Analyst lists Colts' Steichen among coaches on hot seat in 2026
· Yahoo Sports
Bradley Locker of Pro Football Focus put together his list of six NFL coaches who will enter the 2026 season on the hot seat, and not surprisingly, the Indianapolis Colts' Shane Steichen was mentioned.
The Colts are currently in the midst of a five-year playoff drought, and Steichen has been at the helm for three of those seasons. Presumably, this is a make-or-break year for both him and GM Chris Ballard.
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"The Colts re-signed both Jones and receiver Alec Pierce to monster contracts in March and have other talent like Jonathan Taylor, Sauce Gardner, Quenton Nelson and Laiatu Latu on the roster, but real questions permeate a defense that finished 21st in success rate. It’s tough to envision Steichen making it to a fifth year in blue if Indianapolis either starts flat or doesn’t reach the postseason."
As Locker mentions, the Colts are banking on Steichen and Daniel Jones getting the offense to operate at a high level once again this season, just as they did through the first 10 games of last year.
The Colts' red-hot start to the year did showcase the full capabilities of what the Steichen offense can look like. In addition to that, while the Colts didn't win any games with Phillip Rivers, Steichen's ability to mold the offense to Rivers' game on the fly and make changes from week to week was impressive.
That said, even before Jones' injury, defenses were beginning to slow this unit down. And there are real questions still surrounding this Colts team entering the 2026 season.
Jones is coming off a major injury, and it remains to be seen if all the roster turnover at defensive end will lead to improved play. The linebacker unit features several new and young players, while a battle for the WR3 role is taking place.
Another area that Steichen must resolve is his team's performance down the stretch.
Steichen enters Year 4 with the Colts with a 25-26 record.
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Why one analyst put Colts' Shane Steichen on hot seat for 2026 NFL season