The current sentiment around the Colts is extremely negative for countless reasons: the league’s most inaccurate quarterback, a floundering defense, missing the playoffs for the fourth straight year, bad communication, a lost locker room, reported culture issues, and a lack of accountability at the top.
The franchise’s ownership, staff, and players are all under heavy fire. Amidst this chaos, can we find any signs of hope for the team’s future? Let’s try.
1. A record near .500 despite all the turmoil
If you only heard about the drama surrounding the organization this season and didn't watch the actual games, you probably would have thought the Colts finished at the bottom of the NFL standings. Despite benching (and then un-benching) the “franchise” QB and a defense on the wrong side of history, Indianapolis ended the year with an 8-9 record — better than 12 other teams and 2 wins away from the playoffs. Indianapolis shouldn't aspire to stay mediocre, but a surprisingly solid season, given all of the bad press, deserves some recognition.
2. Losses were (mostly) respectable
Losing games is never a good thing, but not all defeats are created equal. Of the Colts’ 9 losses this season, 7 were against playoff teams including 4 to division champions. Even when they lose, Indianapolis has been able to keep games close. The team’s first 5 losses were decided by a single score. If just a few drives had swung in their favor, the Colts could have qualified for the postseason and been on an upward trajectory right now. In other words, Indianapolis was incredibly close to having a much better year.
3. Jonathan Taylor’s excellence
Star running back Jonathan Taylor was a rare bright spot on the Indianapolis roster. Despite missing 3 games, Taylor still racked up 1,567 scrimmage yards and 12 total touchdowns. He ran for the fourth-most rushing yards in the league, led the NFL in carries per game, and was 1 of only 3 players to average over 100 yards on the ground. Taylor proved, once again, that he’s an elite workhorse running back and earned a trip to the 2025 Pro Bowl.
4. League-leading deep passing game
Although the Colts’ passing game was a weakness in 2024, Indianapolis did excel in one key area: throwing the ball far down the field. Anthony Richardson’s big arm and Alec Pierce’s size and speed formed an explosive combination. Richardson led the league in intended air yards per attempt (12.2), while Pierce had the longest average depth of target (21.5). In fact, 1 out of every 6 Indianapolis completions went for 20+ yards. There were several games when the Colts’ entire offensive game plan was to take deep shots — and, sometimes, it worked.
5. Some solid rookie talent
Chris Ballard has a rocky track record with the draft, but he may have landed some decent picks in 2024. A trio of rookie offensive linemen — Matt Goncalves, Tanor Bartolini, and Dalton Tucker (undrafted) — stepped up admirably after injuries decimated the starting group. All three could compete for bigger roles next year. Second-rounder Adonai Mitchell remains a work in progress, but Anthony Gould quickly settled in as one of the team’s top return men. On the defensive side, both No. 15 pick Laiatu Latu and Jaylon Carlies showed flashes of talent despite limited snaps. It’s too early to draw conclusions about the Colts’ 2024 rookie class, but the early returns have been promising.