Former Colts standouts Ameche, Kunz, Hinton advance as Seniors in pursuit of Pro Football Hall of Fame

INDIANAPOLIS – Four Colts whose careers spanned two cities are among 60 individuals still being considered for the Seniors class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026.

The list includes running back Alan Ameche and offensive lineman George Kunz, whose careers flourished as members of the Baltimore Colts, and Chris Hinton, a decorated offensive lineman who called both Baltimore and Indy home.

A fourth, wideout Stanley Morgan, spent the final season of his 14-year career in Indy.

The 60 nominees were pared from a preliminary list of 182 by the Seniors Screening Committee. Additional reductions will be made by a nine-person Seniors Blue-Ribbon Committee. Ultimately, three Seniors finalists will be considered for enshrinement by the overall Selection Committee (I am one of 50 voters).

A look at the primary Colts:

Ameche: The 3 ^rd overall pick in the 1955 draft who led the Colts in rushing in each of his first five seasons. He was Rookie of the Year, selected to four Pro Bowls and named first-team All-Pro once and second-team twice, is a member of the 1950s All-Decade Team and a two-time world champion. Ameche’s 1-yard touchdown in overtime gave the Colts a 23-17 win over the New York Giants in the 1958 NFL Championship Game at Yankee Stadium in what’s known as “The Greatest Game Ever Played.”

An Achilles injury late in the 1960 season curtailed his career. He finished with 4,045 yards and 40 touchdowns in 70 games.

Kunz: Atlanta selected him with the 2 ^nd overall pick in 1969, and Kunz spent the final five seasons of his 11-year career as Baltimore’s right tackle. He was named to three of his seven Pro Bowls while with the Colts, was first-team All-Pro once and second-team All-Pro twice.

Hinton: He was a “bridge’’ Colt. Hinton was a rookie in 1983 during the franchise’s final season in Baltimore, then spent his next seven seasons in Indy. Hinton’s 13-year career concluded with four seasons in Atlanta and two in Minnesota.

Hinton was drafted No. 4 overall by Denver in ’83 but became a Colt as part of the blockbuster trade that sent disgruntled quarterback John Elway, selected No. 1 overall by the Colts, to the Broncos.

He was a seven-time Pro Bowler at three different offensive line positions, was named first- or second-team All-Pro five times and was inducted into the Colts’ Ring of Honor in 2001.

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