Painter was drafted in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts.
Behind starting quarterback Peyton Manning, Painter was a reserve along with Jim Sorgi.
Painter became the second-string quarterback in December 2009 after Sorgi went on injured reserve and Drew Willy was called in as second back-up.
 Painter saw no game action as the backup to Manning in 2009 until weeks 16 and 17, when head coach Jim Caldwell decided to rest his starters for the playoffs after clinching the No.
1 seed in the 2010 NFL Playoffs.
 Painter made his debut on December 27, 2009, against the New York Jets, throwing an interception and losing a fumble that was returned for a touchdown.

He also took the reins during the first quarter the following week in Buffalo, which also resulted in a loss.

Painter was relegated to third-string quarterback for the Colts at the start of the 2011 season when the Colts signed Kerry Collins to take over for Manning after an offseason neck surgery sidelined him.
 Painter replaced an injured Collins in Week 3 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In that game he went 5 for 10 with 60 yards and a fumble.

The following week, Painter started his first NFL game in week 4 of the 2011 season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on October 3, 2011.

Painter's first career touchdown pass to Pierre Garçon against the Buccaneers, was the fifth longest touchdown pass in Colts history at 87 yards.
Painter made eight starts for the injured Peyton Manning during the 2011 regular season but did not lead the Colts to a victory in any game before being benched in favor of third-string quarterback Dan Orlovsky prior to the December 4, 2011 Week 13 game versus the New England Patriots.
He was released after the 2011 season on March 9, 2012.
Painter was drafted in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts. Behind starting quarterback Peyton Manning, Painter was a reserve along with Jim Sorgi. Painter became the second-string quarterback in December 2009 after Sorgi went on injured reserve and Drew Willy was called in as second back-up.  Painter saw no game action as the backup to Manning in 2009 until weeks 16 and 17, when head coach Jim Caldwell decided to rest his starters for the playoffs after clinching the No. 1 seed in the 2010 NFL Playoffs.  Painter made his debut on December 27, 2009, against the New York Jets, throwing an interception and losing a fumble that was returned for a touchdown.
He also took the reins during the first quarter the following week in Buffalo, which also resulted in a loss.
Painter was relegated to third-string quarterback for the Colts at the start of the 2011 season when the Colts signed Kerry Collins to take over for Manning after an offseason neck surgery sidelined him.  Painter replaced an injured Collins in Week 3 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. In that game he went 5 for 10 with 60 yards and a fumble.
The following week, Painter started his first NFL game in week 4 of the 2011 season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on October 3, 2011.
Painter's first career touchdown pass to Pierre Garçon against the Buccaneers, was the fifth longest touchdown pass in Colts history at 87 yards. Painter made eight starts for the injured Peyton Manning during the 2011 regular season but did not lead the Colts to a victory in any game before being benched in favor of third-string quarterback Dan Orlovsky prior to the December 4, 2011 Week 13 game versus the New England Patriots. He was released after the 2011 season on March 9, 2012.
Curtis Painter