INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Hall of Fame executive Bill Polian will become the 13th member of the Indianapolis Colts’ Ring of Honor during a Jan. 1 game against Jacksonville.
He was the architect of the most successful era in the franchise’s history in Indianapolis. After joining the team following the 1997 season, he drafted Peyton Manning with the No. 1 overall pick over Ryan Leaf and two-time NFL rushing champ Edgerrin James instead of Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams with Indy’s first-round pick in 1999.
Indy responded with 10 more wins in 1999 than 1998, the largest one-season turnaround in league history. The Colts missed the playoffs just twice after that and his teams won two AFC titles and the Super Bowl following the 2006 season.
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