Where does Shane Steichen rank as a head coach entering his first year with Colts?

Shane Steichen hasn’t coached a game for the Indianapolis Colts yet, but he’s already being ranked with the rest of the NFL’s head coaches.

When the 2023 offseason started, finding a head coach was the first order of business for the Indianapolis Colts. It was a decision that was massively important, and Indy understood that. That was evident in the extensive coaching search that the Colts had, where they interviewed over 10 candidates, had multiple rounds, and spent long hours with candidates before coming to a decision.

The unique interview process resulted in Indianapolis hiring Shane Steichen as the team’s next head coach. While the quality of the hire will officially be determined by wins and losses, everyone has been excited about Steichen’s presence in Indianapolis. He should help Indy’s offense, develop Anthony Richardson, and also build a new culture for the franchise.

While Steichen hasn’t coached the Colts in a game yet, he’s already being compared to his peers. Cody Benjamin, in a recent piece for CBS Sports, ranked all 32 head coaches going into 2023. Steichen, who’s preparing for his first head coaching season in the NFL, was ranked at No. 24.

Shane Steichen ranked as 24th-best head coach

Benjamin explained that while Steichen has a tall task, his past experience shows that he’s prepared to turn the Colts around and develop Anthony Richardson, acknowledging Steichen’s work with Jalen Hurts and Justin Herbert. Steichen was the offensive coordinator for both of those young QBs, and he helped them develop into some of the best players in the league, while also leading explosive offenses.

That's seemingly why Steichen is ranked at 24, despite never coaching a game as head coach. Of course, that will change once the 2023 season kicks off. Steichen will hope to navigate the growing pains of a young team and lead Indy to a better record than the 4-12-1 record from last season. If he can do that, he’ll surely climb up this list.

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