The Baltimore Colts relocated to Indianapolis in March 1984 in the most bizarre NFL relocation scenario ever.
Building friction between the City of Baltimore and Robert Irsay, the owner of the Colts, was caused by a number of issues, including governmental ones. As a result, the owner ordered the team to relocate in the middle of the night.
In an instant, the Colts had left Baltimore and were traveling to Indianapolis with fifteen semi-trucks to their new stadium.
The “Midnight Mayflower” maneuver is among the most peculiar circumstances in NFL history. These are the reasons behind the Colts’ move and the subsequent outrage.
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Reasons Behind the Colts’ Transfer
Irsay’s expensive decision-making results in difficultiesJohnny Unitas The Baltimore Colts
The Colts were in decline following three consecutive divisional-round losses from 1975–1977, when Irsay moved the team in the middle of the night.
The Colts saw six consecutive losing seasons in the next years, and home game attendance fell with each passing campaign.
Even though the Colts had denied publicly that they intended to move, Irsay started looking for a new home for the franchise at this time, from Memphis to Los Angeles. John Elway famously declined to play for the Colts after Baltimore picked him with the first overall choice in 1983 due to the team’s dire circumstances.
Irsay, with his options limited, traded Elway to the Denver Broncos, where he was named the 1987 NFL MVP and went on to win two Super Bowls.
The Colts had just won the Super Bowl in 1970 when Irsay acquired the team in 1972. They had losing seasons and a drop in attendance after Irsay traded iconic quarterback Johnny Unitas and sacked Super Bowl-winning coach Don McCafferty.
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Indianapolis had made it clear that the community desired an NFL franchise prior to the Colts’ decision to relocate. The 80,000-seat Hoosier Dome was financed and constructed by the city; its blue and white seats were a glaring nod to Colts fandom.
Irsay was aware of the new stadium and was especially drawn to its opulent suites, which at the time were still unusual for NFL stadiums.
Indianapolis had offered the Colts an offer as early as 1984, one that was compelling enough to make Baltimore think about putting the Colts organization under eminent domain.
Finally, on March 27, 1984, the Maryland state Senate approved legislation by a vote of 38–4, granting the city the right to use eminent domain to take possession of the Colts. After calling Indianapolis city mayor William Hudnut to let him know about the transfer, Irsay made arrangements for the Colts to depart for Baltimore the following day.
How the Name “Midnight Mayflower” Was Given
A well-known truck company will always be remembered negatively
Colts vs. Dolphins, 1971; Larry Little and Fred Miller
When Hudnut learned that his hometown would soon have an NFL franchise, he called a close buddy who controlled Mayflower Transit, a moving company, and arranged for the delivery of fifteen trucks to Maryland late at night.
By March 29th, the team had traveled to Indianapolis and the trucks had been loaded, earning the nickname “Midnight Mayflower.” There was a Mayflower Transit boycott in the Baltimore region as a result of furious Baltimore supporters being spotted with anti-Irsay jerseys.
After moving to Indianapolis, the team changed its name to the Indianapolis Colts and qualified for the playoffs four seasons later.
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