Forty Niners/Colts history
Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2025 9:10 pm
Of course not as strange a combination as you'd think by ANY stretch! Such a rich history they had, playing each other, well before the merger. Forget they being in the same division from '53-thru-'69, but the former version of the Baltimore Colts were in the AAFC. Even though they and San Fran weren't in the same division the first three years of the AAFC (league a single-body/no-divisions in '49) they still played each other twice each year anyway as all teams did against each other regardless of being in the same division or not (never 'got' that; why have divisons at all then?).
The Forty Niners won all games against them in that stretch except for a tie in '47; and their two wins against them in the '46 inaugural season were when that very franchise whom they swept were actually, just for that season...the Miami Seahawks!
That first incarnation of the Colts would join the NFL in 1950, and were still in the same division as San Fran, but sort-of like Tampa Bay and Seattle in each of their first two seasons with whatever conference either was in, the Colts simply played every other team in the league just one time except for the Bears. They lost to San Fran in that one game against them as well thus now making it 0-8-1 against them. Finishing 1-13 for that '50 campaign, they then left the NFL until the other version of the 'Baltimore Colts' would return three years later.
As already mentioned, they were twice-a-year division-rivals for 17 seasons until the 1970 merger. The Forty Niners had success from the start against the 'new' Colts as well, but thanks to a 13-game-win-streak by the Colts later on into the '60s, they'd end up winning the '53-thru-'69 series by a 21-13 margin.
Not only were both no longer in the same division with the '70 merger, but now both were in opposite conferences, Both, however, were in the 'final four' in '70 & '71; and many of you have intriguingly entertained a Super Bowl V scenario between both. '72 would be the first time they'd meet after the merger, but Colts were falling by then with SF to falter the next year.
Both would actually not meet AGAIN until...1986! Their next meeting after that would be three years later...Meyer's troops giving that Classic Juggernaut a game early on! Next meeting? Six years later, the almost-AFC-champ-to-be (despite finishing 9-7) defeat the defending-Champs, 18-17!
Since 1953, it's been the Colts leading the series, 26-17 (5-4 since '70)!
Plenty to bring up about their history. Tonight's game should be remembered for better or worse for Philip Rivers.
Notable games or any other kind of history/connection to bring up between both franchises?
EDIT - my mistake, according to PFR, I was off on the all-time series record up above. Same with since the merger. With last night’s San Fran win, the series is now at 27-19 in favor of the Colts, 6-6 since the merger.
The Forty Niners won all games against them in that stretch except for a tie in '47; and their two wins against them in the '46 inaugural season were when that very franchise whom they swept were actually, just for that season...the Miami Seahawks!
That first incarnation of the Colts would join the NFL in 1950, and were still in the same division as San Fran, but sort-of like Tampa Bay and Seattle in each of their first two seasons with whatever conference either was in, the Colts simply played every other team in the league just one time except for the Bears. They lost to San Fran in that one game against them as well thus now making it 0-8-1 against them. Finishing 1-13 for that '50 campaign, they then left the NFL until the other version of the 'Baltimore Colts' would return three years later.
As already mentioned, they were twice-a-year division-rivals for 17 seasons until the 1970 merger. The Forty Niners had success from the start against the 'new' Colts as well, but thanks to a 13-game-win-streak by the Colts later on into the '60s, they'd end up winning the '53-thru-'69 series by a 21-13 margin.
Not only were both no longer in the same division with the '70 merger, but now both were in opposite conferences, Both, however, were in the 'final four' in '70 & '71; and many of you have intriguingly entertained a Super Bowl V scenario between both. '72 would be the first time they'd meet after the merger, but Colts were falling by then with SF to falter the next year.
Both would actually not meet AGAIN until...1986! Their next meeting after that would be three years later...Meyer's troops giving that Classic Juggernaut a game early on! Next meeting? Six years later, the almost-AFC-champ-to-be (despite finishing 9-7) defeat the defending-Champs, 18-17!
Since 1953, it's been the Colts leading the series, 26-17 (5-4 since '70)!
Plenty to bring up about their history. Tonight's game should be remembered for better or worse for Philip Rivers.
Notable games or any other kind of history/connection to bring up between both franchises?
EDIT - my mistake, according to PFR, I was off on the all-time series record up above. Same with since the merger. With last night’s San Fran win, the series is now at 27-19 in favor of the Colts, 6-6 since the merger.
