The Indianapolis Colts' 2024 season has ended in a stunning and historic collapse, officially eliminating them from the NFL playoffs. This dramatic failure has immediately cast a harsh spotlight on head coach Shane Steichen's future, presenting principal owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon with her first major football decision since taking full control of the franchise.
A Promising Start, A Catastrophic Finish
The Colts began the campaign in spectacular form, entering their bye week with an impressive 8-2 record. They were viewed as genuine contenders in the AFC, with ESPN's Football Power Index at one point giving them a staggering 93.9% chance to make the playoffs and a 79.4% probability of winning the AFC South division. Believing they were a Super Bowl-caliber team, the front office aggressively traded two first-round picks and a second-round receiver to acquire star cornerback Sauce Gardner from the New York Jets.
However, the season completely unravelled in a devastating series of injuries. The downfall began when quarterback Daniel Jones suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in Week 14 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He joined rookie Anthony Richardson Sr., who was already on injured reserve. The team was forced to turn to a retired Philip Rivers, who lost all three of his starts. Key players like DeForest Buckner (neck), the newly acquired Sauce Gardner (calf), and Charvarius Ward (concussion) also went down.
The result was a disastrous six-game losing streak to end the season. This marked the fifth consecutive year without a playoff appearance for the Colts and, more notably, made them the first team since 1995 to start 8-2 and still miss the postseason.
The Case For and Against Shane Steichen
The collapse has put third-year coach Shane Steichen under immense pressure. His overall record now stands at an even 25-25 across three seasons, with zero playoff appearances. After a Week 17 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, Steichen acknowledged a troubling pattern. "It's something I've got to look at," he stated. "We've got to find ways to win, especially in November and December. That's where you win games and that's where you make the playoffs."
Despite the poor results, there are voices advocating for patience. Former Colts offensive coordinator and interim head coach Bruce Arians publicly urged ownership not to make a change. Appearing on "The Pat McAfee Show," Arians argued, "I hope the Colts don't make a change, because I think they're close...be patient, you're very, very close. Don't let one or two injuries run you out of the whole damn thing."
The argument for continuity is bolstered by the sheer volume of critical injuries and Steichen's perceived offensive acumen. Owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon has previously emphasized that injuries are a factor in evaluation, asking rhetorically, "Do you have a crystal ball?"
Carlie Irsay-Gordon's Defining Offseason
All eyes are now on principal owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon, who is navigating her first offseason at the helm following the passing of her father, Jim Irsay, in May. She has a close working relationship with Steichen, meeting with him and GM Chris Ballard weekly and being involved in major decisions like the Gardner trade.
As of Week 18, no discussions about job security have taken place. Steichen confirmed, "I have not had those conversations with Carlie. But I do meet with Carlie every week. We do a game debrief."
The decision is monumental. Irsay-Gordon, along with her sisters, must decide whether to stay the course with a coach who has shown promise but no results, and a general manager, Chris Ballard, with just one playoff win in nine years. The potential re-signing of an injured Daniel Jones signals a desire for continuity, but as the historic collapse proves, patience has its limits. The late-season failures must stop for this plan to have any merit.
