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Source: Al Bello / Getty
**INDIANAPOLIS** **–** It is a major reason why Shane Steichen says he got head coaching job in Indy.
Therefore, he is a firm believer in not giving up those reigns.
Steichen will remain the offensive play caller for the Colts in 2025.
The head coach confirmed that earlier this offseason.
“Right now, I’ll continue to call the plays,” Steichen said at the Combine.
The question was asked in reference to a first-time head coach continuing to handle those immense duties, along with calling plays.
In two seasons under Steichen, the Colts offensive output has been right in the middle of the NFL.
With having to turn to Gardner Minshew in October of 2023, the Colts still managed to finish 11th in points per game and 15th in yards, maintain an impressive level of consistency with their backup QB. The scoring numbers took a slight step back in 2024, dropping to 17th in points per game with the yards ranking 13th.
Those are respectable numbers, especially considering the quarterback issues (which is another item falling on Steichen’s plate).
Are there areas where Steichen could grow as a play caller? Certainly, but you would be unlikely to “fire” such a play caller with those results.
Removing those duties off Steichen’s plate though would allow for more focus on everything else that goes into being a head coach.
Whether those want to blame Steichen or not, the 2024 Colts season clearly had issues with leadership.
Despite that, Steichen is bullish on himself as a play caller, knowing how vital that background was to him getting the Colts head coaching gig in 2023.
“That’s kind of what got me the job in the first place,” Steichen says of his play calling. “So I don’t want to lose that.”
Steichen deciding to be a head coach and still call plays is not foreign around the NFL.
Andy Reid (Chiefs), Sean McVay (Rams), Sean Payton (Broncos), Kevin O’Connell (Vikings) are some of the coaches who keep their plates full, like Steichen.
If Steichen was to have a change of heart (for example, Nick Sirianni gave up his play-calling duties early in his head-coaching career, passing those on to Steichen, ironically), he does have someone on staff who has history handling the pressure cooker of calling plays on game day.
Current Colts offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter called plays from 2015-18 with the Lions (head coach Jim Caldwell).
Heading into his third season at the helm of the Colts, and following a season with off the field questions bubbling to the surface, Steichen is staunch in wanting to maintain the same approach.