Indianapolis is giving away key players and seemingly just waiting for the 2026 season to end, after a complete collapse last year that saw them start 8-2 and then never win again after their Week 11 bye. This isn’t just a bad season, it’s a “petering out” that usually gets people fired.
The Collapse That Wasn’t Enough For A Firing
The 2025 Colts were a train wreck after Week 11. An 8-2 start turned into a season where they couldn’t buy a win. And this followed 9-8 and 8-9 seasons the two years prior! You’d think that kind of slide would light a fire, or at least clean house, but nope. General Manager Chris Ballard, who has been steering this ship since 2017 and has only one playoff win to show for it, is still there. Head Coach Shane Steichen, with a dismal 2-10 record against the Texans and Jaguars, also got to keep his job. Daniel Jones had a good, albeit overstated, start before getting hurt, leading to a 44-year-old high school coach replacing him. They even extended Philip Rivers’ family health insurance five more years, which is a class act, sure, but doesn’t win games or save jobs.
Building for What, Exactly?
This spring, Ballard and Steichen haven’t exactly inspired confidence they deserve to stay. Their biggest move? Giving away wide receiver Michael Pittman for what the source calls “scraps” a 7th/6th round pick swap. And it’s not like they have some up and coming receiver waiting in the wings to replace him. They wisely transition tagged Daniel Jones, then gave him a two-year deal, but everyone knows they’ll save cap space cutting him after the season because “the new GM and head coach want a real QB.” That’s a direct quote, folks! It basically screams: “We’re setting up the next guys for success, not ourselves.” They added EDGE Arden Key and Michael Clemons, plus LB Akeem Davis-Gaither. But they also lost a ton of talent: linebacker Zaire Franklin, right tackle Braden Smith, EDGE Kwity Paye, safety Nick Cross, linebacker Germaine Pratt, and cornerback Kenny Moore. The subtraction list is a lot more impactful than the additions, especially when you’re giving away your best receiver.
Counting Down The Weeks
The AFC South isn’t exactly a cakewalk, with every team except Indianapolis winning the division twice in the last six seasons. The Colts haven’t won it since 2014. They truly seem to be just waiting for this 2026 season to end. They’ll be coming off their bye week before their Week 14 game at home. The big question isn’t about who they play, but whether that bye week is when the coaching change finally happens. Get ready, Indianapolis, because the clock is ticking.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleeding Green Nation.
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