'Pissed,' Carlie Irsay-Gordon Talks Colts' Collapse as Steichen, Ballard Aren't Fired

Indianapolis Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon's decision to retain both head coach Shane Steichen and general manager Chris Ballard despite a late-season collapse is not meant to indicate they are going to be complacent this offseason.

During her end-of-season press conference on Monday, Irsay-Gordon explained feeling "pissed" about how things played out and the decision to keep Steichen and Ballard doesn't mean there is no urgency to get better.

"We have been very clear with [Ballard] and [Steichen], but giving them another opportunity means that the sense of urgency for them to deliver and perform has never been higher," she said.

Irsay-Gordon added that she weighed the entirety of the season and how encouraging things looked for the first 10 games as reasons to stick with the current regime.

"I would say it all plays into the decision," Irsay-Gordon said. "I don't think it's an either-or. But I think what we saw as far as the progress of [Ballard] being able to adapt and change the way he works on the roster and assembles the roster. And we believe that he is capable of replicating that next season."

Ballard, in particular, has seemingly been on the hot seat with fans and analysts for some time. He will be entering the final season of his current contract after signing a five-year extension in August 2021.

Irsay-Gordon said there have been no discussions at this point with Ballard about an extension. Steichen originally signed a six-year contract when he became head coach in February 2023, so his deal runs through the 2028 season.

The Colts were one of the most pleasant surprises in the NFL through the first 10 weeks of this season. They were 8-2 going into their bye, with Jonathan Taylor playing like an MVP candidate and made a blockbuster trade to acquire Sauce Gardner from the New York Jets prior to the Nov. 4 deadline.

Everything turned for the Colts coming out of their Week 11 bye. Daniel Jones played through a fractured fibula before his season ended due to a torn Achilles suffered in Week 14.

The offense was held to 20 points or fewer in five of their final seven games after not scoring fewer than 20 points in the first 10 games. Philip Rivers was signed out of retirement to play quarterback after Jones' injury.

Now, after finishing 8-9 overall, the Colts enter an offseason without a first-round draft pick until 2028 as a result of the Gardner trade. They haven't made the playoffs since 2020 and haven't won a playoff game since January 2019.