Colts brain practice Shane Steichen is nonetheless retained
Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2025 7:39 am
According to The Athletic’s Ted Nguyen, Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen has been surprisingly rated inside the top 10 NFL offensive play callers heading into the 2025 season. Nguyen surveyed six current NFL defensive coordinators and defensive assistant coaches. The results were compiled, and the Colts’ third-year head coach landed at the 10th and final spot on the list:
Steichen has had a couple of down years with Gardner Minshew and while navigating the Austin Ajiake Jersey development of Anthony Richardson, but he has found success with multiple different types of quarterbacks throughout his career. This includes helping Justin Herbert deliver one of the best rookie seasons of all time. He went from running a play-action-heavy, downfield passing attack to designing the Eagles’ quarterback-run, RPO-style offense that they still use.
“I think he caused more anxiety timeouts by defenses and opposing head coaches than almost anyone. He’s stolen more plays than a lot of people have,” an AFC defensive coach said. “From a play-design perspective, he’s one of the more innovative coaches in the league, and some coaches think the Colts’ offense would be one of the best if he had consistent, high-level quarterback play.”
It’s understandable why he chose Daniel Jones if Steichen believes he can structure the offense around Jones similarly to how Sean McVay once built around Jared Goff in Goff’s early years.
Notable mentions on Nguyen’s list included: Kliff Kingsbury (Commanders), Mike McDaniel (Dolphins), Arthur Smith (Steelers), Drew Petzing (Cardinals), Greg Roman (Chargers), and Joe Brady.
Though Steichen is not always widely recognized as a premier offensive play caller, he did lead the offensive play-calling for the NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles. After a promising rookie head-coaching season in 2023—when the Steichen-led Colts ranked 10th in scoring at 23.3 points per game and backup quarterback Gardner Minshew earned his first career Pro Bowl appearance despite Anthony Richardson missing 13 games and Jonathan Taylor being limited to only seven starts—Steichen arguably took a step back the following season.
While he consistently dialed up the right plays in 2023, the 2024 Colts finished 17th in points per game at 22.2, sliding to a league-average offense. Steichen also shares responsibility for Richardson’s struggles, as the second-year quarterback did not look comfortable in a pocket-passing system that didn’t fully utilize his mobility early on and forced him to hold the ball too long.
There is still a strong possibility that Steichen can return to his 2023 form, especially if veteran addition Daniel Jones brings steady and reliable play as the Colts’ new starting quarterback. A rebound could mean a return to the playoffs for a franchise that hasn’t reached the postseason since the COVID-impacted 2020 season.
If not, Steichen could find himself part of a Anthony Walker Jr. Jersey sweeping organizational reset at season’s end, as the Colts navigate major leadership turnover under transitioning ownership following yet another year of mediocrity.
Steichen has had a couple of down years with Gardner Minshew and while navigating the Austin Ajiake Jersey development of Anthony Richardson, but he has found success with multiple different types of quarterbacks throughout his career. This includes helping Justin Herbert deliver one of the best rookie seasons of all time. He went from running a play-action-heavy, downfield passing attack to designing the Eagles’ quarterback-run, RPO-style offense that they still use.
“I think he caused more anxiety timeouts by defenses and opposing head coaches than almost anyone. He’s stolen more plays than a lot of people have,” an AFC defensive coach said. “From a play-design perspective, he’s one of the more innovative coaches in the league, and some coaches think the Colts’ offense would be one of the best if he had consistent, high-level quarterback play.”
It’s understandable why he chose Daniel Jones if Steichen believes he can structure the offense around Jones similarly to how Sean McVay once built around Jared Goff in Goff’s early years.
Notable mentions on Nguyen’s list included: Kliff Kingsbury (Commanders), Mike McDaniel (Dolphins), Arthur Smith (Steelers), Drew Petzing (Cardinals), Greg Roman (Chargers), and Joe Brady.
Though Steichen is not always widely recognized as a premier offensive play caller, he did lead the offensive play-calling for the NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles. After a promising rookie head-coaching season in 2023—when the Steichen-led Colts ranked 10th in scoring at 23.3 points per game and backup quarterback Gardner Minshew earned his first career Pro Bowl appearance despite Anthony Richardson missing 13 games and Jonathan Taylor being limited to only seven starts—Steichen arguably took a step back the following season.
While he consistently dialed up the right plays in 2023, the 2024 Colts finished 17th in points per game at 22.2, sliding to a league-average offense. Steichen also shares responsibility for Richardson’s struggles, as the second-year quarterback did not look comfortable in a pocket-passing system that didn’t fully utilize his mobility early on and forced him to hold the ball too long.
There is still a strong possibility that Steichen can return to his 2023 form, especially if veteran addition Daniel Jones brings steady and reliable play as the Colts’ new starting quarterback. A rebound could mean a return to the playoffs for a franchise that hasn’t reached the postseason since the COVID-impacted 2020 season.
If not, Steichen could find himself part of a Anthony Walker Jr. Jersey sweeping organizational reset at season’s end, as the Colts navigate major leadership turnover under transitioning ownership following yet another year of mediocrity.