The Indianapolis Colts will honor the Colts teams of the late 1950s when they take on the Pittsburgh Steelers this Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Why Are the Colts Uniforms Different?
During the game, the Colts will celebrate the team’s rich NFL history by wearing throwback uniforms of the 1956 Colts, whose roster included multiple Pro Football Hall of Famers and was led by Hall of Fame coach Weeb Ewbank.
The look made its debut in a 38-31 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021 and returned in a 24-17 loss to the Steelers last season.
On social media, the team has specifically referenced the 1956 Baltimore Colts as the inspiration for the throwbacks. That team included seven future members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Classic look for a classic matchup. 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/oFRSjiIqiH
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts)
Ewbank coached the team to a 5-7 record in 1956. He later would lead the franchise to back-to-back NFL championships in 1958 and 1959.
The 1956 offense featured a trio of young talents, including two rookies in quarterback Johnny Unitas and running back Lenny Moore, as well as wide receiver Raymond Berry.
MORE: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor
The now iconic Horseshoe originated on the back of the Colts’ helmet and will return there for this game.
Numbers on the throwback jerseys will change slightly to mirror Colts uniforms from the 1950s. Numbers are also higher on the shoulder panel than on the present-day uniform.
The shoulder panel on the throwback jersey, as well as player socks, will feature three classic stripes instead of the two used on the present-day uniform. The pants will sport a single stripe rather than the two used today.
According to the Colts website, there are several other additional gameday elements. The team will also heavily feature the “Bucking Horse” logo on gameday; the first 30,000 fans to arrive at Lucas Oil Stadium will get a pennant featuring it.
The Colts’ cheerleaders — the NFL’s first cheer squad dating back to 1954 — will also wear throwback uniforms.
The Steelers, meanwhile, will counter with their standard road uniforms of black helmets, white jerseys, and gold pants on Saturday afternoon.
Both at 7-6, the Colts and Steelers are vying for a playoff spot in a key AFC matchup as the regular season is reaching its end.
Want to predict the rest of the 2023 season with our FREE NFL Playoff Predictor? Looking for the most up-to-date NFL standings? What about a breakdown of team depth charts or the NFL schedule? Pro Football Network has you covered with that and more!
