The Pittsburgh Colts are the oldest minor-league professional football team, located in

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Western Pennsylvania, the second-most populous city in Pennsylva ...

, that is still in existence. They are currently members of the

Gridiron Developmental Football League The Gridiron Developmental Football League (GDFL) is a low-level american football minor league based in Memphis, Tennessee, using the franchise model. , the league has 63 teams. The GDFL plays a playoff format similar to NCAA tournament, as 16 ...

(GDFL). The team was founded in 1979 by head coach Edward G. Brosky, a member of the

Pittsburgh Panthers The Pittsburgh Panthers, commonly also referred to as the Pitt Panthers, are the athletic teams representing the University of Pittsburgh, although the term is colloquially used to refer to other aspects of the university such as alumni, facu ...

1976 national championship team. The Colts initial run lasted from 1979 until 1987, when the team took a four-year hiatus. In 1981, the team advanced to the national championship game located in

San Francisco San Francisco (; Spanish for " Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the fourth most populous in California and 17th ...

, to play against the Twin City Cougars, who later became the

Oakland Invaders The Oakland Invaders were a professional American football team that played in the United States Football League (USFL) from 1983 through 1985. Based in Oakland, California, they played at the Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum. The team can tra ...

of the

United States Football League The United States Football League (USFL) was a professional American football league that played for three seasons, 1983 through 1985. The league played a spring/summer schedule in each of its active seasons. The 1986 season was scheduled to be ...

. The team also briefly disbanded after the 2000 season due its board of directors and coaching staff have become the ownership group of the Pittsburgh Ironmen, a new professional indoor football team set to begin competing in February 2001. Brosky also played as a

semi-pro ''Semi-Pro'' is a 2008 American sports comedy film. The film was directed by Kent Alterman in his directorial debut, written by Scot Armstrong, and produced by Jimmy Miller. It stars Will Ferrell, Woody Harrelson, André Benjamin and Maura Tier ...

football player while playing college football, until then-Panthers coach

Johnny Majors John Terrill Majors (May 21, 1935June 3, 2020) was an American professional football player and college coach. A standout halfback at the University of Tennessee, he was an All-American in 1956 and a two-time winner of the Southeastern Confe ...

found out and ended Brosky's moonlighting. When he left Pitt, Brosky continued to play for semi-pro teams in the area. He started the Colts when those other teams folded. Since 1979, Brosky has either played for or coached the Colts. In 2004 Lisa Horton became the first woman to throw a touchdown pass in a North America Football League game

History

The Colts were founded in 1979 by owner and coach Edward G. Brosky. At the time the Colts played in the Keystone Oaks School District, Keystone Oaks area. The team was a member of the professional American Football Association (1978–1983), American Football Association in that league's final 1983 season. From 1988 to 1996 the Colts played in Stonefield Northpark and from 1997 to 2000 played in Duquesne, Pennsylvania, Duquesne. Recent Locations include, Uniontown, Pennsylvania, Uniontown, Chartiers Valley School District, Chartiers Valley and Carlynton School District, Carlynton. The Colts were previously members of the American, North American Football League, and Regional American Football League before Edward Brosky formed the Grassroots Football League in 2009. The Colts played in the Semi-Pro Football League from 2010 to 2014 before joining the Gridiron Developmental Football League for the 2015 season. They also played at Chartiers Valley School District, Chartiers Valley for the 2015 season. In the mid-1990s, Brosky struck a deal with the Northgate School District. It was during this time that two notables were linked with the team; WTAE-TV field reporter Sheldon Ingram played in the defensive backfield while future music video director Matt Dilmore served as the team's official announcer. The Colts draw talent from the area high schools and local colleges including: Allegheny College, Bethany College (West Virginia), Bethany College, California University of Pennsylvania, Carnegie Mellon University, Duquesne University, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, University of Pittsburgh, Robert Morris College, Slippery Rock University, Washington & Jefferson Presidents football, Washington & Jefferson College, and James Madison University in Virginia. The Colts describe themselves as a "throwback team" based on a strong work ethic and personal values. The team has been in several communities throughout its history. Most recently the team played at Ambridge Area School District, Ambridge High School. The Colts have interacted with the community they are in through numerous youth activities, visiting children's hospital, and having community events downtown. The Colts joined the Pennsylvania Football League (PFL) in 2017.

