<P> The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis, Indiana . They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference (AFC) in the National Football League (NFL). </P> <P> The club was officially founded in Baltimore, Maryland in 1953, as the Baltimore Colts, replacing a previous team of that name that folded in 1950 . After 31 seasons in Baltimore, Colts owner Robert Irsay moved the team to Indianapolis . </P> <P> The Colts have had 33 starting quarterbacks (QB) in the history of their franchise . The Colts' past starting quarterbacks include Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Johnny Unitas, as well as the Associated Press National Football League Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) winners Earl Morrall and Bert Jones . Unitas also won the MVP award three times in his career . The franchise's first starting quarterback was Fred Enke, who started 9 games in total for the Colts . The Colts' starting quarterback from 1998 to 2011 was 5 - time MVP Peyton Manning . The Colts' current starting quarterback is Andrew Luck . </P> <P> The Colts struggled early on to find consistency and stability at the quarterback position with 5 different quarterbacks starting at least one game in the first two seasons of the franchise . George Shaw became the first Colts quarterback to complete a full season . The following year Shaw broke his leg in the fourth game of the season against the Chicago Bears allowing former Pittsburgh Steeler quarterback Johnny Unitas a chance to start . Over the next 16 seasons Unitas would start 182 games for the Colts . In this time Unitas was named to 10 Pro-Bowls, and won the MVP award 3 times . With Unitas under center the Colts also won 2 NFL Championships and a Super Bowl . In the final game of the 1968 preseason, the muscles in Unitas' arm were torn when he was hit by a member of the Dallas Cowboys defense . The Colts would turn to backup quarterback Earl Morrall to lead the offense . The Colts marched to a league - best 13--1 record and Morrall was named the 1968 MVP . Despite this strong season and the return of Unitas during the game the Colts lost the Super Bowl to the AFL's New York Jets and their quarterback Joe Namath . In 1970 the Colts, with Unitas under center, would return to the Super Bowl in 1970 . After Unitas was injured in the second quarter Morrall stepped in and led the Colts from a 7 - point deficit at half time to a 3 - point victory over the Dallas Cowboys . </P>

Who was the backup quarterback for peyton manning