1975 Baltimore Colts season


The 1975 Baltimore Colts season was the 23rd season for the team in the National Football League. Under first-year head coach Ted Marchibroda, the Colts finished the 1975 season with 10 wins and 4 losses, and tied for first in the AFC East division with the Miami Dolphins; Baltimore won the division tiebreaker based on a head-to-head sweep of Miami — the first sweep of the Dolphins in their six years under head coach Don Shula.
The Colts won their opener, lost four straight, then swept their final nine games and narrowly edged the Dolphins for the division title. The turnaround season became forever known by Colts fans afterward as The Miracle on 33rd Street.
This was the first of three consecutive AFC East titles for the Colts. Hired in January, Marchibroda was previously the offensive coordinator for the Washington Redskins under head coach George Allen. The 1975 Colts coaching staff included 23-year-old assistant Bill Belichick, his first association with an NFL team and first coaching position.

Offseason

Draft

RoundSelectionPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
13Ken HuffGNorth Carolina
353Mike WashingtonCBAlabama
356Dave PearDTWashington
480Marshall JohnsonWRHouston
493Paul LinfordDTBYU
5105Roosevelt LeaksRBTexas
6131Don WestbrookWRNebraska
7157Kim JonesRBColorado State
7160Steve JoachimQBTemple
7168Derrel LuceLBBaylor
8184John BushongDEWestern Kentucky
8187Greg DenboerTEMichigan
8192Mario CageRBNorthwestern Louisiana
9209Royce McKinneyDBKentucky State
10236Phil WaganheimPMaryland
11261David HazelWROhio State
12288Brad StormLBIowa State
13313John RomanGIdaho State
14340Mike SmithCSMU
15365John GoodieRBLangston
16392Bill MaloufQBOle Miss
16399Mike EvavoldDTMacAlester
16416Robert SmithDBMaryland
17417David McKnightLBGeorgia
17426Mike BengardDENorthwestern (Iowa)
17440Frank RusselWRMaryland

Playoffs

The team made it to the playoffs as a No. 3 seed and traveled to Pittsburgh to play the [1975 Pittsburgh 1975 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Steelers season|Steelers] in the divisional round. Tied at seven at the half, Pittsburgh outscored the Colts 21–3 in the second half. The Steelers defense forced four turnovers and held the Colts to 154 total yards of offense in their 28–10 win.
RoundDateOpponent ResultRecordVenueRecap
DivisionalDecember 27at Pittsburgh Steelers L 10–28Three Rivers Stadium49,053

Awards and honors