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1947: Baltimore was originally to be a team in the All-American Football Conference, but after failing to land a stadium lease the team was given to Miami. However, Miami was not ready for a professional sports and the team struggled and went bankrupt after a 3-11 season. Five businessmen, led by Washington, D.C. attorney Robert D. Rodenburg, made a bid to purchase the Miami Seahawks’ assets and reform the franchise in Baltimore as the Colts, named for the city’s rich horse racing industry. The Colts were able to secure a lease for Municipal Stadium on 33rd street as plans for a new larger stadium were underway. Due to the team’s lack of talent the Colts would be allowed to draft one player off the other seven AAFC teams. The Colts coached by Cecil Isbell won their first game beating the Brooklyn Dodgers 16-7 on September 7th. However, the Colts would not get another win until the penultimate game of the season, losing ten and posting one tie along the way. The Colts would go on to finish the season with a record of 2-11-1 following a 42-0 loss to the Cleveland Browns.

1948: The Colts still struggled financially and got new ownership for their second year. Once again the AAFC would assist them in getting added players. The Colts would start the season well, beating the New York Yankees 45-28 to open the season. Despite a loss to the hapless Chicago Rockets, the only win Chicago would earn all season the Colts would play well early in the season beating the Yankees again in Week 3. After their 3-1 start the Colts went into a midseason slump, losing five of their next six games. Fortunately, the entire Eastern Division in the AAFC were having poor seasons and the Colts remained in the playoff chase. The Colts would finish the season strong winning three of their last four games, including a 38-20 win over the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field which enabled them to finish in a first place tie at 7-7. The Colts would host the Dodgers in a Division Playoff with a chance to go to the AAFC Championship Game on the line. The Colts would not be able to duplicate their win over the Dodgers, as they lost 28-17 at Municipal Stadium.

1949: As the NFL and AAFC were in talks for a merger, the Colts were one of the top choices to join the NFL. However, Washington Redskins Owner George Preston Marshall tried to block the move, and eventually agreed only when the Colts paid a $150,000 infringement fee to Marshall. The Colts would join the NFL despite a terrible final season in the AAFC which saw them finish dead last with a record of 1-11.

1950: The Colts coached by Clem Crowe would suffer a 38-14 loss to the Washington Redskins on September 17th. It was clear early the Colts were overmatched in the NFL, as they lost their first seven games, including a70-27 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on October 22nd. The Colts would finally breakthrough on November 5th with a 41-21 win over the Green Bay Packers. It would be the only win the Colts would get as they lost their final five games, including a season ending 51-14 loss to the New York Yanks on December 10th. Following the season in which the Colts finished with a record of 1-11, the team would fold. The Colts one NFL season saw them allow 50 points or more a league record four times. The NFL would return to Baltimore in 1953 with an expansion team that the league added after the Dallas Texans went bankrupt. That team would also be called the Colts and found quick success winning back to back NFL Championships to close the decade. The original Colts would just be a trivia question in the movie diner for the green and grey colors.