Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer would drop a little nugget of info in his recent MMQB article, mentioning that there have been “at least murmurs” of front office movement with the Indianapolis Colts.
But what about head coach Shane Steichen?
On a recent appearance on ‘The Rich Eisen Show,’ Breer was asked about where the Colts go from here following another disappointing defeat, this time to the Giants, and had this to say about Steichen’s future:
“I would say, the people I’ve talked to, it sounds more like general manager might a question there rather than coach,” said Breer. I do think they really like Shane Steichen.”
Breer would then go on to add:
“Indianapolis and Miami are the two where I think the coaches are relatively safe.”
Contributing to the optimism around the Colts heading into the 2024 season was that in his first season as head coach in 2023, Shane Steichen got Indianapolis–who had won only four games the year prior–to 9-8 and on the cusp of the playoffs with Gardner Minshew leading the way.
The thought was that his ability as a game-planner and play-caller on offense, coupled with Anthony Richardson’s talents would make for a formidable duo.
However, that isn’t how things played out as the Colts yet again miss the playoffs on their way to a below .500 season. Steichen in Year 2 seemed to regress.
If we assume that Chris Ballard is out, one of the big questions then becomes, wouldn’t it be best to let the new GM pick his own head coach?
If not, and the Colts opt to pair Steichen with a new GM hire, that likely puts Steichen–and Richardson–in a prove it year in 2025. And if the Colts don’t take a sizeable step forward, then this hypothetical new GM likely is hiring his own head coach and finding his own quarterback in 2026.
From his time as offensive coordinator in Philadelphia, I do think that Steichen has shown that he is a good play-caller and game-planner, but there is obviously so much more that goes into it when you’re the head coach and in charge of the entire operation.