Chris Ballard, Shane Steichen under pressure to produce in 2025 as franchise quarterback questions heat up

Rich Eisen, Albert Breer discuss job security in Indianapolis as Anthony Richardson enters his third year

It’s been a difficult offseason for the Indianapolis Colts, whose owner, Jim Irsay, sadly passed away in May at the age of 65.

The Colts’ ownership has been passed to his three daughters, with the eldest, Carlie Irsay-Gordon, being named the principal owner.

Jim Irsay had been preparing her for the role, but nobody expected she would need to take it on so soon. Irsay-Gordon is 44 years old, and is now navigating the lead role of the organization while grieving the loss of her father.

With the shift in ownership in mind, the 2025 season feels like an important one for the Colts.

Head coach Shane Steichen is heading into his third season in the role, while GM Chris Ballard has been with the team since 2017. Albert Breer and Rich Eisen discussed their roles, suggesting that both could be under pressure this season if they don’t get results.

“There are very few coaches who make it through three years without making the playoffs. That’s where Shane Steichen is right now. Chris Ballard’s been there; this will be his ninth season. Because you have that dynamic, added to the fact that there’s somebody else making the decision, there is a certain level of ‘we don’t know what’s going to happen at the end of the year.'”

Breer went on to say that he doesn’t know if anybody is ‘100% safe’ there, and that it will depend on how the season plays out. Considering the injuries they’ve faced as a team, Steichen has done a relatively good job in coaching the Colts to 17 wins in his two seasons in charge.

He’s been unfortunate to have dealt with so many injuries, and will perhaps earn more time as the head coach of the team as a result.

Albert Breer did suggest that Daniel Jones was winning the quarterback battle right now, which contradicts the reporting coming out of Colts’ training camp. Those in attendance have suggested that Richardson is standing out and winning the battle for the QB1 spot right now.

Colts fans are just hoping to see their quarterback get a fully healthy season, so that he can showcase what he’s capable of at the highest level.

Richardson’s career in the NFL so far has been splash plays and adversity, starting his rookie year well before suffering an injury to his throwing shoulder in only his fourth appearance. He was then ruled out for the rest of the year, needing surgery to repair the shoulder.

If those at camp are reporting correctly, it does sound like the third-year quarterback is playing well, and he’ll need to with just two guaranteed years remaining on his rookie contract. Indianapolis will need to make a decision on his fifth-year option at the end of this season.

How healthy is Anthony Richardson as his third season in the NFL approaches?

There were concerns about Richardson during the summer when it was reported that he was dealing with shoulder soreness. It was his throwing shoulder causing the issue, and Richardson missed reps at OTAs as a result.

Considering the surgery he had on that throwing shoulder, any kind of soreness could lead to a bigger issue. However, when he reported to training camp, the Colts said he’d been cleared and that he would practice at 100%.

The Colts have been back at training camp a little under a week now, and Richardson seems to be leading the offense well.

If he does play well this year, he could play his way into that fifth-year option, with further guaranteed money to his original rookie deal. Consistency is the key for the 23-year-old quarterback, both in making throws on the field and in staying healthy.