Jan 05, 2026
3 min read
Colts general manager Chris Ballard and coach Shane Steichen will return to their positions next season.
HOUSTON -- The Indianapolis Colts have lost their last seven games to end a historic slump after an 8-2 start.
But team ownership decided not to make significant changes, with the Colts announcing less than three hours after their season loss to the Houston Texans that general manager Chris Ballard and coach Shane Steichen would return for the 2026 season.
Speculation about the pair's future has been fueled by the Colts' recent record, with the team not winning the AFC South since 2014 and missing the playoffs for five consecutive seasons.Ballard, who just completed his ninth season, was the most scrutinized as GM because of his 70-78-1 record.
But organizationally, the Colts are moving steadily forward with a solid plan, according to multiple sources.The goal is to protect injured quarterback Daniel Jones, who has a broken fibula and subsequent Achilles tear that started the Colts' slump, and get star players like cornerback Souce Gardner and linebacker DeForest Buckner back on the field.Jones will become a free agent in March but is expected to re-sign.
Officials, led by CEO Carly Irsay-Gordon, approved the plan in recent weeks, sources said.The Colts said Irsay-Gordon will speak to reporters on Monday.
With all their might, the Colts enjoyed the best record in the NFL and pulled off a historic offense before being eliminated in the second half of the season.They had the biggest tackle in the NFL, the fastest (Jonathan Taylor) and the biggest differential through 10 games.
But the Colts have nothing to show for it.Indianapolis finished 8-9 this season, becoming the first team in NFL history to go six games over .500 and finally finish with a losing record, according to Research.The Colts are also without a first-round pick for the next two seasons after sending both to the New York Jets in the Gardner trade.
Asked about his professional status after Sunday's 38-30 loss in Houston, Steichen, who is 25-26 as the coach of the Colts, said: "I can't decide that. What I will say is that I love this team, I love this organization, I love this city and I love the fans."
Asked if the team is going in the right direction, he added, "Yes, I do. Because I believe that. That's how I feel about it. Obviously, we showed signs at the beginning of the season that were very good. And we had bad situations, but that's part of the league. You have to overcome those situations. You have to learn from there and grow from there you have to learn from those situations."
In addition to the losing streak, the season would also be marked by the Colts' desperate quarterback situation.After Jones suffered a season-ending Achilles injury, the Colts had to think about their next move.With backup quarterback and 2023 first-round pick Anthony Richardson Sr. on injured reserve, the Colts turned to long-retired Philip Rivers as the starter in hopes of keeping their playoff chances alive.The Colts went 0-3 with Rivers as the starter, though he played competitively.
Sunday's game was a prime example of what the Colts need to fix in 2026. They played a close game all game, but faltered again in the fourth quarter. It's a microcosm of their recent games and season, as they've consistently failed to score points in their final chances of the season.
Whoever is responsible needs to change that, Taylor said.
“You just have to find a way to make it work,” he said. “I mean, there aren't any games that we just came out with.It's like you have to find a way to get rid of people.”
