Colts Legends Named to ESPN’s All-Quarter-Century Team

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jay Canale | Last updated Jun 18, 2025 5:46 PM ET

Everyone loves awards. They’re provocative, make you think, and spark debate. Each year, the NFL releases a top 100 players poll voted on by the players themselves, igniting conversation and discussions among fans about who’s too high and who’s too low. Their all-decade team serves the same purpose, although it occurs far less frequently than the annual awards.

ESPN joined the fun Wednesday morning with an even broader range of time, unveiling an all-quarter-century team . Two Colts made the list, players who shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone: Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison.

Manning and Harrison’s inclusion not only reaffirms their individual greatness—it also highlights one of the most dominant periods of sustained excellence the league has seen over the last 25 years.

From 1998, when Manning was drafted, to 2008, when Harrison retired, the duo combined for 17 Pro Bowl appearances, seven first-team All-Pro selections, and seven second-team nods. During that period, the Colts missed the playoffs only twice and reached the Super Bowl two times, ultimately winning it all in the 2006 season.

Year after year, Manning and Harrison set the standard for quarterback-receiver production. Their 953 completions, 12,766 yards, and 114 touchdowns remain NFL records for a duo, and it doesn’t look like they’ll be touched for a long time.

Since their playing days ended, both have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, their dominance now permanently stamped into the history of the sport. But for Colts fans, that legacy was cemented the moment they walked off the field at the end of the 2006 season, with the Lombardi trophy in hand.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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