The Colts capped off their rather underwhelming 2024-25 campaign with an overtime victory over a division rival in the Jacksonville Jaguars, but based on the deflated and apathetic energy in Lucas Oil Stadium, it didn’t matter to the fans.
While the stadium was nowhere near full for the 26-23 Colts victory, the boo birds still rained down throughout the sixty minutes. Clown costumes and brown paper bags sprinkled the stands.
“Fire (GM Chris) Ballard!” chants took over the crowd. One fan and his son displayed a sign with the same message before being escorted out of the building.
No outcome would have changed their position. The fan base is fed up with being caught in an endless loop of mediocrity.
With Indy yet again falling short of expectations this season, transition seems imminent.
The game itself was entertaining considering the lack of stakes. Neither team had anything left to play for, but the game was back and forth enough to require an extra period.
“Finishing the right way, that’s what we wanted to do,” head coach Shane Steichen said in his final postgame press conference of the season.
Joe Flacco got the Colts on the board first, hitting Indy’s big-play man, Alec Pierce, for a 40-yard score. Jacksonville would answer with a touchdown drive of their own.
Jonathan Taylor did the bulk of the work for the Colts offense. His 177 rushing yards put him above 100 yards in a game for the eighth time this year and kept the Colts on the field in critical situations.
Ultimately, a Matt Gay overtime field goal followed by a fourth-and-22 stop (set up by a 16-yard sack by Zaire Franklin) would be enough to give Indy the win and an 8-9 record.
Still, the glum feeling of missing the playoffs again blanketed the locker room. The players have been left with a feeling of uncertainty, not knowing what comes next for them or for the team.
“I’m not the GM, but I’m pretty sure something is going to happen,” wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. said after the game, acknowledging that change seems inevitable.
The fans made it clear: they were not focused on Sunday’s outcome, rather what happens in the coming days.
Monday, known as “Black Monday” due to the number of NFL coaching and administrative jobs that open up at the end of the season, is on the horizon. Colts owner and CEO Jim Irsay has many crucial decisions to make, decisions which could alter the future of his franchise, for better or for worse.
Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley seems like he’s first on the chopping block, Ballard a clear second. Not even head coach Shane Steichen feels like he’s near safety.
“We’ll have those ongoing conversations…I love being the head football coach here,” Steichen said in response to a question about his job security.
And Anthony Richardson? Who knows.
The 2024 season proved one thing above all else: After four straight seasons without a playoff appearance, the Colts are stuck in NFL purgatory. The only way out— a significant culture shift.
An entertaining offseason awaits the Colts. Your move, Jim.
