Colts Lose to Texans, Face Most Important Offseason in 25 Years

With the season now finished for the Indianapolis Colts, the decisions made over the next few months will shape the franchise for years to come.

The nightmare is finally over.

An abysmal season for the Indianapolis Colts ended on Sunday as they fell to the Houston Texans 32-31. The Colts took the lead with 10:30 left in the fourth quarter but could not hang on as the Texans completed a Hail Mary attempt with 50 seconds remaining.

The loss was the seventh straight for the Colts to end the year. Indy's 4-12-1 record is the worst for the Colts since they finished 4-12 in 2017. The Colts were a disappointing 1-7 under interim head coach Jeff Saturday, who could not find a way to turn this team around in the middle of the season.

“Gave ourselves a shot to win at the end,” Saturday said after the game. “Unfortunately, didn't make enough plays at the end to get off the field. But we ran the ball well. Battled with it. And just unfortunately they made two huge plays at the end and then converted. So, a disappointing way that we finished the season. But proud of the guys' effort. They left it all out there for sure.”

As the Colts walked off the field at Lucas Oil Stadium, players and coaches alike know that changes are coming. For some, they have played or coached their final game for this team. For others, they will be back next year, fighting to turn this franchise around.

However, one thing is certain: The Colts will embark on their most important offseason since 1998.

Now let’s go back to 1998 for a minute. The Colts were coming off a 3-13 season in 1997. Head coach Lindy Infante was fired shortly after the season ended. Quarterback Jim Harbaugh – yes, that Jim Harbaugh – was traded to the Baltimore Ravens for a couple of mid-round draft picks. The Colts were the laughingstock of the NFL.

Owner Jim Irsay, serving as the general manager at the time, began his search for a new general manager, head coach, and quarterback to lead his franchise. For his general manager, he chose Bill Polian, the architect of the dominant Buffalo Bills teams of the 1990s. For his head coach, Irsay chose Jim Mora, an 11-year head coach for the New Orleans Saints who went 93-74 in his time in New Orleans. For his quarterback, he chose Peyton Manning over Ryan Leaf with the No.1 overall pick in the NFL Draft.

© Matt Kryger/IndyStar, Matt Kryger/IndyStar, IndyStar via Imagn Content Services, LLC

While Mora only lasted four seasons in Indy, Polian and Manning helped lead the Colts to one of the winningest decades in NFL history during the 2000s. Manning became one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, breaking countless records and turning the Colts into a powerhouse. The play of Manning and the roster construction of Polian are two of the main reasons why the Colts captured a Super Bowl championship in 2006 and are still in Indianapolis today.

Coming back to 2023, Irsay finds himself in a very similar situation. The general manager is already in place with Chris Ballard, although many have questioned whether or not he should be retained. Irsay is searching for a new head coach and quarterback to lead his franchise. And, unfortunately, the Colts are among the laughingstock in the NFL, once again.

Irsay fired former head coach Frank Reich nine weeks into the 2022 campaign in favor of Saturday, despite the former All-Pro center having no previous college or head coaching experience. The results were predictably bad, and the Colts looked worse and worse as the weeks went on.

Saturday is considered a candidate for the full-time position. However, it is hard to see Irsay selling Saturday as the answer to a fanbase that just watched their team limp to seven straight losses under his watch.

Irsay and Ballard will lead the charge to find the next leaders of the franchise. At the top of that list is Harbaugh, who, after his playing days, has enjoyed a successful coaching career in both college (128-45 record) and the NFL (44-19-1). Other NFL teams also have Harbaugh as a priority, but there is little doubt Irsay will try to do whatever he can to bring Harbaugh back to the Horseshoe.

© Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Colts will look at other candidates as well. Does Indy continue the league-wide trend of hiring a young offensive mind, such as Ken Dorsey or Brian Callahan? Do they look to hire a defensive head coach as they did with Tony Dungy back in 2002, such as Leslie Frazier or Steve Wilks? All options will be considered by Irsay and Ballard.

Once a new head coach is hired, the attention will turn to the quarterback position. The Colts traded for Matt Ryan last spring, thinking he would give the quarterback position the stability Carson Wentz could not bring. Instead, the Colts started three different quarterbacks throughout the season, going from Ryan to Sam Ehlinger, back to Ryan, to Nick Foles, and back to Ehlinger to finish the year.

The result was some of the worst quarterback play this franchise has seen in recent memory. Father Time caught up to Ryan as the veteran’s ability fell off a cliff. Ehlinger got his first live-game action but failed to win a game. Foles looked like his playing days were well behind him. None of the three will be the starter for this team moving forward.

It is time to find the long-term answer at quarterback. The Colts have been riding the quarterback carousel for three years since Andrew Luck’s shocking retirement, bringing in retread veterans in an attempt to make a run to the playoffs. Instead, they have just one playoff appearance with no playoff wins in those three years.

After going 4-12-1, the Colts are slated to have the No.4 overall pick in the NFL Draft. Whether they stay at No.4 or package a deal to trade up for their guy remains to be seen. Regardless, the Colts have a shot to grab the next young, great signal-caller.

Will it be Bryce Young, the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner out of Alabama, who thrives under pressure? Will it be C.J. Stroud, a deadly accurate passer out of Ohio State who racked up huge numbers in one of the best offenses in the country? Will it be Will Levis, the gunslinger out of Kentucky, who has all the physical traits but is still raw in his development? The Colts will do a deep dive into each prospect over the coming months as they decide who they want to be the face of the franchise.

© John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

The Colts need to hit on both the head coach and quarterback if they want to turn things around. Indy needs a head coach that will hold players and coaches accountable and put all in the best possible position to succeed. They need a quarterback who will, finally, give them stability at the most important position in football and a shot to win anytime they step onto the field.

Now, why is this offseason any more important than when the Colts needed a head coach and quarterback in 2012? Or 2018? Because Luck is not walking back through the door.

There is not a generational talent waiting to be selected by the Colts with the top pick like in 2012. That generational talent is not on the cusp of making a comeback from an injury like in 2018. A player like Manning or Luck can cover up a team's many flaws. That is not happening this time around.

There are still issues with this team outside of the head coach and quarterback. Irsay continues to meddle in personnel decisions. Ballard’s roster-building philosophy needs to be reworked and examined. The culture within the locker room needs accountability and toughness. Players need to play up to their potential.

The Colts have a lot of work to do this offseason. It is unlikely that the franchise can fix everything in just one offseason, and it will take time for this team to return to its winning ways. However, hiring the right coach and selecting the correct quarterback would help fast-track the Colts to success.

Make the correct moves and enjoy the success of the 2000s. Make the wrong moves and set the franchise back another five years, at least.

No pressure, Mr. Irsay.

Want more Colts content? Check out the latest episode of the Horseshoe Huddle Podcast!

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