Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen entered the 2025 NFL season on the hot seat following a lackluster first two years with the organization and ongoing concerns surrounding the quarterback position. The situation intensified when the Colts signed Daniel Jones to compete for the starting quarterback job, adding more drama to an already uncertain outlook.
However, the opposite of expectations has unfolded in Indianapolis. Steichen is currently leading the Colts to the best record in the NFL, and Daniel Jones is playing like an MVP candidate. With an impressive 8-2 record and a potential franchise quarterback now in his hands, Steichen has effectively removed himself from the hot seat and secured his future in Indy.
### Shane Steichen: Candidate for Coach of the Year?
Before becoming the head coach of the Colts, Shane Steichen served as the offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles for two seasons. During his tenure in Philadelphia, Steichen’s offenses were prolific, averaging 26.1 points per game in 2021 and 28.1 points per game in 2022.
Following Week 10 of the 2025 NFL season, Sports Illustrated’s Mike Kadlick released his top five Coach of the Year candidates and ranked Steichen as the frontrunner. Kadlick praised Steichen’s leadership, writing:
> “The top spot on the list has to go to Shane Steichen, whose Colts shockingly hold onto the AFC’s No. 1 seed through the first 10 weeks of the season. Steichen has been crucial in the redevelopment of Daniel Jones, another scrapheap quarterback, while helping lead the Indianapolis offense to a league-leading 32.1 points and 396.9 yards per game.”
He added:
> “Defensively, Indy still has room to improve (the addition of Sauce Gardner should help), but overall, the Colts’ 2025 turnaround has been arguably the league’s most impressive, and Steichen deserves the credit—and perhaps an award at season’s end—for leading the charge.”
Steichen’s journey from worrying about his job security to becoming a top Coach of the Year candidate highlights just how much he has transformed the Colts in a single season. With eight games still remaining, if the team maintains its success, Steichen will likely remain one of the most serious contenders for the prestigious award.
The last Colts head coach to win Coach of the Year was Bruce Arians in the 2012 season.
### Reviving Daniel Jones’ Career
The key to the Colts’ resurgence on the field has been the remarkable play of quarterback Daniel Jones. Signed to a one-year, $14 million contract, Jones faced a competitive training camp battle with Anthony Richardson, the former fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, to earn the starting quarterback position.
Jones won the job and is now putting together a career year in the AFC South. He leads the league in passing yards and ranks third among quarterbacks in rushing touchdowns. Under the guidance of Shane Steichen and offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter, Jones is on track to achieve career-best numbers in both passing yards and passing touchdowns.
Once criticized as a bust after six seasons with the New York Giants, Jones’ change of scenery has rejuvenated his career. His outstanding performance could be the key that propels the Colts into legitimate Super Bowl contention this season.
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