1998 Indianapolis Colts season

1998 Indianapolis Colts season
Owner	Jim Irsay
General manager	Bill Polian
Head coach	Jim E. Mora
Offensive coordinator	Tom Moore
Defensive coordinator	Rusty Tillman
Home stadium	RCA Dome
Results
Record	3–13
Division place	5th AFC East
Playoffs	Did not qualify
Pro Bowlers	RB Marshall Faulk
←  1997 Colts seasons 1999  →

The 1998 Indianapolis Colts season was the 46th season for the team in the National Football League (NFL) and 15th in Indianapolis.^{[ citation needed ]} The Indianapolis Colts finished the National Football League's 1998 season with a record of 3 wins and 13 losses, ^[1] and finished fifth in the AFC East division.

Coming off a 3–13 season the year before, the Colts drafted quarterback Peyton Manning with the first overall pick in the 1998 NFL draft. Manning would mark the beginning of a new era for the Colts, as he would lead them to their second Super Bowl title nine seasons later.

This season was Marshall Faulk's last with the Colts as he was traded to the St. Louis Rams in the off-season. He had his best seasons in St. Louis, helping the Rams to two Super Bowls in 1999 and 2001 and winning the league's MVP in 2000.

On November 29, the Colts played their first game in Baltimore since the controversial relocation in 1984.

As previously mentioned, this was Faulk's final year in a Colts uniform and he finished his Indianapolis career in style rushing for 1,319 yards and 6 touchdowns and catching a team leading 86 passes for 908 yards and 4 touchdowns leading the entire NFL in total yards from scrimmage with 2,227 (beating out 2nd-place finisher and league MVP Terrell Davis by just two yards). Another bright spot was rookie quarterback Peyton Manning who passed for 3,739 yards and 26 touchdowns, but he also led the NFL in interceptions thrown with 28. Although the Colts only matched their 3–13 record from the preceding season, seven of those losses were by seven points or fewer. The Colts did not win a single game on the road. After the season, Craig Heyward retired.

Offseason

Additions	Subtractions
DT Jeff Zgonina (Rams)	QB Jim Harbaugh (Ravens)
G Tom Myslinski (Steelers)	G Doug Widell (Packers)
S Tim Hauck (Seahawks)	WR Sean Dawkins (Saints)
RB Craig Heyward (Rams)	K Cary Blanchard (Redskins)
LB Jeff Herrod (Eagles)	WR Brian Stablein (Patriots)
CB Jeff Burris (Bills)	G Jason Mathews (Oilers)
WR Torrance Small (Rams)	LB Steve Grant (Buccaneers)
QB Bill Musgrave (Broncos)	G Eugene Chung (Chiefs)
	FS Derwin Gray (Panthers)

NFL draft

1998 Indianapolis Colts draft
Round	Pick	Player	Position	College	Notes
1	1	Peyton Manning * †	QB	Tennessee
2	32	Jerome Pathon	WR	Washington
3	71	E. G. Green	WR	Florida State	from Baltimore
4	93	Steve McKinney	C	Texas A&M	from Indianapolis via Baltimore
5	135	Antony Jordan	LB	Vanderbilt	from Cincinnati
7	190	Aaron Taylor	C	Nebraska
7	231	Corey Gaines	S	Tennessee	compensatory selection
Made roster    †    Pro Football Hall of Fame     *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Undrafted free agents

1998 undrafted free agents of note

Player	Position	College
Larry Chester	Defensive tackle	Temple
Mike Vanderjagt	Kicker	West Virginia

Personnel

Staff

1998 Indianapolis Colts staff

Front office Owner and chief executive officer – Jim Irsay President – Bill Polian Director of football operations – Dom Anile Director of pro player personnel – Clyde Powers Director of pro scouting – Chris Polian Director of college scouting – George Boone Head coaches Head coach – Jim E. Mora Assistant head coach – George Catavolos Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Tom Moore Quarterbacks – Bruce Arians Running backs – Gene Huey Receivers – Jay Norvell Tight ends – Tony Marciano Offensive line – Howard Mudd

Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Rusty Tillman Defensive line – Greg Blache Linebackers – Mike Murphy Defensive backs – George Catavolos Defensive assistant – John Pagano Special teams coaches Special teams – Kevin Spencer Strength and conditioning Conditioning – Jon Torine Strength – Tom Zupancic

Roster

1998 Indianapolis Colts roster

Quarterbacks (QB) 13 Kelly Holcomb 18 Peyton Manning 10 Doug Nussmeier Running backs (RB) 23 Keith Elias 28 Marshall Faulk 43 Scott Greene FB 44 Chris Hetherington FB 21 Lamont Warren KR Wide receivers (WR) 80 Aaron Bailey 84 E. G. Green 11 Kaipo McGuire 86 Jerome Pathon 87 Torrance Small Tight ends (TE) 85 Ken Dilger 81 Marcus Pollard

Offensive linemen (OL) 71 Jon Blackman T 78 Tarik Glenn T 74 Waverly Jackson T 60 Jason Johnson C 58 Jay Leeuwenburg C 76 Steve McKinney G 73 Adam Meadows T 72 Larry Moore G 67 Tom Myslinski G Defensive linemen (DL) 57 Bertrand Berry DE 64 Larry Chester DT 93 Jason Chorak DE 94 Nate Hobgood-Chittick DT 62 Ellis Johnson DT 61 Tony McCoy DT 75 Mark Thomas DE 96 Van Tuinei DE 95 Bernard Whittington DE 90 Jeff Zgonina DT

