1970 Baltimore Colts season

18th season in franchise history; first in the AFC East and first Super Bowl win August 2023 March 2026 Baltimore Colts 1970 11–2–1 1st AFC East Carroll Rosenbloom Don Klosterman Don McCafferty Memorial Stadium Won Divisional Playoffs(vs. Bengals) 17–0Won AFC Championship(vs. Raiders) 27–17Won Super Bowl V(vs. Cowboys) 16–13 Colts seasons thumb|right|The Baltimore Colts playing against the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl V The 1970 Baltimore Colts season was the 18th season of the second Colts franchise in the National Football League (NFL). Led by first-year head coach Don McCafferty, the Colts finished the 1970 season with a regular season record of 11 wins, 2 losses, and 1 tie to win the first AFC East title. The Colts completed the postseason in Miami with a victory over the Cowboys in Super Bowl V, their first Super Bowl title and fourth NFL championship (1958, 1959, 1968, and 1970). Season history In February 1970, head coach Don Shula departed after seven seasons for the Miami Dolphins,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ondQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=aBEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5621%2C3481279 Milwaukee Sentinel UPI Shula replaces Miami's Wilson February 19, 1970 1, part 2 June 2023 InternetArchiveBot yes https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RBonAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HeEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7083%2C4503386 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Associated Press Dollar signs convince Shula to jump to Miami Dolphins February 19, 1970 4D now in the same division, and offensive backfield coach McCafferty was promoted in early April.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CsktAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lqAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4920%2C4779862 Reading Eagle Pennsylvania Associated Press Colts passed up 3 head coaches April 7, 1970 21https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=w3FIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=x4IMAAAAIBAJ&pg=660%2C2601701 Youngstown Vindicator Ohio UPI Riker Dan Don McCafferty, ex-Kent State mentor, is named Baltimore head coach April 7, 1970 14https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sdYpAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ABEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2372%2C1220979 Milwaukee Sentinel Associated Press McCafferty Colt coach April 7, 1970 1, part 2 June 2023 InternetArchiveBot yes Offseason NFL draft 1970 NFL draft Round Pick Player Position School/Club team118Norm BulaichRunning BackTCU244Jim BaileyDefensive tackleKansas370Jim O'BrienWide Receiver / KickerCincinnati374Ara PersonTight EndMorgan State495Steve SmearLinebackerPenn State5122Billy NewsomeDefensive EndGrambling State6148Ron GardinDefensive BackArizona7174Gordon SladeQuarterbackDavidson8199Bob BouleyTackleBoston College9226Barney HarrisDefensive BackTexas A&M Personnel Staff/Coaches 1970 Baltimore Colts staff Front office Owner/president and treasurer – Carroll Rosenbloom General manager – Don Klosterman Coaching staff Head coach – Don McCafferty Offensive coaches Receivers/offensive ends – Dick Bielski Offensive coordinator – John Idzik Offensive line coach – Lou Rymkus Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator/defensive line – John Sandusky Defensive backfield – Bobby Boyd Linebackers coach – Hank Bullough Final roster 1970 Baltimore Colts 15 Earl Morrall 19 Johnny Unitas 36 Norm Bulaich y 17 Sam Havrilak 45 Jerry Hill American football 40 Jack Maitland y 34 Tom Nowatzke 33 Eddie Hinton American