Could the Colts play in the 2016 Hall of Fame game?

Football is back tonight, as the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Minnesota Vikings are playing each other in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio.  The Steelers are playing in the game because former running back Jerome Bettis was inducted into the Hall of Fame this weekend, while the Vikings are playing in the game because former offensive lineman Mick Tingelhoff was inducted into the Hall of Fame as well.

Typically, the NFL tries to schedule teams in this game that have former players going into the Hall of Fame that year, both to further emphasize the Hall of Fame weekend and also to help ensure that fans of the teams are in Canton for the game.  The Indianapolis Colts and the Washington Redskins played in the game in 2008, but could the Colts be playing in the Hall of Fame game again soon?

FOX59's Mike Chappell makes a very interesting point:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Hey, football&#39;s back. Hall of Fame weekend. Won&#39;t be surprised if <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/colts?src=hash">#colts</a> in next year&#39;s game if Marvin Harrison and/or Tony Dungy make it.</p>&mdash; Mike Chappell (@mchappell51) <a href="https://twitter.com/mchappell51/status/630529716311695360">August 10, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Since the Hall of Fame typically tries to schedule teams who have Hall of Famers being inducted that year, the Colts would be a very interesting candidate to indeed play in the game next year.  Former wide receiver Marvin Harrison should have been in a few years ago but because of politics hasn't been inducted yet, but most indications are that his year is next year.  One of the greatest wideouts in league history, Harrison would be one of the headliners of the class next year.  Furthermore, former Colts head coach Tony Dungy has been a finalist in each of the past two years and very well could make it into the Hall of Fame soon as well, perhaps as soon as next year.  If Dungy or especially if Harrison makes the Hall of Fame, the Colts would certainly be a good candidate to play in the game.

As for who they would play, my guess would be the Green Bay Packers.  Former quarterback Brett Favre is up for consideration for the first time next year and it is certain that he will get in next year, and he'd be the headliner of the 2016 class.  The Colts and the Packers would surely make for a big draw in the game next year, particularly if Favre and Harrison both go into the Hall of Fame, and the game could perhaps be a rematch of this year's Super Bowl.  Regardless, it's a very valid point and something to consider, that perhaps next year the Indianapolis Colts will be playing in the Hall of Fame game.  We'll have to wait and see, but it does make sense.