1975 Baltimore Colts season

1975 Baltimore Colts season
OwnerRobert Irsay
General managerJoe Thomas
Head coachTed Marchibroda
Home fieldMemorial Stadium
Results
Record10–4
Division placeT-1st AFC East
Playoff finishLost Divisional Playoffs
(at Steelers) 10–28
Pro BowlersT George Kunz
RB Lydell Mitchell
DE John Dutton

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.[1][2]

The Colts won their opener, lost four straight, then swept their final nine games and narrowly edged the Dolphins for the division title.[2] 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.[3] The 1975 Colts coaching staff included 23-year-old assistant Bill Belichick, his first association with an NFL team and first coaching position.

  1. ^ Wallace, William N. (December 15, 1975). "Colts in playoffs? Sure looks like it". Milwaukee Journal. (New York Times). p. 9, part 2.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ a b "Colts earn Super shot". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. December 22, 1975. p. 14.
  3. ^ "Marchibroda steps up as coach of Colts". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. January 16, 1975. p. 10.