football 87 Roy Jefferson 28 Jimmy Orr 27 Ray Perkins 88 John Mackey American football 84 Tom Mitchell American football 73 Sam Ball T 50 Bill Curry C 54 Tom Goode C American football 61 Cornelius Johnson offensive lineman G 62 Glenn Ressler G 71 Dan Sullivan American football T 72 Bob Vogel T 65 John Williams offensive lineman, born 1945 G 85 Roy Hilton DE 76 Fred Miller defensive lineman DT 81 Billy Newsome y DE 74 Billy Ray Smith Sr. DT 78 Bubba Smith DE 60 George Wright American football DT 32 Mike Curtis American football MLB 51 Bob Grant American football OLB 83 Ted Hendricks OLB 56 Ray May OLB 52 Robbie Nichols MLB 35 Jim Duncan cornerback CB 30 Ron Gardin y CB 20 Jerry Logan SS 42 Tommy Maxwell CB 47 Charlie Stukes CB 21 Rick Volk FS 49 David Lee punter P 80 Jim O'Brien American football y K 65 Jim Bailey American football y DT IR 41 Tom Matte RB IR 25 Tom Curtis American football y S 67 Lynn Larson y T 29 Paul Maliska y no WR 55 Dale McCullers LB 10 George Mira QB 68 Dennis Nelson American football T Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 August 8, 1970 at Oakland Raiders W 33–21 1–0 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 53,519 Recap 2 August 14, 1970 at Kansas City Chiefs W 17–3 2–0 Municipal Stadium 34,341 Recap 3 August 22, 1970 at Denver Broncos W 24–7 3–0 Mile High Stadium 42,499 Recap 4 August 29, 1970 at Miami Dolphins L 13–20 3–1 Miami Orange Bowl 73,533 Recap 5 September 5, 1970 vs. Detroit Lions W 20–14 4–1 Carter–Finley Stadium (Raleigh, NC) 34,500 Recap 6 September 12, 1970 at Washington Redskins L 14–17 4–2 RFK Stadium 46,045 Recap Regular season 1970 NFL season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 20 at San Diego Chargers W 16–14 1–0 San Diego Stadium 47,782 2 September 28, 1970 Kansas City Chiefs L 24–44 1–1 Memorial Stadium 53,911 3 October 4 at Boston Patriots W 14–6 2–1 Harvard Stadium 38,235 4 October 11 at Houston Oilers W 24–20 3–1 Astrodome 48,050 5 October 18 at New York Jets W 29–22 4–1 Shea Stadium 63,301 6 October 25 Boston Patriots W 27–3 5–1 Memorial Stadium 60,240 7 November 1 Miami Dolphins W 35–0 6–1 Memorial Stadium 60,240 8 November 9, 1970 at Green Bay Packers W 13–10 7–1 Milwaukee County Stadium 48,063 9 November 15 Buffalo Bills T 17–17 7–1–1 Memorial Stadium 60,240 10 November 22 at Miami Dolphins L 17–34 7–2–1 Miami Orange Bowl 67,699 11 November 29 Chicago Bears W 21–20 8–2–1 Memorial Stadium 60,240 12 December 6 Philadelphia Eagles W 29–10 9–2–1 Memorial Stadium 60,240 13 December 13 at Buffalo Bills W 20–14 10–2–1 War Memorial Stadium 34,346 14 December 19, 1970 New York Jets W 35–20 11–2–1 Memorial Stadium 60,240 Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. Game summaries Week 1 Colts 0 3 7 6 Chargers 0 0 7 7 September 20 San Diego Stadium, San Diego, California 1:00 p.m. PDT 47,782 66 F • Wind 8 mph on Jack Vest yes 2 BAL Jim O'Brien 25-yard field goal Colts 3–0 3 SD Gary Garrison 65-yard pass from John Hadl (Mike Mercer kick) Chargers 7–3 3 BAL Norm Bulaich 1-yard run (Jim O'Brien kick) Colts 10–7 4 BAL Jim O'Brien 34-yard field goal Colts 13–7 4 SD Gary Garrison 43-yard pass from John Hadl (Mike Mercer kick) Chargers 14–13 4 BAL Jim O'Brien 28-yard field goal Colts 16–14 yes Baltimore Colts at San Diego Chargers - September 20th, 1970 https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197009200sdg.htm 2025-03-07 Pro-Football-Reference.com en Week 2 Chiefs 10 21 3 10 Colts 0 7 3 14 September 28 Memorial Stadium, Baltimore 9:00 p.m. EDT 53,911 61 F; wind 9 mph on Jim Tunney Keith Jackson, Don Meredith, and Howard Cosell ABC yes Q1 KC Richardson 48 yard pass from Dawson (Stenerud kick) KC 7–0 Q1 KC Stenerud 28 yard field goal KC 10–0 Q2 KC Holmes 13 yard pass from Dawson (Stenerud kick) KC 17–0 Q2 KC Robinson 46 yard fumble return (Stenerud kick) KC 24–0 Q2 KC Pitts 54 yard pass from Dawson (Stenerud kick) KC 31–0 Q2 BAL Jefferson 3 yard pass from Morall (O'Brien kick) KC 31–7 Q3 BAL O'Brien 26 yard field goal KC 31–10 Q3 KC Stenerud 17 yard field goal KC 34–10 Q4 KC Pitts 4 yard pass from Dawson (Stenerud kick) KC 41–10 Q4 BAL Hinton 21 yard pass from Morrall (O'Brien kick) KC 41–17 Q4 BAL Mitchell 2 yard pass from Morrall (O'Brien kick) KC 41–24 Q4 KC Stenerud 48 yard field goal KC 44–24 yes Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Sep-28. Week 3 Colts 0 7 0 7 Patriots 0 3 0 3 October 4 Harvard Stadium, Boston 1:00 p.m. EDT 38,235 59 F; wind 17 mph on Bernie Ulman yes Q2 BAL Hinton 13 yard pass from Morrall (O'Brien kick) BAL 7–0 Q2 BOS Cappelletti 13 yard field goal BAL 7–3 Q4 BOS Cappelletti 25 yard field goal BAL 7–6 Q4 BAL Jefferson 55 yard pass from Unitas (O'Brien kick) BAL 14–6 yes Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Sep-28. Week 4 Colts 7 10 0 7 Oilers 0 7 7 6 October 11 Houston Astrodome, Houston 3:00 p.m. CDT 48,050 Indoors (dome) George Rennix yes Q1 BAL Maitland 2 yard run (O'Brien kick) BAL 7–0 Q2 BAL Jefferson 17 yard pass from Unitas (O'Brien kick) BAL 14–0 Q2 HOU LeVias 7 yard pass from Johnson (Gerela kick) BAL 14–7 Q2 BAL O'Brien 43 yard field goal BAL 17–7 Q3 HOU Hopkins 1 yard run (Gerela kick) BAL 17–14 Q4 HOU Gerela 27 yard field goal Tie 17–17 Q4 HOU Gerela 9 yard field goal HOU 20–17 Q4 BAL Jefferson 31 yard pass from Unitas (O'Brien kick) BAL 24–20 yes Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Sep-29. Week 5 Colts 17 3 6 3 Jets 3 2 14 3 October 18 Shea Stadium, Flushing, New York 1:00 p.m. EDT 63,601 51 F; wind 15 mph on Pat Haggerty yes Q1 BAL O'Brien 28 yard field goal BAL 3–0 Q1 BAL Logan 31 yard interception return (O'Brien kick) BAL 10–0 Q1 BAL Mitchell 11 yard pass from Unitas (O'Brien kick) BAL 17–0 Q1 NYJ Turner 41 yard field goal BAL 17–3 Q2 BAL O'Brien 18 yard field goal BAL 20–3 Q2 NYJ Safety, Maitland tackled by Elliot in end zone BAL 20–5 Q3 BAL Grant 27 yard interception return (kick failed) BAL 26–5 Q3 NYJ Bell 17 yard pass from Namath (Turner kick) BAL 26–12 Q3 NYJ Boozer 1 yard run (Turner kick) BAL 26–19 Q4 BAL O'Brien 28 yard field goal BAL 29–19 Q4 NYJ Turner 42 yard field goal BAL 29–22 yes Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Sep-29. This game was a repeat of the Super Bowl III matchup. The Colts established a 19–0 lead. For the Jets, Joe Namath recorded 392 passing yards and six interceptions. The Colts won the game. Week 6 Patriots 0 3 0 0 Colts 3 14 3 7 October 25 Memorial Stadium, Baltimore 2:00 p.m. EST 60,240 61 F; wind 6 mph on Bob Finley yes Q1 BAL O'Brien 12 yard field goal BAL 3–0 Q2 BOS Gogolak 15 yard field goal Tie 3–3 Q2 BAL Maitland 5 yard pass from Unitas (O'Brien kick) BAL 10–3 Q2 BAL Jefferson 15 yard pass from Unitas (O'Brien kick) BAL 17–3 Q3 BAL O'Brien 48 yard field goal BAL 20–3 Q4 BAL Orr 26 yard pass from Unitas (O'Brien kick) BAL 27–3 yes Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Sep-29. Week 7 Dolphins 0 0 0 0 Colts 7 7 14 7 November 1 Memorial Stadium, Baltimore 2:00 p.m. EST 60,240 58 F; wind 8 mph on Norm Schachter Jim Simpson and Al DeRogatis NBC yes Q1 BAL Gardin 80 yard punt return (O'Brien kick) BAL 7–0 Q2 BAL Bulaich 1 yard run (O'Brien kick) BAL 14–0 Q3 BAL Duncan 99 yard kickoff return (O'Brien kick) BAL 21–0 Q3 BAL Hinton 32 yard pass from Unitas (O'Brien kick) BAL 28–0 Q4 BAL Mitchell 15 yard pass from Morrall (O'Brien kick) BAL 35–0 yes Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Sep-29. Week 8 Colts 0 7 6 0 Packers 3 0 0 7 November 9 Milwaukee County Stadium, Milwaukee 8:00 p.m. CST 