Colts retain Steichen, Ballard despite season of turmoil

The Indianapolis Colts will keep head coach Shane Steichen and general manager Chris Ballard on the heels of a tumultuous campaign that resulted in another missed postseason.

"I've been evaluating our entire operation, and I believe in Chris Ballard and Shane Steichen and our collective ability to make the improvements needed to take us to the next level in 2025," owner and CEO Jim Irsay said Sunday in a letter to Colts fans.

Indianapolis went 8-9 this season, finishing with a win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Colts fell short of the playoffs for the fourth year in a row, while this particular campaign incited scrutiny over the team's collective work ethic.

Indianapolis benched second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson for two games midway through the season, leading him to admit his commitment level was insufficient. Defensive back Kenny Moore and other players criticized the team at times during the season, calling out a lack of effort and expressing their desire for a culture change.

The Colts hired Steichen in 2023, tasking him with developing Richardson while leading the club back to contention. However, the former fourth overall pick has struggled to produce and stay on the field: Richardson missed the last two games of the season with a back injury and has played just 15 of a possible 34 contests since being drafted. He posted a paltry 47.7% completion rate this season, throwing for only eight touchdowns with 12 interceptions.

Ballard has held his position since 2017 and was believed to be on the hot seat entering the 2024 campaign. He's cycled through stopgap quarterbacks since Andrew Luck abruptly retired in the 2019 preseason, and has only one playoff appearance since then.