In terms of proven NFL talent, it would be fair to say that the Indianapolis Colts have lost more than they gained in the 2026 offseason. Five starters on defense – many recent cornerstone players – are gone, replaced by journeymen free agents and rookies. Michael Pittman, tied for second in franchise history in yards-per-target, is now a Steeler; the jury is still out on that one.
The staff at The Athletic (subscription required) recently chose one new addition for each NFL team “most likely to make (a) splash.” The list was filled with new players, and there were also a fair number of head coaches and coordinators. There was even one general manager.
I assumed before looking that the choice for the Colts would be their top draft pick, CJ Allen. He fills a gaping hole at linebacker and is expected to take on major responsibilities from day one. But I was wrong.
New Indianapolis Colts coach pegged as real difference-maker in 2026
In all, 14 coaches were named by The Athletic beat reporters as their team’s major new difference-maker. One head coach, seven offensive coordinators, and five defensive coordinators add up to 13. The 14th was the only position coach identified. It was the Colts' new defensive line coach, Marion Hobby.
How Chris Ballard is that? How recent-Colts is that?
Despite missing the playoffs in seven of Ballard’s nine years as GM – despite Shane Steichen's textbook mediocracy in three years as head coach (25-26 overall, no playoff appearances) – the biggest move the Colts could make was at defensive line coach.
This is a bit unfair, since a lot of money went into retaining two key players – Daniel Jones and Alec Pierce. They don’t count as newcomers. But should they have somehow made a bigger splash?
Maybe not. Hobby, as chosen by The Athletic’s James Boyd, is a sneaky smart choice.
The Colts defensive line was not very good in 2025. Its two heart-and-soul vets, DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart, both began showing their age. Stewart, at age 32, saw a decrease in tackles and sacks and had the highest missed tackle rate of his career. The 31-year-old Buckner still plays at a high level but has missed 12 games over the last two seasons.
Clearly, the Colts need to develop younger interior linemen and begin transitioning away from their long-time stalwarts.
The problem is even more dire on the edge, where the team lost three of its top four performers from 2025. Laiatu Latu remains a budding star, but he needs support. As of right now, that support will come from Arden Key, now with his fifth team in nine NFL seasons, underperforming second-year player Jaylahn Tuimoloau, and a couple of Day 3 rookie draft picks.
Hobby brings a very solid track record. He coached defensive lines under current defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo in Cincinnati for four seasons. In that time, he oversaw the development of elite edge rusher Trey Hendrickson and helped fellow edge rusher Sam Hubbard have his most productive seasons.
He has also worked with defensive line stars Christian Wilkins and Calais Campbell over the course of his ten NFL seasons.
If Hobby can do for Latu what he did for Hendrickson … if he can help Tuimoloau the way he helped Hubbard … he will quickly improve the Colts modest pass rush. If he can also help develop rookies Caden Curry and George Gumbs Jr, so much the better.
And if he can help any of the Colts, mostly young, mostly anonymous interior linemen, turn into reliable starters, he would absolutely justify his selection as a difference-maker.
No one is expecting Colby Wooden or Adetomiwa Adebawore to become All-Pros. They just need to become legitimate NFL producers, something we have not seen yet. That job falls primarily onto the shoulders of Marion Hobby. If the Athletic’s faith proves legit, it bodes well for the Colts defense in 2026 and beyond.
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