48,063 50 F; wind 14 mph on Ben Dreith Keith Jackson, Don Meredith and Howard Cosell ABC yes Q1 GB Livingston 20 yard field goal GB 3–0 Q2 BAL Hill 15 yard run (O'Brien kick) BAL 7–3 Q3 BAL O'Brien 42 yard field goal BAL 10–3 Q3 BAL O'Brien 29 yard field goal BAL 13–3 Q4 GB Grabowski 1 yard run (Livingston kick) BAL 13–10 yes Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Sep-29. Week 11 Bears 17 0 0 3 Colts 0 14 0 7 November 29 Memorial Stadium, Baltimore 2:00 p.m. EST 60,240 71 F; wind 6 mph on Jack Vest yes Q1 CHI Farmer 20 yard pass from Concannon (Percival kick) CHI 7–0 Q1 CHI Percival 28 yard field goal CHI 10–0 Q1 CHI Coady 1 yard pass from Concannon (Percival kick) CHI 17–0 Q2 BAL Hill 1 yard run (O'Brien kick) CHI 17–7 Q2 BAL Jefferson 7 yard pass from Unitas (O'Brien kick) CHI 17–14 Q4 CHI Percival 27 yard field goal CHI 20–14 Q4 BAL Mackey 54 yard pass from Unitas (O'Brien kick) BAL 21–20 yes Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Oct-01. Week 12 Eagles 0 3 7 0 Colts 13 10 3 3 December 6 Memorial Stadium, Baltimore 2:00 p.m. EST 60,240 38 F; wind 22 mph on Bernie Ulman Lindsey Nelson and Don Perkins CBS yes Q1 BAL Mackey 14 yard pass from Unitas (O'Brien kick) BAL 7–0 Q1 BAL Hinton 9 yard run (kick failed) BAL 13–0 Q2 BAL O'Brien 45 yard field goal BAL 16–0 Q2 PHI Moseley 38 yard field goal BAL 16–3 Q2 BAL Logan 33 yard interception return (O'Brien kick) BAL 23–3 Q3 BAL O'Brien 44 yard field goal BAL 26–3 Q3 PHI Snead 1 yard run (Moseley kick) BAL 26–10 Q4 BAL O'Brien 47 yard field goal BAL 29–10 yes Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Oct-03. Week 13 Colts 10 0 7 3 Bills 7 7 0 0 December 13 War Memorial Stadium, Buffalo, New York 1:00 p.m. EST 34,346 Snow • 28 F • Wind 11 mph on Bob Finley yes 1 BAL Jim O'Brien 32-yard field goal Colts 3–0 1 BUF Lloyd Pate 1-yard run (Grant Guthrie kick) Bills 7–3 1 BAL Tom Nowatzke 1-yard run (Jim O'Brien kick) Colts 10–7 2 BUF Marlin Briscoe 10-yard pass from Dennis Shaw (Grant Guthrie kick) Bills 14–10 3 BAL Norm Bulaich 2-yard run (Jim O'Brien kick) Colts 17–14 4 BAL Jim O'Brien 38-yard field goal Colts 20–14 yes Pro-Football-Reference.com The Colts clinched the division title with the win. Week 14 Jets 7 7 3 3 Colts 0 14 7 14 December 19 Memorial Stadium, Baltimore 3:00 p.m. EST 60,240 49 F; wind 5 mph on Tommy Bell Curt Gowdy and Kyle Rote NBC yes Q1 NYJ Caster 15 yard pass from Woodall (Turner kick) NYJ 7–0 Q2 BAL Hinton 25 yard pass from Morrall (O'Brien kick) Tie 7–7 Q2 NYJ Grantham 41 yard interception return (Turner kick) NYJ 14–7 Q2 BAL Hinton 7 yard pass from Morrall (O'Brien kick) Tie 14–14 Q3 BAL Orr 18 yard pass from Morrall (O'Brien kick) BAL 21–14 Q3 NYJ Turner 25 yard field goal BAL 21–17 Q4 NYJ Turner 29 yard field goal BAL 21–20 Q4 BAL Perkins 41 yard pass from Morrall (O'Brien kick) BAL 28–20 Q4 BAL Hendricks recovered fumble in end zone (O'Brien kick) BAL 35–20 yes Earl Morrall 18/33, 348 Yds Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Oct-04. Standings Postseason 1970–71 NFL playoffs The team made it to the playoffs with the best record in the AFC. The Colts hosted both AFC playoff games that they played in. (It wasn't until the 1975 season that playoff teams were seeded by record; the fact that the Colts hosted both playoff games was just due to the rotation set up with the AFL–NFL merger.) The team won both AFC playoff games as well as Super Bowl V. Round Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Divisional December 26 Cincinnati Bengals W 17–0 1–0 Memorial Stadium 51,127 AFC Championship January 3, 1971 Oakland Raiders W 27–17 2–0 Memorial Stadium 56,368 Super Bowl V January 17, 1971 Dallas Cowboys W 16–13 3–0 Miami Orange Bowl 80,055 Divisional Bengals 0 