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1969 Baltimore Colts season
17th season in franchise history
17th season in franchise history
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| team | Baltimore Colts |
| year | 1969 |
| record | 8–5–1 |
| division_place | 2nd Coastal |
| owner | Carroll Rosenbloom |
| general manager | Harry Hulmes |
| coach | Don Shula |
| stadium | Memorial Stadium |
| playoffs | *Did not qualify* |
| shortnavlink | Colts seasons |
The 1969 Baltimore Colts season was the 17th season for the team in the National Football League. The Colts finished the National Football League's 1969 season with a record of 8 wins, 5 losses and 1 tie. Led by seventh-year head coach Don Shula, Baltimore finished second in the Western Conference's Coastal division, well behind the Los Angeles Rams (11–3).
Many attributed the disappointing season to the hangover of losing to the heavy-underdog New York Jets in Super Bowl III in January 1969. It is one of the first instances of a Super Bowl hangover – in which the team that played in a Super Bowl the previous season underperforms in the next season.
A disappointing 20–17 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in week 9 dropped the Colts to a 5–4 record and put the Colts four full games behind the unbeaten Los Angeles Rams in the division. After the defeat head coach Shula declared, "It looks like we are out of it. I'm disappointed that we went without giving them [the Rams] a battle for it."
In February 1970, two months after the season, Shula departed for the Miami Dolphins.
NFL/AFL draft
Main article: 1969 NFL/AFL draft
Personnel
Staff/coaches
| 1969 Baltimore Colts staff |
|---|
| **Front office** |
Roster
- Dennis Nelson T (Miltitary) [[Image:Injury icon.svg|7px]]
- Robbie Nichols LB (Miltitary) [[Image:Injury icon.svg|7px]]
- George Wright DT (Miltitary) [[Image:Injury icon.svg|7px]]
Regular season
Schedule
Main article: 1969 NFL season
| Baltimore Colts | year=1969 | border=2}}" | Week | Baltimore Colts | year=1969 | border=2}}" | Date | Baltimore Colts | year=1969 | border=2}}" | Opponent | Baltimore Colts | year=1969 | border=2}}" | Result | Baltimore Colts | year=1969 | border=2}}" | Record | Baltimore Colts | year=1969 | border=2}}" | Venue | Baltimore Colts | year=1969 | border=2}}" | Attendance | Baltimore Colts | year=1969 | border=2}}" | Recap | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 21 | **[Los Angeles Rams](1969-los-angeles-rams-season)** | **L** 20–27 | 0–1 | Memorial Stadium | 56,864 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196909210clt.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 28 | at [Minnesota Vikings](1969-minnesota-vikings-season) | **L** 14–52 | 0–2 | Metropolitan Stadium | 47,644 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196909280min.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 5 | at **[Atlanta Falcons](1969-atlanta-falcons-season)** | **W** 21–14 | 1–2 | Grant Field | 57,806 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196910050atl.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [Philadelphia Eagles](1969-philadelphia-eagles-season) | **W** 24–20 | 2–2 | Memorial Stadium | 56,864 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196910130clt.htm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 19 | at [New Orleans Saints](1969-new-orleans-saints-season) | **W** 30–10 | 3–2 | Tulane Stadium | 80,636 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196910190nor.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 26 | **[San Francisco 49ers](1969-san-francisco-49ers-season)** | **L** 21–24 | 3–3 | Memorial Stadium | 60,238 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196910260clt.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 2 | [Washington Redskins](1969-washington-redskins-season) | **W** 41–17 | 4–3 | Memorial Stadium | 60,238 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196911020clt.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 9 | [Green Bay Packers](1969-green-bay-packers-season) | **W** 14–6 | 5–3 | Memorial Stadium | 60,238 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196911090clt.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 16 | at **San Francisco 49ers** | **L** 17–20 | 5–4 | Kezar Stadium | 38,472 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196911160sfo.