The Colts entered 2026 mired in a five-year playoff drought, and while it’s still early, it doesn’t look like they’ll make it this season. After the team fell to 2-4 with a 26-20 loss to the lowly Titans in Week 6, owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon dismissed general manager Chris Ballard Monday.
With Ballard gone after nearly a decade at the helm, Colts assistant general manager Ed Dodds will supervise their personnel department on an interim basis. Head coach Shane Steichen and the rest of his staff will report to ownership, according to ESPN’s Stephen Holder. Steichen is still in place despite a 27-30 record in more than three years in Indianapolis, but Holder writes that his “seat remains pretty hot.”
If Steichen, 41,’s days with the Colts are numbered, the good news for him is that he may not have to wait long before he gets back on his feet. He “probably” would have been considered for head coaching vacancies if the Colts had fired him last winter, according to Holder, and SI.com’s Albert Breer expects him to draw HC’s interest if he gets let loose next offseason.
Despite disappointing results in Indianapolis, Steichen is highly regarded for his work on the Chargers’ offensive staff from 2014 to 2020, notably as coordinator for the last of those seasons, and for his performance as OC of the Eagles from 2021 to 2022. He contributed to the development Justin Herbert And Jalen hurts as legitimate starters with those teams, but the sledding has been tougher in Indianapolis.
As the Colts took a big hit on a potential franchise passer in their draft Anthony Richardson fourth overall in 2023, Steichen’s first year with the team, the move was a failure. Richardson has totaled just 15 starts (none since 2024) and has been stuck behind Daniel Jones on the depth chart over the past year and counting.
Jones was a success story for Steichen during an 8-2 start to 2025, but the former Giant and Viking broke his fibula and then suffered a season-ending torn Achilles during an injury-ruined second half. The Colts – whose roster was injury-laden in the second half – lost and finished 8-9. Still, Ballard was encouraged enough by what Jones showed when healthy to keep him from leaving in free agency. After the Colts applied the transition tag to Jones, the sides agreed to a two-year, $88 million deal in March.
Unfortunately for the Colts, Jones has played more like the quarterback the Giants waived in November 2024 than the one who signed two big contracts over the course of his career (including a four-year, $160 million extension with New York in 2023). In addition to posting career-worst performances in completion percentage (59.6) and yards per attempt (5.9), Jones threw more interceptions (six) than touchdowns (four). As expected, he ranks near the bottom of the NFL in passer rating (71.1) and EPA per play (minus-0.15).
Jones’ struggles played a key role in Ballard’s departure and could potentially contribute to Steichen’s ouster, but it doesn’t appear the Colts are considering making a move at center at this time. Richardson and third player Riley Leonarda sixth round in 2025, are their only other internal options.
“I love Daniel” Steichen said after the Colts’ loss to the Titans (link via James Boyd of The Athletic). Steichen added that Jones “The preparation and the importance he places on the game mean a lot to me.”
While Jones may be safe for now, that could change in 2027 with the Colts hiring an outside general manager who has no connection to him. They will likely go that route, according to Holder. If that’s the case, the next general manager could try to trade Jones or release him if a deal doesn’t work out. Trading or releasing Jones before June would save the Colts $11.6 million in cap space next season at the cost of $35.2 million in dead money. Trading him or cutting him starting June 2 would free up $38 million in spending space in 2027 and leave the team with $8.8 million in dead cap space.
The Colts will make a decision on Jones’ next few months, but right now, Dodds likely has the Nov. 10 trade deadline on his mind. If Colts sell, Breer lists defensive tackle DeForest Bucknercome back running Jonathan Taylorcornerback Sauce Keeper and wide receiver Alex Pierce as speculative trade candidates. Moving Buckner, a 32-year-old who will be a free agent this offseason, would hardly be a shock. On the other hand, trades involving Taylor, Gardner or Pierce — all of whom are subject to expensive deals over the next two years at least — would represent seismic shifts for the Colts.
Ballard sent two first-rounders and a receiver Adonai Mitchell to the Jets for Gardner at the deadline last November. That gamble didn’t pay off for the Colts, which is one reason why Ballard is now unemployed. Gardner is under contract through 2030 on the four-year, $120.4 million extension he signed with the Jets in July 2025, and Pierce is in the first season of a four-year pact worth $114 million.
With the risk of losing Pierce in free agency, Ballard fought off other teams to make him one of the highest-paid players in the league. It hasn’t gone well so far, as Pierce has only played in two games and made five catches for 72 yards this season. He went on IR with a heel injury after Week 2 and has yet to return to practice. If Pierce is healthy before the deadline, perhaps Dodds will consider any offers that might come his way.
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