Heading into the 2025 season, it's safe to say there wasn't much optimism about the Indianapolis Colts. Daniel Jones was named the starting quarterback over Anthony Richardson, and while that was far from the biggest question mark, it wasn't the only one.
The offensive line had lost two of its stalwarts, with Will Fries and Ryan Kelly both leaving for the Minnesota Vikings. Could Tanor Bortolini and Matt Goncalves be capable replacements? The Colts had arguably the best signing of the draft when they were able to land Tyler Warren, but considering how poor the entire tight end room has been, there has still been a question as to whether or not he would be able to elevate that unit.
On the other side of the ball, the defense as a whole has been one giant question mark. The Indianapolis defense was not great in 2024, particularly against the run, and Lou Anarumo was brought on to see if he could turn things around.
These Indianapolis Colts players have erased any doubt fans had
When the 2025 season started, the Colts came out with a bang, and the question then became whether or not their success was legitimate. Six games in, not only have the Colts made it clear that they're the real thing, but that there isn't much holding them back from being Super Bowl contenders this year.
Right now, the Colts are 5-1 and sitting atop the AFC South. The biggest success story by far is that of Daniel Jones, whose career prior to the Colts has been mediocre at best. And as such, very few analysts believed he would show much improvement in Indianapolis. The consensus seemed to be that he is a safe, capable QB, but not one that could make explosive plays or elevate an offense.
Fast-forward to today, and Jones is not only not mediocre, but he's breaking franchise records. He's playing like he belongs in the Pro Bowl. He's got the highest QBR in the league, and is among the top for passing yards and yards-per-attempt. Likewise, Tyler Warren is so good that he's smashing records and expectations, and could easily be named Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Both Bortolini and Goncalves have played well, so much so that fans are probably wondering why there was so much concern over losing Kelly and Fries. Their exceptional performance this season has absolutely helped Jones, Warren, and other top offensive playmakers, like Jonathan Taylor, have the insanely good season they've been having so far.
On defense, there have been quite a few players who have, including Cam Bynum and Laiatu Latu, though they're far from alone. DeForest Buckner and Zaire Franklin are continuing to prove they're among the best in the league, while Nick Cross is emerging to play at an elite level, and is yet to miss a tackle... this entire season.
The Colts obviously aren't perfect, and there are still things that could continue to improve as the season goes on, especially considering their schedule gets more difficult as the season goes on. But this team is proving that all the questions surrounding them before the season started were unfounded, and that this group is the real deal.