Indianapolis Colts fans have spent recent seasons watching a franchise hover near .500 without a playoff appearance since 2021. That frustration now sits on Shane Steichen as he enters another year with a roster that has talent but inconsistent results.
A fourth season without a postseason berth could force ownership to consider a bigger reset after 2026, and one name already circulating as a possible successor is Mike Tomlin.
Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton feels the Colts belong on any short list of landing spots if Tomlin decides to leave the broadcast booth and return to the sideline in 2027.
Moton notes that general manager Chris Ballard’s seat is already warm after nine years with only four winning records and back-to-back 8-9 finishes.
If Ballard is dismissed, a new personnel chief would almost certainly want to choose his own head coach. Steichen’s contract runs through 2028, but that protection would matter less if the front office itself is being rebuilt.
The roster presents a mixed picture for any incoming coach. Indianapolis sent its 2026 first-round pick to the Jets for Sauce Gardner, which could make a trade for Tomlin’s remaining contractual rights more expensive.
At the same time, the Colts have locked in Jonathan Taylor and Alec Pierce and still have a chance to keep Quenton Nelson. Daniel Jones signed a two-year extension, yet the team can release him after 2026 and recoup significant cap space.
A coach with Tomlin’s defensive pedigree and long-term view of the quarterback position might see a path to contention if given personnel input.
Steichen has shown flashes of offensive creativity, but the Colts have not taken the next step. Another year of eight or nine wins would make it harder for ownership to argue that continuity is working.
Tomlin, who never posted a losing record in Pittsburgh and still holds a no-trade clause that would require his consent, would represent a proven, high-profile alternative.
Whether Indianapolis can assemble the draft capital and organizational stability to land him remains an open question. For now the pressure falls on Steichen to produce results in 2026 that make the conversation unnecessary.
If he cannot, the Colts may find themselves shopping for a coach who has already won a Super Bowl and spent two decades proving he can keep a team competitive.
