Editing Indianapolis Colts (section)

==== Jim Mora years (1998–2001) ====
[[Image:Peyton Manning passing.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Manning squaring up to pass the ball|upright|[[Peyton Manning]] was the starting quarterback for the Colts from 1998 until 2010.]]
[[Jim Irsay]] began to shape the Colts one year after assuming control from his father by firing head coach [[Lindy Infante]] and hiring [[Bill Polian]] as the general manager of the organization.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1997-12-23 |title=Colts Fire Infante, Tobin |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-dec-23-sp-1626-story.html |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> Polian in turn hired [[Jim E. Mora]] to become the next head coach of the team and drafted [[Tennessee Volunteers football|Tennessee Volunteer]] quarterback [[Peyton Manning]], the son of [[New&nbsp;Orleans Saints]] legend [[Archie Manning]], with the first overall pick in the [[1998 NFL draft]].<ref name="t501">{{cite web | title=N.F.L. DRAFT DAY '98; Colts Agonize to the End, Then Pick Manning | website=The New York Times | date=1998-04-19 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/04/19/sports/nfl-draft-day-98-colts-agonize-to-the-end-then-pick-manning.html | access-date=2024-07-30}}</ref>

The team and Manning struggled during the [[1998 Indianapolis Colts season|1998 season]], winning only three games;<ref>{{Cite web |title=1998 Indianapolis Colts Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/clt/1998.htm |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> Manning threw a league high 28 interceptions.<ref name="Manning Stats">{{cite web|title=Peyton Manning:Career Stats|url=http://www.nfl.com/player/peytonmanning/2501863/careerstats|work=NFL.com|access-date=July 4, 2012|archive-date=June 14, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120614225741/http://www.nfl.com/player/peytonmanning/2501863/careerstats|url-status=live}}</ref> However, Manning did pass for 3,739&nbsp;yards and threw 26 touchdown passes and was named to the NFL All-Rookie First Team.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Peyton Manning 1998 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MannPe00/gamelog/1998/ |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1998 NFL All-Rookie Team |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/awards/nfl-all-rookie-1998.htm |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> The Colts began to improve towards the end of the 1998 season and showed continued growth in [[1999 Indianapolis Colts season|1999]]. Indianapolis drafted [[Edgerrin James]] in [[1999 NFL draft|1999]] and continued to improve their roster heading into the upcoming season.<ref>{{cite web|title=1999 NFL Draft History – Round 1|url=http://www.mynfldraft.com/1999|publisher=MyNFLDraft.com|access-date=July 4, 2012|archive-date=June 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120624042402/http://www.mynfldraft.com/1999|url-status=live}}</ref> The Colts went 13–3 in 1999 and finished first in the [[AFC East]], their first division title since 1987. Indianapolis lost to the eventual AFC champion [[Tennessee Titans]] in the [[1999–2000 NFL playoffs|divisional playoffs]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts - January 16th, 2000 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200001160clt.htm |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

The [[2000 Indianapolis Colts season|2000]] and [[2001 Indianapolis Colts season|2001]] Colts teams were considerably less successful compared to the 1999 team. The 2000 team went 10–6 and had their season end in the Wild Card Round with an overtime loss to the Miami Dolphins.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2000 Indianapolis Colts Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/clt/2000.htm |access-date=2024-08-18 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> Pressure began to mount on team administration and the coaching staff following a 6–10 season in 2001.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2001 Indianapolis Colts Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/clt/2001.htm |access-date=2024-08-18 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>