Veteran Colts player rips organization: 'There's no vision'
An anonymous Indianapolis Colts player is frustrated with the state of the organization.
"There's no vision," the veteran player said, according to Zak Keefer and James Boyd of The Athletic.
"From the top down - from the front office, to the coaches, to the players - no one is ever on the same page, and every year at the end, we're sitting here losing."
Indianapolis fell to 7-9 Sunday after losing 45-33 to the New York Giants, who had the league's worst record entering the game. The defeat eliminated the Colts from playoff contention.
This will be the fourth consecutive season the Colts missed the playoffs. Head coach Shane Steichen was hired in 2023 after owner Jim Irsay dismissed Frank Reich. Steichen, 39, is 16-17 heading into the 2024 season finale.
"If you look at the best teams in the league, they all have a vision, and they commit to it," the anonymous player added. "The Chiefs keep winning because they have a vision. The Lions turned things around because they have a vision."
Steichen benched quarterback Anthony Richardson in late October, saying Joe Flacco gave the team the best chance to win. Richardson was 3-3 in six starts before the benching, totaling 1,200 yards with five touchdowns and seven interceptions.
The demotion lasted just two games after Flacco went 0-2 with two touchdowns and four interceptions. Richardson bounced back and went 3-2 when thrust back into the starting role but was unable to play Sunday against the Giants because of multiple ailments.
Indianapolis' offense has taken a step back this season after ranking 11th in points per game last year. The Colts sit 23rd in EPA/play and 26th in offensive success rate through 16 games.
Steichen retained defensive coordinator Gus Bradley when he was hired in 2023. The unit has been mediocre at best over the past two seasons, ranking 21st in EPA/play since 2023 and 27th in points allowed per game this year.
The Colts will face the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.