Numbers Prove Colts' Collapse To End The NFL Season Wasn't Just Embarrassing, It Was Historic
The Colts were good, then they were horrendous.
The 2025-26 Indianapolis Colts may be the greatest representation we've seen in quite some time of just how grueling, up-and-down, and unpredictable the NFL truly is.
Through the first eight weeks of the season, the Colts owned a record of 7-1 and were on everyone's radar as a legitimate threat to win the Super Bowl. On top of that, Shane Steichen was a favorite to win Coach of the Year, and quarterback Daniel Jones was in league MVP conversations.
Things weren't good in Indy; they were great.
But then they weren't.
After winning eight of their first 10 games by a combined margin of 16 points, the Colts closed out the regular season by losing their final seven games. Quarterback Daniel Jones missing the final five games of the season with injuries played a gigantic role in the collapse, but it was a historic collapse nonetheless.
Indianapolis Colts QB Daniel Jones throws a touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders at Lucas Oil Stadium. (Photo Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images)
According to ESPN, this season's Colts team became the first team in the Super Bowl era to at one point be six games above .500 and then end the season with a losing record.
That eye-opening figure doesn't just put the season's collapse into perspective, but also has to make plenty of Colts fans question how the franchise came to the decision to retain general manager Chris Ballard and Steichen for the 2026-27 campaign.
Steichen is 25-26 in his three seasons as the head coach in Indianapolis, and the franchise has not made the postseason since 2020. But as OutKick's own Armando Salguero has pointed out, this is a front office that believes this team is "close" to doing something special.
Nobody could have predicted the significant injuries that Jones or defensive back Sauce Gardner suffered that kept them off the field late in the season — that's just football mixed with bad luck — but nevertheless, there is no hiding from the fact that this offseason and the season to come are pivotal for all involved in Indianapolis.
It's worth noting that as things stand at the moment, the Colts do not own a first-round pick for the 2026 NFL Draft.