A Colts Fan’s Plea: Fix the AFC – Swap the Colts & Dolphins!

Growing up a die-hard Colts fan, I lived for the legendary battles between Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. Every season, Colts vs. Patriots felt bigger than just a regular game—it was a clash of titans, a rivalry that defined an era. But despite how heated those matchups were, the Colts were never in the same division as the Patriots. Instead, we were stuck in the AFC South, playing teams like the Texans, Titans, and Jaguars—teams with little historical connection to Indianapolis.

It never made sense. The Colts, a Midwest team, were placed in a division filled with southern teams, while Miami—one of the most southern teams in the league—was lumped into the AFC East, traveling thousands of extra miles every season. Meanwhile, the Colts missed out on being in a division with teams like the Patriots, Bills, and Jets—teams that feel like a better fit geographically and historically.

Just look at the division matchups:

AFC South (Current): The Colts play the Jaguars, Texans, and Titans—teams that have no real connection to Indianapolis. The Jaguars’ biggest rival is Tennessee. The Texans and Titans have their beef dating back to Houston losing their original team. The Colts? We just feel like the odd ones out.
AFC East (Current): The Dolphins, meanwhile, travel way more than any other team in their division. The Patriots, Bills, and Jets are all in the Northeast, playing in cold-weather stadiums, and building rivalries that make sense. Then, there’s Miami, an outlier both geographically and culturally.
Now, imagine a better setup:

AFC South (New): The Dolphins join a division with the Jaguars, Titans, and Texans. Instantly, you create a Florida rivalry between Miami and Jacksonville. The Titans and Texans keep their rivalry, and Miami gets a division where they don’t have to constantly travel up north in freezing conditions late in the season.
AFC East (New): The Colts move in with the Patriots, Bills, and Jets. This revives the classic Colts-Patriots rivalry, while also bringing more excitement to matchups with teams like the Bills, who have become a powerhouse. It also makes way more sense geographically—Indianapolis is much closer to the AFC East cities than Miami is.
This isn’t just about nostalgia—it’s about fixing something that’s been broken for years. It’s about improving travel, enhancing rivalries, and making the league more competitive.

The NFL has changed before, and it can change again. If you agree, sign this petition, and let’s make it happen!