The Indianapolis Colts had a shot to make the playoffs this year. While they needed some help, winning their last two games was essential to keep their hopes alive. Many fans had penciled in a win against the lowly New York Giants. Instead, Drew Lock hung 45 points on the Colts’ defense in one of the most embarrassing performances in recent memory. The fallout has been massive. Many have wondered whether head coach Shane Steichen will survive the end of the season. According to a recent report, Indianapolis is unlikely to be fired after a disappointing end to the season.
Indianapolis Colts Unlikely To Fire Shane Steichen
Shane Steichen came over from the Philadelphia Eagles after their Super Bowl run a few years ago. The early results have been promising, but this season has seen some questionable decisions. Anthony Richardson has struggled throughout the year. Steichen benched him only to bring him back a few weeks later. Throughout the season, the team has looked unprepared. This was on full display in the game against the Giants. They could not stop anything the team was doing.
The Athletic’s Diana Russini made an appearance on the Scoop City podcast and revealed the Indianapolis Colts are still behind their head coach. “I’ve had some conversations around the league, in terms of Shane Steichen. I don’t get the sense that they’re going to make a move at this moment. But that could be something that changes,” she said around the 17-minute mark of the podcast. She acknowledges that a final decision has not been made, but something huge would have to happen in order for the team to make a change. Even if it isn’t Steichen, the Indianapolis Colts are expected to make some changes in the offseason.
Chris Ballard In Trouble?
The general manager of the Indianapolis Colts may have less job security than Shane Steichen. Chris Ballard has been with the team since 2017. Since then, the Colts haven’t won the division and have gone through many failed quarterbacks, including Carson Wentz, Matt Ryan, and Philip Rivers. The first two seasons of Richardson have been okay at best. Outside of the quarterback position, Ballard hasn’t been able to craft an elite defense or surround the quarterback with an array of weapons.
SI.com’s Albert Breer reported that there have been “murmurs” that the owner, Jim Irsay, could decide to make his GM the fall guy. Honestly, the fact that Ballard has kept his job this long is impressive. He has gotten a long leash and still cannot seem to put a winning product on the field. While he has made some good moves, it hasn’t been enough to win.
Final Thoughts
The Colts should look to keep their head coach. There is plenty of criticism about how this year has ended. However, teams often move on too quickly, stunting the growth of the team. He should get a chance to develop Richardson this offseason. If he can get the former top-five pick to improve, this team could be a playoff contender next season.