2007–2009

2007 season

The Colts played the 2007 season at two fields: Robert Morris University and Moon Area School District, Moon Stadium Home Game Dates:June 16( Home opener vs. North Coast Vikings), June 23, July 7, July 14, July 28, August 11. Games played: June 9: Pittsburgh Colts 33, Rochester Renegades 6

2008 season

The Colts played their 2008 Season at South Stadium in Pittsburgh's SouthSide *6/14/2008 Pittsburgh Colts Vs Penn-Ohio Tigers: Win 30-20 *6/21/2008 Pittsburgh Colts At Detroit Seminoles: Loss 58-8 *7/5/2008 Pittsburgh Colts At Rochester Renegades: Win 34-0 *7/12/2008 Pittsburgh Colts At Penn-Ohio Tigers: Win 20-12 *7/19/2008 Pittsburgh Colts Vs New Castle Thunder: Loss 14-10 *7/26/2008 Pittsburgh Colts Vs Mon-Valley Mayhem: Win 41-20 *8/2/2008 Pittsburgh Colts Vs Jackson City Bears:Win 56-0 *8/9/2008 Pittsburgh Colts AT Mon-Valley Mayhem:Win 6-0 *8/16/2008 Pittsburgh Colts Vs Beaver County Warriors:Loss 14-10 —GFL Championship-- *8/25/2008 Pittsburgh Colts Vs Penn-Ohio Tigers:Win 11-9 -Game won on a last second field goal *Did not advance to the RAFL playoffs by team decision due to too many injuries

2009 season

The Colts play the 2009 season at Ambridge high school Stadium *5/14/2009 Pittsburgh Colts At Mon Valley Mayhem: Win 69-1 *5/30/2009 Pittsburgh Colts At Pittsburgh Blue Devils: Win 37-6 *6/13/2009 Pittsburgh Colts At Canton Hurricanes: Win 28-12 *6/20/2009 Pittsburgh Colts At Erie Invaders: Win 28-0 *6/27/2009 Pittsburgh Colts Vs Erie Invaders: Win 42-12 *7/4/2009 Pittsburgh Colts Vs Cleveland Cobras: Loss 30-22 *7/11/2009 Pittsburgh Colts Vs Mon Valley Mayhem: Win 14-0 *7/18/2009 Pittsburgh Colts Vs Crestview Renegades: Win 22-12 *8/1/2009 Pittsburgh Colts Vs Steel Valley Warriors:Win 37-6 Playoffs *8/8/2009 Bye *8/15/2009 Pittsburgh Colts Vs Lake Erie Invaders:Win 38-0 Championship *8/22/2009 Pittsburgh Colts Vs Cuyahoga County Spartans:Win 26-14

Season by season

Recent Seasons

*2009- (10-1) Grassroots Football League Champions *2008- (7-3) Grassroots Football League Champions/Chose not to advance because of the amount of injuries *2007- (15-1) Grassroots Division Champions/ Lost in 3rd Round of NAFL Playoffs to Kane County Eagles *2006- (10-3) Grassroots Division Champions *2005- (13-1) Grassroots Division Champions *1981- Participated in American Football Association's National Championship Game

Television appearances

The Pittsburgh Colts alongside a number of National Football League free agents took part in the filming of an episode of Shaq Vs. During the episode of the American Broadcasting Company, ABC show, Shaquille O'Neal competed against Ben Roethlisberger in a game of 7 on 7. The teams were a mix between the Free Agents and Colts and the game was won by Big Ben's Team 21–14. In 2005 members of the Colts have appeared in television spots, suiting up as fictional members of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns in a commercial for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

References

External links

Regional American Football League
{{Pennsylvania Sports American football teams in Pittsburgh Semi-professional American football American football teams established in 1979 1979 establishments in Pennsylvania