, read the Indianapolis Colts jersey numbers guide. Nike has made the NFL's uniforms since 2012, which is why the modern looks above share a template.
The AFC South, the royal blue and the Baltimore Colts
Indianapolis plays in the AFC South. The royal blue of today's home jersey comes from the Baltimore Colts era, when the franchise first took the Texans' blue and white in 1953. Johnny Unitas' 19 and Peyton Manning's 18 are retired; Reggie Wayne's 87 and Marvin Harrison's 88 are not on the retired lists we checked.
Colts uniform history FAQ
Where did the Colts get blue and white?
From the Dallas Texans, when the franchise moved to Baltimore in 1953.
Have the Colts changed their uniforms?
Only slightly; the primary look is largely unchanged since 1953. The wordmark and numbers were updated in 2020.
When did the Colts wear throwbacks?
1956-style throwbacks in 2021 and 2023.
What is the Colts Anvil Strike uniform?
A 2026 Rivalries uniform in dark anthracite with a metallic blue helmet.
What is Indiana Nights?
An alternate uniform in blue and black tones, worn in Week 16 against the Bengals.