With Adam Vinatieri set to become the 21st member of the Colts Ring of Honor, it is worth asking who should be next.
Vinatieri is an obvious choice. He is one of the greatest kickers in NFL history, helped the Colts win Super Bowl XLI, scored an NFL-record 2,673 points, and gave Indianapolis 14 seasons of reliability at one of the sport’s most unforgiving positions. His induction is not really a debate. It is the correct move.
The more interesting question is what comes after him. The Colts already
have most of their obvious Manning-era legends in, including Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Edgerrin James, Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis, Jeff Saturday, Tarik Glenn and Dallas Clark. That makes the next wave a little trickier, but there are still several names worth considering.
The obvious next choice: T.Y. Hilton
Hilton should probably be next.
He was not part of the Manning-era core, but he became the defining Colts offensive player of the Andrew Luck era. Hilton spent 10 seasons in Indianapolis, made four Pro Bowls, led the NFL in receiving yards in 2016, and gave the Colts one of the best big-play receivers in franchise history.
He also had the connection with Luck, the playoff moments, the Houston ownership jokes, and the kind of emotional connection with the fan base that matters for something like the Ring of Honor. This is not only about statistics, but rather it’s about whether a player helped define an era of Colts football. TY definitely did that.
He may not be a Pro Football Hall of Famer, but he is absolutely a Colts Ring of Honor player.
The strongest defensive candidate: Bob Sanders
Sanders is complicated because the career was so short, but his impact was enormous.
At his best, he changed the entire defense. The 2006 Super Bowl run does not happen the same way without him returning late in the season, and his 2007 Defensive Player of the Year season was one of the best individual defensive years in franchise history.
The argument against him is obvious. He simply did not play enough. Injuries took away what could have been a much longer run, and that matters when comparing him to players who gave the Colts a decade of production.
Still, the Ring of Honor should have room for impact, not just longevity. Sanders was one of the most important defensive players the Indianapolis Colts have ever had, even if the peak was brief.
The best special teams/personality case: Pat McAfee
McAfee is a different type of candidate.
As a punter, return specialist and personality, he became one of the most recognizable Colts of his era. He was excellent at his actual job, made two Pro Bowls, earned All-Pro recognition, and later became one of the biggest media figures connected to the NFL.
The football-only case may not be as strong as Hilton or Sanders, but McAfee’s overall connection to the franchise and fan base is obvious. He was important in Indy, stayed tied to the team after retirement, and helped keep the organization visible in a different way.
He is not the next name I would pick, but he belongs in the discussion.
The underrated candidate: Antoine Bethea
Bethea may be the most overlooked name.
He played eight seasons with the Colts, started from the moment he arrived, made two Pro Bowls in Indianapolis, and was part of the Super Bowl XLI championship team. He was steady, reliable and productive for a long time.
He probably lacks the star power that usually drives Ring of Honor cases, and that may keep him on the outside. Still, if the standard is long-term contribution to the franchise, Bethea deserves more attention than he gets.
The future candidate: Andrew Luck
Luck will almost certainly get in eventually.
The only question is when.
His retirement still makes the conversation emotional, but time should soften that. Luck gave the Colts seven seasons, four Pro Bowls, multiple playoff appearances, and one of the most talented quarterbacks the franchise has ever had. He was the bridge from the Manning era into the next chapter, even if that chapter ended much earlier than anyone wanted.
The career was shorter than expected, but the impact was too big to ignore. When enough time has passed, Luck belongs in the Ring of Honor.
Final thought
If the Colts are looking for the cleanest next choice, it should be T.Y. Hilton. He had the production, longevity, big moments and fan connection to deserve it.
After Hilton, Bob Sanders and Andrew Luck are the two most fascinating cases for very different reasons. Sanders had the shorter peak but helped deliver a championship. Luck had the franchise-quarterback weight but left before the story felt complete.
My order would be:
- T.Y. Hilton
- Bob Sanders
- Andrew Luck
- Pat McAfee
- Antoine Bethea
