Bama in the NFL: Ray Perkins Has the Name, But Ryan Kelly Top Indianapolis Colt
Mention former Alabama Crimson Tide standouts with the Indianapolis Colts franchise, and most football fans will probably mention Ray Perkins.
Granted, he goes back to when the Colts were still in Baltimore, but his years as a head coach, including at Alabama, go a long way in adding to his legacy.
But as a player, Ryan Kelly's career with the franchise is already more impressive. The first-round selection of the 2016 NFL Draft, the center has anchored the Colts' offensive line since then, starting all 97 regular-season games he played in through the 2022 season. He's the only former Alabama player to be named to the Pro Bowl, in 2019, 2020 and 2021, and just missed being named All-Pro in 2020 (he was the second-team selection).
Perkins played five seasons in the NFL, all with the Colts (1967-71), as an end/wide receiver. In 58 regular season games, he made 25 starts, and made 93 receptions for 1,538 yards and 11 touchdowns.
But he could be especially clutch, just like he had been at Alabama while catching passes from the likes of Joe Namath and Kenny Stabler. The NFL's version included 68-yard touchdown reception from Johnny Unitas in the 1970 AFC Championship Game, a 27-17 victory against the Oakland Raiders. It meant a berth into Super Bowl V, which the Colts won against the Cowboys, but Perkins was also on the losing side of Super Bowl III to the Jets.
After his playing days were complete, Perkins turned to coaching, and he famously left the New York Giants for Alabama after Paul W. “Bear” Bryant resigned in 1982. He coached the Crimson Tide for four seasons from 1983-86 and accumulated a record of 32-15-1, including a 3-0 in bowl games. Three of his teams finished ranked in the final AP poll, including No. 9 in 1986, before he took over as head coach and general manager of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1987 to 1990.
Jon Hand also made 539 tackles as a defensive lineman for the Colts (1986-94), and Cornelius Bennett ironically finished his career in Indianapolis in 1999-2000 with the franchise that had made him the second-overall selection of the 1987 NFL Draft.
But after the two sides couldn't reach a deal on a contract, the Colts made one of the largest deals in NFL history, involving three teams and 10 players and draft picks. Bennett went to the Bills, while the only one the Colts got in return was Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson from the Rams.
Bama in the NFL: Indianapolis Colts
The Franchise
American Football Conference
South Division
Team Colors: Royal Blue and White
Founded: 1953 as the Baltimore Colts. It relocated to Indianapolis following the 1983 season.
Stadium: Lucas Oil Stadium (capacity: 63,000)
Playing Surface: Motz Group/Shaw Sports Turf
Training Camp: Grand Park Sports Campus, Westfield, Ind.
All-Time Alabama Players
Crimson Tide Players Drafted
Super Bowl Appearances
Ray Perkins, Super Bowl III (Jan. 12, 1969) and Super Bowl V (Jan. 17, 1971)
Perkins didn't have a reception in either game. The Jets pulled off the upset in Super Bowl III, 16-7, but the Colts came back and won Super Bowl V against the Cowboys, 16-13.
Baltimore Colts head coach Don Shula alongside Johnny Unitas (19) and Ray Perkins (27) in 1967.
Malcolm Emmons / USA Today Sports
Major Awards/Honors
In conjunction with our revamped Bama in the NFL Database, this is the 14th story in a series examining the team-by-team history of Alabama's former players in the NFL.
AFC
NFC
- Arizona Cardinals
- Atlanta Falcons
- Carolina Panthers
- Chicago Bears
- Dallas Cowboys
- Detroit Lions
- Green Bay Packers
See Also
Bama in the NFL: The Ultimate Crimson Tide Database
Bama in the NFL: Active Alabama Crimson Tide Players by Team
