A stroll down memory lane was one for the ages.
Super Bowl XLI is one that Indianapolis Colts fans will remember forever. Watching the long awaited Lombardi trophy be presented to the team in the Miami rain after having defeated the Chicago Bears is a memory that still brings smiles to fans’ faces. For one night, former Colts greats descended on downtown to reminisce about that championship season, and with the great Jim Nantz as the emcee, it did not disappoint.
Jeff Saturday
Peyton Manning
Marvin Harrison
Dallas Clark
Reggie Wayne
Dwight Freeney
Tony Dungy
Those are the Colts legends that formed the dais to discuss the 2006 championship season. As Nantz, the man who called the AFC Championship game and Super Bowl for the Colts, spun his usual masterful yarn of storytelling, fans were taken back on that magical journey. We all remember that year was far from perfect and that the Colts had fielded better teams, but this was the unit that was able to accomplish the ultimate goal.
Old and well known stories were told, but even for someone like myself who has watched a lot of Colts content regarding that season, there were plenty of tidbits sprinkled in throughout that were seemingly unknown to most.
Clark took us through his monster third down catch against the Ravens believing there was no way he was going to get the ball in that situation.
Harrison recounted the toe-tapping catch of a lifetime against the Patriots during the regular season and what caused him to spike the ball. He also revealed that he has little to no recollection of the two point conversion in the AFC Championship game.
When the ball went up in the air as he sprinted across the middle and had to reach back up to secure it amongst three Patriots, Wayne said everything went silent. He thought if he dropped that ball he would be thrown into Eagle Creek by angry fans.
Of course, Manning had plenty of stories to tell, but he mentioned that the Colts made zero changes before the Super Bowl regarding their signals and calls. The Bears developed an elaborate system of wristbands to disguise their looks, and it ultimately lead to the blown coverage that resulted in Wayne being all alone for the team’s first touchdown.
As the evening wound down, each player paid tribute to Coach Dungy and gave him high praise for the team’s success. The Lombardi trophy was presented again and other former players in the crowd joined on stage. Confetti fell and a special night came to a close. Being included in that stroll down memory lane made for a special occasion. Fans can thank Peyton Manning for organizing the event and for making that night a reality in more than one way.