Even before Week 14, Indianapolis Colts fans might have been wondering what happened. After all, Indy began 7-1 and was humming offensively. Then things simply stopped.
Instead of having an offense that was operating at a higher level of efficiency than almost any in NFL history, the play-calling appeared to change, and running back Jonathan Taylor began to get fewer touches. Meanwhile, quarterback Daniel Jones was tasked with throwing a higher percentage of plays even though he had a broken fibula.
Why did head coach Shane Steichen appear to change what he was doing? Or did he? The offensive line was not playing at a high level, so maybe that forced Steichen's hand.
Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen is a keeper, but what about general manager Chris Ballard?
One might have been right in wondering whether Steichen could ride the ship, and, if he couldn't, should he be the head coach after 2025? This is how the sports world works. Coaching changes happen quickly if things are trending toward mediocrity again.
Thankfully, Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report brings some needed levity to the situation. The truth is, no matter what happened in Week 14 or beyond, even if Indianapolis went from 7-1 to completely out of the playoffs, Steichen wasn't going anywhere. Rightfully so.
Gagnon writes, "(Steichen has) always got more out of this team than the sum of its parts, and this year is no exception. Quarterbacked by Daniel Jones, the Colts had the league's highest-scoring offense entering December. Steichen has to be in the Coach of the Year picture, with plenty of job security regardless of what happens down the stretch."
That the Colts were able to win at least eight games in each of Steichen's first two years on the job says a lot about his coaching ability. The quarterback situation was a mess until 2025, and the defense was an inconsistent group in need of real leadership. While the head coach oversaw the entire team, his focus was on the offense, and that unit was better than it should have been.
Shane Steichen has also proven what a quarterback whisperer he can be, as he has gotten Daniel Jones to elevate his play to a consistently productive level. The QB seemed sure of what he was being asked to do, even if at times he was being asked to do a bit too much. Unfortunately, Jones hurt his Achilles tendon in Week 14 and will likely miss a lot of time.
The real question about the Indianapolis Colts this offseason, should things fall short of the hopes that the team created with its success early in the season, is how much longer Chris Ballard should be the general manager.
Since he took the job in 2017, the team has as many 4-12 seasons as seasons where Indy has won double-digit games (though that would change if and when Indianapolis gets to 10 wins this season). The team has yet to win the AFC South title. He has drafted well, but the team has not sustained a high level of success.
He isn't a bad general manager, but the team's future is now less unknown after Ballard gave the New York Jets two first-round draft picks for cornerback Sauce Gardner. This means Jones needs to come back in 2026, and smart decisions need to be made with other upcoming contract extensions. The next year could decide Chris Ballard's fate, while Shane Steichen should be safe.