EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsINDIANAPOLIS -- Losses were mounting, and the future was increasingly uncertain.As the Indianapolis Colts sputtered on their way to a seven-game losing streak to conclude their 2025 season, speculation turned to whether the team's head coach and others might be fired.Meanwhile, in other cities, a different conversation was happening. Colts coach Shane Steichen was also a topic of discussion for other teams. Some had interest in speaking with him about their own potential job openings.One team that filled an opening in the last hiring cycle had even identified Steichen as one of its top targets had he been fired, an executive from that club told ESPN.Now, speculation about Steichen's job is again at the forefront following Monday's decision by the Colts to dismiss general manager Chris Ballard. Given the words of primary owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon after last season -- she put Ballard and Steichen on notice and suggested this was a make-or-break year for both -- it's natural to assume Steichen might be next to go.But for now, he's still here. And there are many around the league who think he's a good coach in a bad situation. Some even believe one of the reasons Colts ownership hesitated to clean house after last season was a reluctance to part with Steichen.With the firing of Ballard, the Colts have -- for the time being -- decoupled the pair. Whether Steichen gets a reprieve remains to be seen. But at minimum, he has a chance to redeem himself."I'm grateful for every day that I'm in this building, and I don't take that for granted," he said Monday. "I've got to get these guys ready for the Vikings."Per usual, Irsay-Gordon will be closely assessing what's happening at Colts headquarters. She'll be at practices this week and in meetings as the Colts prepare for Sunday's game at Minnesota. And she'll be listening to traffic on the coaches' headsets during the game, as she does each week in her efforts to gain insight.In her statement released Monday, she insisted that her family's evaluation will continue during the remainder of the season."I also want to be clear," she wrote. "This decision does not change our goals for the season. We have a lot of football in front of us, and I expect us to compete, improve and win football games."So is there a scenario in which Steichen can survive? Should he?The case for SteichenSteichen's debut season in 2023 is, perhaps, the best example of his coaching prowess. He took over a team that had gone 4-12-1 the year before he was hired, started the year with rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr., finished it with Gardner Minshew under center and still came within one play of winning the AFC South in the final week of the season.Steichen guided that team to six wins in its final nine games, losing to Houston in a season finale that decided the division.His overall record of 27-30 is not stellar. But it can be argued that Steichen has consistently gotten a lot out of a little with the Colts.He has started eight different quarterbacks in his three-plus seasons in Indianapolis. Among them are Joe Flacco and Philip Rivers, who remarkably came out of retirement to fill in after Daniel Jones sustained a ruptured Achilles last season.Still, Indianapolis ranks eighth in points per game since Steichen arrived (24.3), putting them ahead of teams with quarterback stability like the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers. Since 2023 under Steichen, who is the team's offensive playcaller, the Colts rank in the top half of the league in offensive expected points added, yards per play and yards per game.The Colts have done this despite their quarterbacks under Steichen posting a collective QBR of 52.5, which ranks 19th in the NFL in that span.What might Steichen be capable of with a retooled roster and a quarterback he can build around?The case against SteichenThe quarterback issues Steichen has had to overcome are in some ways missteps of his own making.The Richardson situation is a prime example. Steichen benched Richardson midway through the 2024 season, only to reinsert him into the starting lineup three weeks later after Flacco struggled. Steichen's position was that Richardson needed to prepare for games more intensely, but the coach articulated it poorly, leaving a disconnect between Richardson and the team.This came after Steichen was among the biggest advocates in the organization for drafting Richardson in 2023, even though he is among the least-experienced college quarterbacks ever drafted in the first round.Now, Steichen's quarterback decisions are again a subject of debate. The Colts, lacking great options at quarterback coming out of 2025, committed publicly in January to re-signing Jones despite his December Achilles injury. The Colts went all-in, signing Jones to a two-year, $88 million contract.It remains a middle-of-the-pack quarterback contract in terms of yearly average, but it was a commitment nonetheless. And Steichen's fingerprints were all over it, with the Colts buying into his belief that he could get Jones back to the career-best level he played at last season.Instead, Jones is struggling. He ranks 30th in QBR and 29th in yards per attempt and completion rate. Steichen backed him again Monday, saying he will continue to be the team's starter. But if there isn't improvement, Steichen could be faced with a decision as Richardson is still available on the bench.Then there is Steichen's overall performance. His teams have fared terribly against opponents with winning records. Just seven of his 27 wins with the Colts came against teams with winning records. Steichen also has a 9-11 record in division games.Ballard's fate has already been decided. The rest of this season might determine whether Steichen can achieve a different outcome.
