ANGOLA, Ind. – Shane Steichen spent his Valentine’s Day evening speaking to a college rec center full of Trine University supporters dressed to the nines for the school’s annual scholarship gala. He regaled the room with stories of wearing gym shorts under jeans to parties in high school so he could jet out and throw to teammate – and eventual Colts wideout – Austin Collie late on Friday nights, and the winding path he and his wife, Nina, took toward Steichen’s big break in San Diego.
Next year, exactly 365 days from Saturday night, Steichen and the Colts could be playing for the first Super Bowl victory of his career. Not a week removed from the Seahawks’ dominant victory in Santa Clara over the Patriots, it’s already where Steichen’s focus is largely directed.
Building the foundation of that pursuit begins with the NFL combine next week in Indianapolis.
Steichen and longtime Colts general manager Chris Ballard enter this season of roster restructuring with little turnover on the coaching side – one of six teams who kept their GM, head coach, offensive and defensive coordinator. As principal team owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon explained at length in her season-ending press conference last month, there’s resounding belief among her sisters, trickling down to Ballard, his staff and the coaches, that the Colts of Weeks 1-10 is this franchise’s true identity – admittedly with better injury luck, a fully healthy (and re-signed) Daniel Jones under center and with polishing of some rough edges on defense.
That continuity at key leadership positions – after defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter and passing game coordinator Alex Tanney interviewed for a combined six elevated roles that ultimately were filled through other avenues – is pivotal for helping the Colts build upon the early successes of 2025, Steichen said.
Even if he would’ve secretly loved to see his guys get those well-deserved opportunities he believes will come in time.
“The first half of the year was pretty special,” Steichen told IndyStar Saturday evening from Trine’s 22nd annual scholarship gala. “We had some unfortunate situations that we’ve got to overcome going forward, but we’re excited about what the future holds. I’ve always believed in growth and opportunities, and I wanted to see those guys move up the ladder in any way possible.
“You go through that from time to time, and obviously if they get it, you’re very excited for them. Obviously, you don’t want to lose those guys, but I think that’s all part of it. I’ve never been a guy to sit back and say, ‘No, I don’t want you to have those opportunities.’ I think it’s important for guys to grow and to learn and move up the ladder in this business.”
In the six weeks since the Colts’ season ended in Houston with a loss to cap a seven-game skid to close out 2025 – following an 8-2 start and legitimate hopes of home field advantage throughout the playoffs, before dreams of any kind of postseason bid fell apart – Steichen said he took a week off to decompress and enjoy time with family before things kicked into high gear again. Even minor staffing changes required research into hiring replacements, and the expansive season review and self-reflection Steichen promised the Monday after the season to get into the heart of why the back-half of 2025 went so very wrong is still a work in progress, Steichen said.
But there remains a belief that, despite a lack of playoff appearances in his three seasons in Indianapolis and a 25-26 record since he was hired three years ago, that Indianapolis is on the right track.
“I’ve always got a belief in everyone in our organization. There’s always an optimism and belief in what you’re doing,” he said. “You’ve got to believe in what you’re doing, and if you don’t, then what are you doing it for?
“We’ve just got to go execute it.”
The first steps of that process for next fall involve the upcoming combine, followed by visits by scouting and coaching staff members to colleges around the country for Pro Days, along with private player visits to the Colts’ practice facility for interviews and additional work as free agency kicks off, too. Simultaneously, Steichen said, he, Ballard and their confidants will continue to work to digest the pitfalls of a season ago as they work to plug those holes in free agency and the draft.
“It’s exciting,” Steichen said. “Even though it’s the offseason, you’re looking at players, trying to find players in the draft and it’s all part of the process with Chris and his staff.
“It’s obviously rewarding, and we’re excited for that opportunity and this part of the season, too.”
Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cover the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts’ Shane Steichen on coaching stability, learning from 2025, offseason
