Editing Indianapolis Colts (section)

==== Jim Caldwell years (2009–2011) ====
[[Jim Caldwell (American football)|Jim Caldwell]] was hired as head coach of the team following Dungy, and led the team during the [[2009 Indianapolis Colts season|2009 season]].<ref name="Dungy Retires/Caldwell Hired"/> The Colts went 14–0 during the season to finish with an overall record of 14–2 after controversially [[Benching the starters|benching their starters]] during the last two games.<ref name="n400">{{cite web | last=Robinson | first=Charles | title=Colts throw in the towel on perfection | website=Yahoo! Sports | date=2009-12-28 | url=https://sports.yahoo.com/cr-winnersandlosers122709.html | access-date=2024-08-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kirschner |first=Kris |date=December 28, 2009 |title=Colts fans furious over decision to pull starters |url=http://www.wthr.com/global/story.asp?s=11737675 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130323195628/http://www.wthr.com/global/story.asp?s=11737675 |archive-date=March 23, 2013 |access-date=July 4, 2012 |publisher=WTHR}}</ref> The Colts for the second time in the Manning era entered the playoffs with the best record in the AFC. The Colts managed victories over the [[2009 Baltimore Ravens season|Baltimore Ravens]] and [[2009 New York Jets season|New York Jets]] to advance to [[Super Bowl&nbsp;XLIV]] against the [[2009 New Orleans Saints season|New&nbsp;Orleans Saints]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Corbett|first=Jim|title=Saints outlast Vikings in OT, will face Colts in Super Bowl|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2010-01-24-vikings-saints_N.htm?csp=hf|work=[[USA Today]]|access-date=July 4, 2012|date=January 25, 2010|archive-date=April 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429185211/https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2010-01-24-vikings-saints_N.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> but lost to the Saints 31–17.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 7, 2010 |title=Despite disappointment, Colts fans say they're happy for Saints |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/despite-disappointment-colts-fans-say-they-re-happy-for-saints-09000d5d81648ed5 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181110080319/http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/story/09000d5d81648ed5/article/despite-disappointment-colts-fans-say-theyre-happy-for-saints |archive-date=November 10, 2018 |access-date=July 4, 2012 |website=NFL.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Colts to return to Indianapolis Monday afternoon|url=http://www.wthr.com/global/story.asp?s=11948910|publisher=WTHR|access-date=July 4, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100210100111/http://www.wthr.com/global/story.asp?s=11948910|archive-date=February 10, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>

At the completion of the 2009 season, the Colts had finished the first decade of the 2000s (2000–2009) with the most regular-season wins (115) and highest winning percentage (.719) of any team in the NFL during that span.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pfref.com/tiny/9bRyc|title=Team Game Finder Query Results - Pro-Football-Reference.com|website=[[Pro Football Reference]]|access-date=April 29, 2021|archive-date=April 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429185200/https://stathead.com/tools/tiny.fcgi?id=9bRyc|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=mcubed.net : NFL : NFL : Regular season wins in the 2000's |url=http://mcubed.net/nfl/fw2000.shtml |access-date=June 24, 2022 |website=mcubed.net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Decade of Dominance {{!}} Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2009/09/news-decade-of-dominance/ |access-date=June 24, 2022 |website=pfhof |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=NFL Standings, 2000–2009 {{!}} Football Outsiders |url=https://www.footballoutsiders.com/extra-points/2010/nfl-standings-2000-2009 |access-date=June 24, 2022 |website=www.footballoutsiders.com |language=en}}</ref>

The [[2010 Indianapolis Colts season|2010]] team compiled a 10–6 record, the first time the Colts did not win 12 games since 2002, and lost to the [[2010 New York Jets season|New&nbsp;York Jets]] in the wild card round of the playoffs.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bishop|first=Greg|title=Jets Narrowly Escape Manning and the Colts|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/09/sports/football/09jets.html|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=July 4, 2012|date=January 8, 2011|archive-date=October 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006130416/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/09/sports/football/09jets.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The loss to the Jets was the last game for Peyton Manning as a Colt.<ref name="i255">{{cite web | last=Joyce | first=Greg | title=The night Jets got revenge and ended a storied Peyton Manning chapter | website=New York Post | date=2020-06-05 | url=https://nypost.com/2020/06/05/the-night-jets-got-revenge-and-ended-a-storied-peyton-manning-chapter/ | access-date=2024-08-18}}</ref>

After missing the preseason, Manning was ruled out for the Colts' opening game in Houston and eventually the entire [[2011 Indianapolis Colts season|2011 season]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=2011-09-08 |title=Peyton Manning reportedly has new surgery, out 2-3 months |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/2011/09/08/jim-irsay-peyton-manning-out-for-awhile |access-date=2024-08-18 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en-us}}</ref> Taking over as starter was veteran quarterback [[Kerry Collins]], who had been signed to the team after dissatisfaction with backup quarterback [[Curtis Painter]] and [[Dan Orlovsky]].<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Mortensen |first1=Chris |last2=Clayton |first2=John |date=August 24, 2011 |title=Kerry Collins joins Colts |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/6891243/indianapolis-colts-add-kerry-collins-sources-doubt-peyton-manning-ready |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120102065925/http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/6891243/indianapolis-colts-add-kerry-collins-sources-doubt-peyton-manning-ready |archive-date=January 2, 2012 |access-date=July 4, 2012 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> However, even with a veteran quarterback, the Colts lost their first 13 games and finished the season with a 2–14 record, enough to receive the first overall pick in the [[2012 NFL draft|2012 draft]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2011 Indianapolis Colts Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/clt/2011.htm |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pomin |first=Ernie |date=2012-01-01 |title=Andrew Luck Sweepstakes: Indianapolis Colts Clinch No. 1 Pick In 2012 NFL Draft |url=https://bayarea.sbnation.com/stanford-cardinal/2012/1/1/2674664/andrew-luck-sweepstakes-indianapolis-colts-2012-nfl-draft |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=SB Nation Bay Area |language=en}}</ref> Immediately following the season, team president Bill Polian was fired, ending his 14-year tenure with the team.<ref name="h630">{{cite web | title=Colts oust executives Bill and Chris Polian after 2-14 season | website=NFL.com | date=2012-01-02 | url=https://www.nfl.com/news/colts-oust-executives-bill-and-chris-polian-after-2-14-season-09000d5d825a6ca7 | access-date=2024-07-30}}</ref> The change built the anticipation of the organization's decision regarding Manning's future with the team. The Peyton Manning era came to an end on March&nbsp;8, 2012, when Jim Irsay announced that Manning was being released from the roster after 13 seasons.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Mortensen |first1=Chris |last2=Schefter |first2=Adam |last3=Anderson |first3=Josina |date=2012-03-07 |title=Colts, Manning part ways after 14 seasons |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/7656028/indianapolis-colts-peyton-manning-part-ways-14-seasons |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press |language=en}}</ref>