For those who know much about Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen, that person would know that Steichen is not prone to using coarse language very often. He is relatively metronomic in answers to the media and rarely angry on the field.
Just don't ask him about the rehab of quarterback Daniel Jones, though. The QB tore his Achilles tendon in Week 14 last season, needed surgery and a long recovery, and is questionable to return for the start of next season. Steichen appears quite happy with where Jones' status currently stands, though, and so much so, he is willing to cuss.
Jones is already throwing the ball, including dropping back, putting a bit of pressure on his Achilles to do so. In reaction to this, according to ESPN's Stephen Holder, Steichen said, "He's done a hell of a job with his rehab. He's been tirelessly working at it. He's been in here every day, 8 to 3 o'clock. I know he's trying to hit certain landmarks, and he's on a good path with that."
Indianapolis Colts' Shane Steichen seems happy with quarterback Daniel Jones' rehab from torn Achilles
Steichen saying "hell" is like Patton Oswalt using a whole language of F words. It's stunning, and funny at the same time. Also, it's ironically meaningful. The head coach would not feel so strongly if Jones' rehab wasn't going so well.
And Steichen and general manager Chris Ballard need Jones' recovery to be quick and successful, especially the GM. He is the one who chose to re-sign Jones on a two-year deal for at least $88 million, even though the quarterback was still iffy to play in the first part of the first year of that contract.
Steichen simply has to use the players that Ballard gives him. Has he made the most of those players? Maybe not. He is 7-22 against teams with winning records, after all. The coach did appear to prove his offensive system worked well enough if he had a quarterback worthy of running it.
The question moving forward, though, is whether Daniel Jones can be as good for a full season as he was in the first half of last season, when the Indianapolis Colts had a relatively easy schedule, and the roster was mostly healthy. Jones might look worse, even while playing nearly as well, because the team could not have two half-seasons like 2025, one easy and one hard.
Still, let's hope that Shane Steichen's exuberance rolls over into real games. Daniel Jones playing well and the Colts making the postseason in 2026? Hell yeah!
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