0 0 0 Colts 7 3 0 7 December 26 Memorial Stadium, Baltimore 1:30 p.m. EST 30 F; wind 15 mph on Jack Vest Jim Simpson and Al DeRogatis NBC yes Q1 BAL Jefferson 45 yard pass from Unitas (O'Brien kick) BAL 7–0 Q2 BAL O'Brien 44 yard field goal BAL 10–0 Q4 BAL Hinton 53 yard pass from Unitas (O'Brien kick) BAL 17–0 yes The Colts hosted the Cincinnati Bengals in the divisional round. The Colts relied on their defense, which had carried them all season, to best the Bengals 17–0, holding Cincinnati to only 139 total yards."Cincinnati Bengals 0 at Baltimore Colts 17. Saturday, December 26, 1970". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Oct-04. Conference Championship 1970 AFC Championship Game Raiders 0 3 7 7 Colts 3 7 10 7 January 3 Memorial Stadium, Baltimore 2:00 p.m. EST 34 F; wind 6 mph on Ben Dreith Curt Gowdy and Kyle Rote NBC yes Q1 BAL O'Brien 16 yard field goal BAL 3–0 Q2 BAL Bulaich 2 yard run (O'Brien kick) BAL 10–0 Q2 OAK Blanda 48 yard field goal BAL 10–3 Q3 OAK Biletnikoff 38 yard pass from Blanda (Blanda kick) Tie 10–10 Q3 BAL O'Brien 23 yard field goal BAL 13–10 Q3 BAL Bulaich 11 yard run (O'Brien kick) BAL 20–10 Q4 OAK Wells 15 yard pass from Blanda (Blanda kick) BAL 20–17 Q4 BAL Perkins 68 yard pass from Unitas (O'Brien kick) BAL 27–17 yes The Colts next hosted the Oakland Raiders for the AFC Championship Game. The Colts jumped out to an early lead over the Raiders, 10–3 at halftime. Oakland came back to tie it up early in the 3rd quarter. The Colts would respond with a Jim O'Brien field goal and a second Bulaich touchdown. Johnny Unitas extended the lead with a 68-yard touchdown pass to Ray Perkins that made the score 27–17. The Colts would seal the win with an interception in the end zone."Oakland Raiders 17 at Baltimore Colts 27, Sunday, January 3, 1971". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Oct-04. Super Bowl Super Bowl V Colts 0 6 0 10 Cowboys 3 10 0 0 January 17 Miami Orange Bowl, Miami 1:50 p.m. EST 59 F; wind 11 mph on Norm Schachter Curt Gowdy, Kyle Rote, and Bill Enis NBC yes Q1 DAL Clark 14 yard field goal DAL 3–0 Q2 DAL Clark 30 yard field goal DAL 6–0 Q2 BAL Mackey 75 yard pass from Unitas (kick failed) Tie 6–6 Q2 DAL Thomas 7 yard pass from Morton (Clark kick) DAL 13–6 Q4 BAL Nowatzke 2 yard run (O'Brien kick) Tie 13–13 Q4 BAL O'Brien 32 yard field goal BAL 16–13 yes The Colts made it to the Super Bowl for the second time in franchise history and played the Dallas Cowboys for the NFL championship. In the 2nd quarter, Johnny Unitas threw a pass that was tipped twice before John Mackey caught it for a 75-yard score. Later in the quarter Unitas was injured and Earl Morrall completed a sloppy and turnover-filled game: the Colts committed a total of 7 turnovers, the Cowboys 4. Following an interception by Mike Curtis, Jim O'Brien kicked the game-winning 32-yard field goal, giving Baltimore a 16–13 lead with 5 seconds left in the game, and the victory."Baltimore Colts 16 vs. Dallas Cowboys 13, Sunday, January 17, 1971". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Oct-04. See also History of the Indianapolis Colts Indianapolis Colts seasons Colts–Patriots rivalry References 30em External links 1970 Baltimore Colts at Pro-Football-Reference.com 1970 Baltimore Colts at JT-SW.com Colts Crusade: The Story of the 1970 Baltimore Colts. Dave Volsky via YouTube.com (Video.) 1970 Baltimore Colts Season, NFL Films via YouTube.com (Video.) Ted Moore (narrator), Game of the Week: Colts at Jets, 1970 Week 5. Dave Volsky, YouTube.com (Video.) Baltimore Colts Category:Baltimore Colts seasons Category:AFC East championship seasons Category:American Football Conference championship seasons Category:Super Bowl champion seasons Baltimore Colts