The Indianapolis Colts have struggled to find true stability for the better part of a decade. Even in the best of years, it’s felt like key pieces of the team are off, that the team isn't trending in the right direction. Simply put, things have felt incomplete.
Heading into the 2025 season, this hasn't changed. From quarterback competitions to hot seat rumors for both the head coach and general manager, Indianapolis heads into 2025 with more questions than answers yet again.
For a team that’s clearly far from a championship and experiencing so much turmoil, what would a successful season even look like?
Defining success for the 2025 Colts requires adjusting expectations — and understanding what progress truly is for a franchise still searching for direction.
Indianapolis Colts
A Indianapolis Colts fan holds up a sign in the stands Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, during a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
© Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Solve The Quarterback Problem
Regardless of how things unfold between Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones this offseason, what Indianapolis truly needs is a solution. Whether it’s a breakout season from Richardson that leads to a well-deserved contract extension, a successful season from Jones that leaves the organization excited to sign him to a multi-year deal, or simply discovering that neither quarterback is a viable option, clarity is the priority for Indianapolis.
While fans may not be happy to hear that Indianapolis could be searching for a new quarterback at the end of the year — following years of Jacoby Brissett, Philip Rivers, and Matt Ryan — there’s a chance that’s the best option at the end of the year.
The good news is this: the 2026 quarterback class is loaded. With Arch Manning, Lanorris Sellers, Drew Allar, Garrett Nussmeier and Fernando Mendoza, the Colts will have options in the draft if needed.
However, if Richardson can become a more accurate passer and precise decision-maker, he has the physical tools to transform the Colts into an AFC powerhouse for years to come.
Unfortunately, the odds of that happening appear slim. Richardson reinjured his throwing shoulder early in spring OTAs this offseason, reportedly keeping him off the field until training camp in late July. Richardson needs reps more than nearly any other quarterback in the league, and his inability to throw for most of the summer could result in further poor performance in 2025. If that happens, Jones will likely become the starter in Indy, for better or worse.
The key thing that needs to happen here is this: There must be a clear answer. If there’s a straightforward solution to what the Colts should do by the end of 2025, they can move forward with a confidence that they’ve been lacking for years.
Identify a True WR1
Another position group that could use some clarity is the Colts’ wide receiver room. With a loaded group including Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs, A.D. Mitchell, and Alec Pierce, the wide receiver corps has many high-quality options, but no true No. 1 guy.
Many believe the breakout candidate could be Downs. Because the Colts’ quarterback situation was unstable (at best) last season, regular counting stats are hard to rely on when evaluating Downs’ performance. That’s why the research carried out by Matt Harmon from Reception Perception is so valuable: he watches and charts every route run by receivers in an eight-game sample. His findings on Downs show a world of untapped potential:
Though Downs doesn't have the body type of a primary receiving option at 5'8" and 170 pounds, he isn't the gadget guy many associate with smaller receivers. Downs runs a full route tree and consistently plays bigger than his size, routinely making tough contested catches in big moments. Unlike many receivers with his body type, Downs is also effective against press coverage (77.1% success rate). The clip below showcases Downs doing just that — winning against press and making a tough catch away from his frame deep downfield.
If Indy finds that Downs — or one of their other young receivers — is the guy they can count on with the game on the line, it could stabilize the entire offense.
Fix The Defense
The Colts spent a lot of money and draft capital this offseason in an effort to fix a defense that allowed the fourth-most yards and ninth-most points in the league last season.
The first step in this process involved firing defensive coordinator Gus Bradley after three years back in January. A couple of weeks later, they hired former Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, who garnered significant head coaching buzz in 2023 for his performance over the previous two seasons. Unfortunately for Anarumo and the Bengals, their defense lost key pieces in the 2023 offseason, and their defensive performance plummeted in ’23 and ’24, resulting in Anarumo being fired at the end of last season.
However, Anarumo remains widely regarded as a quality coach throughout the league, and fans are hopeful that he can turn around a Colts defense full of unrealized potential.
Next, Indianapolis aggressively bolstered its defense during free agency by signing cornerback Charvarius Ward and safety Cameron Bynum to aid a secondary that allowed the seventh-most passing yards in the league in 2024.
They followed the same approach in the draft, selecting defensive end JT Tuimoloau and cornerback Justin Walley in the second and third rounds, respectively.
If these new pieces can gel with Anarumo's defense and talented veterans like DeForest Buckner and Kenny Moore, the defense should be on its way from the bottom of the league to the top in a hurry.
Even the most delusionally hopeful Colts fans don’t have championship aspirations for 2025. A successful season shouldn’t be judged by wins and losses — it should be based on the direction the team is heading. If they can walk away from 2025 with a clear quarterback plan, a go-to receiver, and a defense trending toward dominance, the arrow will be pointing up for a franchise that has been treading water for years.