Maybe it is all quarterback Daniel Jones's fault. Or perhaps that lies with head coach Shane Steichen. The truth is that the Indianapolis Colts' success in 2025 is going to have consequences, and coaching moves will likely be made.
But unlike a team that is having a dire season, the moves Indy could be forced to deal with are for positive reasons. In the NFL, if a team is extremely successful, especially offensively, then other teams are going to come calling for help. Steichen isn't going anywhere, of course. Jim Bob Cooter could be.
While Steichen calls the offensive plays, teams won't be scared off from talking to Cooter about their head coaching vacancies. Offensive coordinators have been hired before without calling plays. This happened with Antonio Pierce and the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024, for instance.
Indianapolis Colts could be forced to deal with coaching changes after the season
Did that work out well for Vegas? Nope, but Cooter might be in a better position to succeed. Pierce only had two years coaching experience in the NFL before rising to head coach. He probably wasn't ready to do so. Cooter is.
Indianapolis's offensive coordinator has been in the league since 2009. He also was an OC for the Detroit Lions for three seasons before eventually finding his way back to the Colts in 2023. What he might not have known about an offense before, he has probably learned from Steichen.
While the Lions teams weren't overly successful when Cooter was the team's OC, his offenses weren't bad. His 2017 group was seventh in the NFL in scoring, for instance. The issue is that he was far too pass-heavy as OC.
Part of this was personnel, of course. A team can only do as well as the talent it has at certain positions. While Daniel Jones has been great this season, it helps that the Colts have the fantastic Jonathan Taylor at running back.
If Cooter has learned anything from Steichen it is probably that diversity in play-calling, and having a bit of a balance between the run and pass only helps keep defenses more off-balance. If he does move on to being a head coach with another team, it is likely he will handle play-call duties. There will be a lot of Steichen influence in what he does.
Or maybe Jim Bob Cooter goes nowhere and stays with the Indianapolis Colts. That would be good, too. Shane Steichen and Cooter have clearly formed a great duo. If Cooter stays, that's only a good thing for Indy.