The Indianapolis Colts are reportedly unlikely to replace head coach Shane Steichen this offseason.
On the most recent episode of the Scoop City podcast (starting at 17:15), The Athletic’s Dianna Russini stated that the “sense” from talking to people around the NFL is that Steichen will remain with the Colts in 2025.
“I’ve had a few chats around the league about Shane Steichen. I don’t get the impression that they’ll make a move at this time. “But that could change,” Russini remarked.
In the aftermath of Sunday’s 45-33 loss to the New York Giants that officially ended the Colts’ playoff hopes, there were a lot of questions about the current and future direction of the franchise.
Another major concern for the Colts is the development of second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson. He’s showed flashes of the potential that propelled him to the fourth pick in the 2023 NFL draft, but not enough to believe in him as a long-term option.
There was also the unusual situation in the middle of the season when Richardson was benched after admitting to taking himself out of a game due to fatigue. Steichen appeared to indicate that Joe Flacco would be the starter for the rest of the season, but he switched back to Richardson in Week 11.
It is not rare for a team to fire a general manager while keeping the head coach, but this can create an unpleasant dynamic because a new GM would want to employ someone they want rather than inherit someone from the prior administration.
Steichen, who has a 16-17 record, will wrap up his second season as Colts head coach on Sunday. He was hired after spending two years as offensive coordinator from the Philadelphia Eagles from 2021 to 2022, helping the team reach the Super Bowl in his final season.
