Bama in the NFL: Ray Perkins Has the Name, But Ryan Kelly Top Indianapolis Colt

Alabama's had four standout players drafted in the first round by the Colts over the years, but the most recent has had the most success with the franchise.

Christopher Walsh | Aug 5, 2023

Bama in the NFL: Ray Perkins Has the Name, But Ryan Kelly Top Indianapolis Colt /

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Alabama Crimson Tide

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

Includes Baltimore Colts

Waine Bacon, DB, 2004
Cornelius Bennett, LB, 1999 - 2000
Tony Brown, CB, 2022
Josh Chapman, DT, 2013 - 2014
Chris Goode, DB, 1987 - 1993
Jon Hand, DE, 1986 - 1994
Hale Hentges, TE, 2019
Ralph Jones, OE/DE, 1947
Ryan Kelly, C, 2016 - 2022
Barry Krauss, LB, 1979 - 1988
Anthony Madison, DB, 2009
Ray Perkins, WR, 1967 - 1971
Trent Richardson, RB, 2013 - 2014
Freddie Robinson, DB, 1987 - 1988
Andre Royal, LB, 1998 - 1999
Deshea Townsend, DB, 2010
Butch Wilson, TE, 1963 - 1967

Crimson Tide Players Drafted

Year	Player	Pos.	Rond	Pick	Overall
1962	Ray Abruzzeze	RB	16	9	219
1963	Butch Wilson	B	2	10	24
1966	Ray Perkins	WR	7	15	110
1972	Robin Parkhouse	LB	15	22	386
1975	Mike Washington	CB	3	1	53
1979	Barry Krauss	LB	1	6	6
1982	Jon Hand	DE	1	4	4
1987	Cornelius Bennett	LB	1	2	2
1987	Freddie Robinson	S	6	2	142
1987	Chris Goode	CB	10	2	142
2012	Josh Chapman	DT	5	1	136
2016	Ryan Kelly	C	1	18	18

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 on the sideline with Johnny Unitas (19) and Ray Perkins (27) against the San Francisco 49ers at Memorial Stadium. — Baltimore Colts head coach Don Shula alongside Johnny Unitas (19) and Ray Perkins (27) in 1967 :: Malcolm Emmons / USA Today Sports

Major Awards/Honors

All-Pro

None

Pro Bowl

Ryan Kelly (3): 2019, 2020, 2021

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