The Indianapolis Colts accomplished two key pieces of business this offseason: Re-signing quarterback Daniel Jones and wide receiver Alec Pierce. While doing so, the team traded linebacker Zaire Franklin and wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., two team captains in previous seasons. That last part cannot be overlooked.
Besides finding the chemistry needed to make a playoff push next season, something Indy has to do for general manager Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen to keep their jobs, Indianapolis must find players to fill the leadership vacuum left by moving Pittman and Franklin.
There is good and bad to that last part. The bad is that the Colts didn't seem to add new talent that have shown to be proven leaders on their previous teams. Those who take Franklin's, a team captain for several years through 2025, and Pittman's, who was a captain last in 2024, spot may need to be filled by players already on the roster.
The Indianapolis Colts need to find new team leaders in 2026
Perhaps Sauce Gardner will be a natural leader. He certainly had a brilliant social media presence this offseason, jokingly suggesting that he lock Alec Pierce in his basement until he signs his new contract for Indy.
The team does have players who have been captains recently as well, such as defensive lineman DeForest Bucker, left guard Quenton Nelson, and cornerback Kenny Moore. Of course, Daniel Jones was a captain too in 2025, but starting quarterbacks normally are for the Colts. Anthony Richardson, for instance, was a captain in 2024.
Jones showed that he can lead Steichen's offense efficiently in the first half of last season, but he isn't exactly a great public speaker. He resembles Steicvhen in that both give calm and robotic answers. Maybe the QB is different in the locker room, but no one has claimed that.
But here is the positive. While Pittman was a decent producer for a number of seasons, a wideout being a captain is sometimes tough. Their whole job description is based on being subordinate to what the offense needs and how often he gets the ball. Pittman was seemingly a good guy, but his leadership can likely be easily replaced.
Franklin, on the other hand, wasn't the kind of leader a team needs. He spoke badly about the organization at times on his podcast, and true leaders keep that kind of thing in-house. He needed to go from a standpoint of not being a very good overall player, and as someone who contradicted himself publicly in his feelings for the team.
Ultimately, the Indianapolis Colts might find new captains and good leaders quickly, and that helps reset the culture into a winning one, and the team makes the playoffs for the next several years. But who those players are isn't known yet.