All offseason, Indianapolis Colts fans were right to question whether head coach Shane Steichen and general manager Chris Ballard should still have their jobs. The team was seemingly stuck in mediocrity with a quarterback situation that was awful.
Steichen, of course, was tasked with turning 2023 first-round draft pick Anthony Richardson into a good NFL quarterback. He couldn't. Was that Steichen's fault?
Based on Week 1 of the 2025 season versus the Miami Dolphins, coupled with Daniel Jones' first start of his Indy career, Steichen is in the clear. So is Ballard. Richardson is the main problem, it seems. His inaccuracy and apparently low football IQ aren't something the Colts can fix.
Indianapolis Colts' blasting of Miami Dolphins in Week 1 should make Chris Ballard extra happy
Jones appeared to be the same problem for the New York Giants through the first six seasons of his career. Maybe the real problem was the Giants, and not Jones. In his first start with Indianapolis, he played under control, clearly knew what the offense needed, was accurate, and got the ball to his playmakers.
Was he perfect? No, but he was pretty close. It is difficult to find fault with a quarterback whose offense scores every time they have the ball into the fourth quarter, at which time the Colts led 30-0.
But Ballard didn't only seemingly hit on the Jones decision. He signed the quarterback to a one-year deal for as much as $15 million, and that might be a steal by the end of the season. (Indy will also have to pay Daniel Jones a lot of money next offseason if he continues to play well.) But Ballard also drafted tight end TJ Warren and running back DJ Giddens, and both were good.
Warren caught seven passes and set the tone in the first drive with three key catches. He could have an explosive rookie season.
Giddens got the ball a bunch in the second half and looked sneaky quick and strong. He isn't going to take Jonathan Taylor's spot at RB1 (and Taylor showed why again against the Dolphins), but he will be a valuable backup worthy of getting RB1 snaps should something happen to Taylor.
Could all of this change when the Indianapolis Colts play a better team (and, honestly, the Dolphins look terrible) and play a road game? Sure, but the Colts have a well-built roster by Chris Ballard, and Shane Steichen finally proved he can call plays well, but let's not get too excited yet. Maybe by Week 3.