Linebackers (LB) 50 Elijah Alexander OLB 53 Mike Barber MLB 54 Jeff Herrod MLB 91 Antony Jordan OLB 52 Steve Morrison OLB 51 Ron Rogers OLB Defensive backs (DB) 47 Billy Austin CB 29 Jason Belser S 25 Robert Blackmon SS 26 Tony Blevins CB 20 Jeff Burris CB 27 Rico Clark CB 45 Tim Hauck FS 40 Ray McElroy CB 34 Monty Montgomery CB 38 Tyrone Poole CB Special teams (ST) 83 Bradford Banta LS 17 Chris Gardocki P 12 Mike Vanderjagt K

Practice squad 46 Kantroy Barber RB 16 Eddie Goines WR 65 Chance McCarty DE 14 Kio Sanford WR Reserve 53 Sammie Burroughs LB (IR) 99 Albert Fontenot DE (IR) 98 Dan Footman DE (IR) 88 Marvin Harrison WR (IR) 34 Craig Heyward FB (NF-Inj.) 36 Charles Kirby FB (IR) 79 Tony Mandarich G (IR) 41 Nakia Reddick S (IR) 56 Andre Royal LB (IR) 68 Trey Sartin T (IR) 97 Kendel Shello DT (IR) Rookies in italics 53 active, 11 reserve, 4 practice squad

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance
1	September 6	Miami Dolphins	L 15–24	0–1	RCA Dome	60,587
2	September 13	at New England Patriots	L 6–29	0–2	Foxboro Stadium	60,068
3	September 20	at New York Jets	L 6–44	0–3	Giants Stadium	66,321
4	September 27	New Orleans Saints	L 13–19 (OT)	0–4	RCA Dome	48,480
5	October 4	San Diego Chargers	W 17–12	1–4	RCA Dome	51,988
6	October 11	Buffalo Bills	L 24–31	1–5	RCA Dome	52,938
7	October 18	at San Francisco 49ers	L 31–34	1–6	3Com Park	68,486
8	Bye
9	November 1	New England Patriots	L 16–21	1–7	RCA Dome	58,056
10	November 8	at Miami Dolphins	L 14–27	1–8	Pro Player Stadium	73,400
11	November 15	New York Jets	W 24–23	2–8	RCA Dome	55,520
12	November 22	at Buffalo Bills	L 11–34	2–9	Rich Stadium	49,032
13	November 29	at Baltimore Ravens	L 31–38	2–10	Ravens Stadium	68,898
14	December 6	at Atlanta Falcons	L 21–28	2–11	Georgia Dome	61,141
15	December 13	Cincinnati Bengals	W 39–26	3–11	RCA Dome	55,179
16	December 20	at Seattle Seahawks	L 23–27	3–12	Kingdome	58,703
17	December 27	Carolina Panthers	L 19–27	3–13	RCA Dome	58,182
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings

AFC East
view talk edit	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA	STK
(2) New York Jets	12	4	0	.750	416	266	W6
(4) Miami Dolphins	10	6	0	.625	321	265	L1
(5) Buffalo Bills	10	6	0	.625	400	333	W1
(6) New England Patriots	9	7	0	.563	337	329	L1
Indianapolis Colts	3	13	0	.188	310	444	L2

Season summary

Week 11 vs Jets

Week Eleven: New York Jets (6–3) at Indianapolis Colts (1–8)

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Jets	3	20	0	0	23
Colts	10	0	7	7	24

at RCA Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana

• Date: November 15, 1998
• Game time: 1:00 p.m.
• Game weather: Indoors (dome)
• Game attendance: 55,520
• TV announcers (CBS): Ian Eagle & Mark May
• Box Score, Box Score

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Jets	Passing	Vinny Testaverde	12/28, 249 Yds, TD, INT
	Rushing	Curtis Martin	28 Rush, 134 Yds
	Receiving	Wayne Chrebet	4 Rec, 112 Yds, TD
Colts	Passing	Peyton Manning	26/44, 276 Yds, 3 TD, 2 INT
	Rushing	Marshall Faulk	20 Rush, 69 Yds
	Receiving	Marvin Harrison	9 Rec, 128 Yds, TD

Scoring summary

Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP NYJ IND 1 10:17 7 19 2:36 Colts 31-yard field goal by Mike Vanderjagt 0 3 1 6:39 7 38 3:38 Jets 37-yard field goal by John Hall 3 3 1 3:25 6 40 3:14 Colts Torrance Small 4-yard touchdown reception from Peyton Manning, Mike Vanderjagt kick good 3 10 2 14:02 7 74 4:23 Jets Wayne Chrebet 63-yard touchdown reception from Vinny Testaverde, John Hall kick good 10 10 2 8:31 8 60 3:44 Jets 40-yard field goal by John Hall 13 10 2 0:22 12 62 5:00 Jets 25-yard field goal by John Hall 16 10 2 0:00 Jets Missed field goal returned 104 yards for touchdown by Aaron Glenn, John Hall kick good 23 10 3 6:28 4 49 1:32 Colts Marvin Harrison 38-yard touchdown reception from Peyton Manning, Mike Vanderjagt kick good 23 17 4 0:24 15 80 2:40 Colts Marcus Pollard 14-yard touchdown reception from Peyton Manning, Mike Vanderjagt kick good 23 24 "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 23 24

See also

• History of the Indianapolis Colts
• Indianapolis Colts seasons
• Colts–Patriots rivalry

References

1. Newell, Nat (July 7, 2020). "Ranking every Indy Colts team: Nos. 26–30". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved April 10, 2025– via Newspapers.com.