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 23 | at [Chicago Bears](1969-chicago-bears-season) | **W** 24–21 | 6–4 | Wrigley Field | 45,455 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196911230chi.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 30 | **Atlanta Falcons** | **W** 13–6 | 7–4 | Memorial Stadium | 60,238 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196911300clt.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 7 | [Detroit Lions](1969-detroit-lions-season) | **T** 17–17 | 7–4–1 | Memorial Stadium | 60,238 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196912070clt.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| at [Dallas Cowboys](1969-dallas-cowboys-season) | **L** 10–27 | 7–5–1 | Cotton Bowl | 63,191 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196912130dal.htm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 21 | at **Los Angeles Rams** | **W** 13–7 | 8–5–1 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 73,326 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196912210ram.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **Note:** Intra-division opponents are in **bold** text. |
Season summary
Week 1 vs Rams
First quarter
- LA – Bruce Gossett 29-yard field goal. ''Rams 3–0. '''Drive:''''' Second quarter
- BAL – Tom Mitchell 13-yard pass from Johnny Unitas (Lou Michaels kick). ''Colts 7–3. '''Drive:'''''
- LA – Billy Truax 4-yard pass from Roman Gabriel (Bruce Gossett kick). ''Rams 10–7. '''Drive:'''''
- BAL – Lou Michaels 15-yard field goal. ''Tie 10–10. '''Drive:''''' Third quarter
- BAL – Jimmy Orr 41-yard pass from Johnny Unitas (Lou Michaels kick). ''Colts 17–10. '''Drive:'''''
- LA – Willie Ellison 14-yard pass from Roman Gabriel (Bruce Gossett kick). ''Tie 17–17. '''Drive:'''''
- LA – Bruce Gossett 15-yard field goal. ''Rams 20–17. '''Drive:''''' Fourth quarter
- LA – Wendell Tucker 16-yard pass from Roman Gabriel (Bruce Gossett kick). ''Rams 27–17. '''Drive:'''''
- BAL – Lou Michaels 41-yard field goal. ''Rams 27–20. '''Drive:''''' ;Top passers
- LA – Roman Gabriel – 20/33, 268 yards, 3 TD
- BAL – Johnny Unitas – 20/42, 297 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT ;Top rushers
- LA – Larry Smith – 10 rushes, 73 yards
- BAL – Preston Pearson – 11 rushes, 43 yards ;Top receivers
- LA – Wendell Tucker – 6 receptions, 90 yards, TD
- BAL – Jimmy Orr – 5 receptions, 87 yards, TD
Week 6 vs 49ers
- No scoring plays Second quarter
- SF — Tommy Davis 18-yard field goal. 49ers 3–0
- BAL — Tom Matte 11-yard pass from Johnny Unitas (Lou Michaels kick). Colts 7–3
- SF — Ken Willard 5-yard rush (Tommy Davis kick). 49ers 10–7 Third quarter
- SF — Dick Witcher 18-yard pass from Steve Spurrier (Tommy Davis kick). 49ers 17–7
- SF — John Woitt 57-yard interception return (Tommy Davis kick). 49ers 24–7
- BAL — Jimmy Orr 6 yard pass from Johnny Unitas (Lou Michaels kick). 49ers 24–14 Fourth quarter
- BAL — Tom Matte 1 yard rush (Lou Michaels kick). 49ers 24–21 ;Top passers
- SF — Steve Spurrier – 18/30, 205 yards, TD, INT
- BAL — Johnny Unitas – 19/37, 300 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT ;Top rushers
- SF — Doug Cunningham – 13 rushes, 51 yards
- BAL — Tom Matte – 17 rushes, 81 yards, TD ;Top receivers
- SF — Dick Witcher – 3 receptions, 54 yards, TD
- BAL — Jimmy Orr – 8 receptions, 146 yards, TD
The loss ended the Colts 13-game winning streak against the 49ers, losing to them for the first time since the 1962 season. This would be the last time the 49ers would visit the Colts until 1989, by when Robert Irsay had moved the franchise to Indianapolis. The 49ers would next play in Baltimore when meeting the Ravens in 2003.
Standings
References
References
- Cameron C. Snyder, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-baltimore-head-coach-d/140893160/ "Shula Thinks Colts are Out of It,"] ''Baltimore Sun,'' Nov. 17, 1969, p. 27.
- (February 19, 1970). "Shula replaces Miami's Wilson". Milwaukee Sentinel.
- (February 19, 1970). "Dollar signs convince Shula to jump to Miami Dolphins". Eugene Register-Guard.
- "1969 Baltimore Colts Draftees". Pro Football Reference.
- "Los Angeles Rams at Baltimore Colts — September 21st, 1969".
- "San Francisco 49ers at Baltimore Colts — October 26th, 1969".
- Urena, Ivan. (2014). "Pro Football Schedules: A Complete Historical Guide from 1933 to the Present". [[McFarland & Company]].
- "Baltimore Ravens vs. San Francisco 49ers Results". The Football Database.
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