The Indianapolis Colts may or may not sustain their remarkable early-season success, which has made them the biggest surprise of the 2025 season. The Jacksonville Jaguars certainly seem poised to stay in the fight for the AFC South crown all year long.
But at the very least, after five games, it is clear that the Colts are no fluke. They have a very good roster, and with relative health and quality quarterback play, they can compete with anyone in the NFL. Roster holes and concerns remain, but that is true of even the acknowledged best clubs.
After five weeks, there are no undefeated teams. Shane Steichen’s men could easily be 5-0 were it not for a few unfortunate mistakes against the Rams. As it is, they are 4-1 and looking like they could get better over time.
Indianapolis Colts' team awards after five weeks
With such a promising start, doing quarter-season awards is actually fun. Several of these races are competitive, which is a nice situation for a team that hasn’t been in the playoffs since 2020.
Defensive Newcomer of the Year - Cam Bynum
The Colts were counting on defensive help from their draft class, especially in the secondary, where both Justin Walley and Hunter Wohlers figured to be major contributors. Both went down with season-ending injuries before opening day.
Fortunately, several other players have answered the call, including free agent free safety Camryn Bynum, who has stepped into Justin Blackmon's role and added stability to the back end. He made interceptions in each of his first two games and has paired with hard-hitting Nick Cross to form a very effective safety tandem.
Offensive Newcomer of the Year - Daniel Jones
It is almost impossible to choose between tight end Tyler Warren, who has surpassed the high expectations Indy had for him when they chose him in the first round of the 2025 draft, and Daniel Jones.
But the call tilts in Jones’ favor because he has lent stability and playmaking to the most important position on the field. He is third in the league in passing yards and yards-per-attempt, and leads all quarterbacks in QBR, arguably the single most accurate gauge of quarterback play.
Coach of the Year - Reggie Wayne
I am tempted to give this to head coach Shane Steichen, who has silenced all the doubters with his early-season performance. I do want to wait and see if he is able to sustain this success and how he will handle the adversity that is sure to come. Therefore, I’m going with a sure thing.
Reggie Wayne is not merely an iconic on-field player in Colts’ history. With little fanfare, he has built the most complete receiving corps in the league. He may have his biggest challenge right now with the mercurial AD Mitchell, but he has already proven that he can take any receiver and help them get better.
Defensive MVP - Laiatu Latu
For those fans waiting for edge rusher Laiatu Latu to step into a starring role, you can stop holding your breath. The second player out of UCLA has been the Colts' best front-seven player this season. His length and athleticism allow Lou Anarumo to use him in a variety of ways, which helps explain why a 6’5”, 265-pound defensive end is tied for the team lead in interceptions and passes defended.
He still needs to develop into a more consistent pass rusher, but that is coming too. By the end of this season, Latu should be one of the better all-around defensive edges in the league.
Offensive MVP - Jonathan Taylor
With Daniel Jones and Tyler Warren on the team, it's hard for other offensive talent to stand out, but Jonathan Taylor has done just that. The running back is making a strong case for league MVP.
He leads the league in total rushing and rushing touchdowns, and that is without the spectacular 53-yard touchdown run against the Rams that may well have won the game had it not been called back due to a penalty. Taylor has also caught 16 of his 18 targets in the passing game and scored another touchdown through the air.
He has been on the field for more than 80% of the Colts’ offensive snaps this season – an insanely high number that really should come down as the season goes on. But for now, everyone in Colts-land is content to ride the most underrated back in the league.
Special Team MVP - Quenton Nelson
You remember some talk a couple of years ago that maybe Quenton Nelson was slowing down a bit? He missed being an All-Pro selection in both 2022 and 2023. In case last year didn’t convince you otherwise, you can now officially stop worrying. The Colts have a lot of dynamic players on their roster this year. Quenton Nelson remains the heart and soul of one of the best teams in the NFL.