The Indianapolis Colts primary logo is a blue horseshoe, a mark the franchise has used continuously since the 1950s. The team describes the Horseshoe as its “most iconic and timeless mark,” one that has been “tried and true for 67 years” as of the 2020 season, making it among the oldest and most recognizable icons in sports.[1]
Design and History
The horseshoe first appeared on the back of the Colts helmet in the mid-1950s. The club’s 1955 helmets were blue with white striping and horseshoes on the back of the gear. The historic logo was moved to the side of the helmet in 1957, where it has remained.[2] The 1957 season was the first in which the Colts wore their trademark horseshoe logo on both sides of the helmet.[3]The horseshoe survived the franchise’s relocation from Baltimore to Indianapolis in 1984 without change. When the team introduced new logos and looks in April 2020, the horseshoe remained the primary logo, complemented by new secondary marks rather than replaced.[1]In 2020, the Colts debuted a new secondary “Indiana” logo featuring the outline of the state of Indiana carved out of the “C” from the team’s new wordmark, designed to honor the team’s home state and community.[1] The team also introduced a new primary wordmark described as similar to the historic one, with lettering still in blue and tight kerning between letters.[4]The Colts also designated the “Bucking Horse” logo, used from 1961 to 1978, as the team’s official historic logo, tied to historical or throwback campaigns as a nod to the team’s Baltimore roots.[1][5]Meaning and Symbolism
The horseshoe logo features seven grommets, a detail the team has referenced in later designs. The 2020 secondary “Indiana” logo includes seven grommets around the “C” to mirror those found on the primary horseshoe logo.[4] A 2025 jersey patch honoring Owner and CEO Jim Irsay also features seven grommets, tying in the seven grommets that adorn the Colts’ iconic horseshoe logo.[6]Typography and Design
The Colts’ new primary wordmark, introduced in 2020, incorporates modern elements while embracing some design features from the traditional mark. The traditional wordmark became a historic mark, used primarily for historical or throwback campaigns and gear.[1] The new wordmark was described as similar to the historic one in that the lettering remains blue and the kerning remains tight.[4]Logo Index is an independent educational archive covering logos, visual identities and graphic design history. All trademarks and brand assets remain the property of their respective owners.
