Jim Caldwell is a known commodity. He’s the rookie coach of the Indianapolis Colts, and Tony Dungy’s successor.

How about Potsy Clark?

Or Barney Lepper.

Either name ring a bell?

Neither conjures images of Lombardi or Halas, but they’re the men Caldwell is chasing in the NFL history books.

Caldwell has taken up where Dungy left off, directing the Colts to their fourth 6-0 start in the past five seasons. A win today in Lucas Oil Stadium against the San Francisco 49ers would be the Colts’ 16th straight in the regular season, matching the fourth-longest streak in NFL history.

On a personal basis, it would enable Caldwell to match the second-best rookie start of Lepper, whose Buffalo All-Americans opened the 1920 season 7-0. The all-time best start by a rookie coach: 8-0 by Clark’s Portsmouth (Ohio) Spartans in 1931.

Clearly, Caldwell is approaching rare turf.

Just as clearly, he isn’t preoccupied with what lies ahead of him and his Colts, other than the 49ers.

“The only way it would mean something is if it had a meaning to it, which is not the case,‘’ Caldwell said. "It doesn’t give you any guarantees, so it’s nothing to get excited about, nothing to gloat over.

“The other thing is, I don’t play.’’

Constructing the on-field product is the responsibility of team president Bill Polian and his personnel staff, with input from the coaching staff. It’s a roster that includes a three-time NFL MVP (quarterback Peyton Manning), a former league Defensive Player of the Year (safety Bob Sanders), a former league sack champ (end Dwight Freeney) and nine players who have combined for 26 Pro Bowl appearances.

“The team that’s constructed is one of the best,’’ said linebacker and defensive captain Gary Brackett. "You still have to have a guy running the machine.

“We might be the wheels and the engine, but we need a driver. And (Caldwell) is definitely in the fast lane right now.’’

The prevailing question during the transition from Dungy to Caldwell was how smooth would that transition be? Would there be significant changes? How would the players react to a different hand on the wheel, a different voice leading meetings, practices and games?

Outsiders saw Caldwell’s main task being not messing up the talented team he was inheriting.

“He’s definitely put his own stamp on this team,‘’ insisted offensive tackle Charlie Johnson. "People may not see it because of the way we’re rolling right now, but he definitely has his own identity with us.’’

Caldwell acknowledges he’s not just been along for what has been an enjoyable ride through the first six games of the season.

“I don’t think I’ve been here doing nothing,‘’ he said. "But those are the guys who go out there and win the ballgames for us. (The coaching staff) gives them direction.’’

Rather than bask in the limelight, Caldwell turns to Mathew 23:12: "For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.’’

Lepper and Clark may be next in line, but they’re not Caldwell’s focus.

That would be the next game, the next win.