Shane Steichen’s future in Indianapolis suddenly looks shaky, and the Colts may already be staring at the next move if Carlie Irsay-Gordon follows through on her warning.
The team’s 2-4 start through Week 6 has only piled onto the pressure. Indianapolis opened 0-2, briefly steadied itself with wins over the Texans and Commanders, then unraveled again in one of the ugliest losses of the season: a 26-20 home defeat to the previously 0-5 Titans after blowing a 13-0 lead. It was a mistake-filled collapse that did Steichen no favors, especially with the team’s offense sputtering and a possible benching of Daniel Jones hanging in the air after the game.
Steichen said after Sunday’s loss that he was more focused on doing his job than worrying about losing it, but that answer landed against a bleak backdrop. He’s 27-30 in more than three seasons without a playoff berth after taking over for Frank Reich and interim coach Jeff Saturday in 2023. With the Colts coming off an 8-9 finish in 2025 after a seven-game losing streak and a slide from 8-2 to out of the AFC playoff field, the patience meter is clearly running low.
If Indianapolis does decide to move on, there are already a few names that stand out.
Chris Shula, the Rams defensive coordinator, tops the list. At 40, he fits the mold of the latest Sean McVay assistant ready for his own shot, and he was already in the mix when 10 new coaches landed jobs in 2025.
His last name carries obvious football weight, but his reputation has been built on defensive play-calling. And for Colts history buffs, there’s a neat wrinkle: the late Don Shula started his record-setting coaching career with the Colts when they were in Baltimore.
Another strong candidate is Anthony Campanile, the Jaguars defensive coordinator. At 44, he brings more experience and offers the kind of defensive-minded change the Colts might prefer if they decide Steichen’s offensive background isn’t the answer. He and offensive coordinator Grant Udinski have both emerged as rising names in Jacksonville under Liam Coen, and Campanile carries what could be a familiar Chuck Pagano feel for Indianapolis fans.
Brian Flores should be in the conversation too. The Vikings defensive coordinator, 45, has put together a dominant unit under Kevin O’Connell, and he already has head coaching experience.
For a franchise looking to reset, that matters. So does the simple logic of pivoting from an offensive head coach to a defensive one.
Ejiro Evero, also 45, belongs in the mix as well. The Panthers defensive coordinator has squeezed strong production out of a group strengthened this season by Jaelan Phillips and Devin Lloyd. He has earned a reputation for getting the most out of an energetic defense, and he also has McVay connections from his time with the Rams.
On the offensive side, Declan Doyle is a younger name to watch. The Ravens offensive coordinator is only 30, but he’s gaining attention for the work he’s doing with Derrick Henry, not counting iWeek 6, and for how that approach could translate to an offense built around Jonathan Taylor. He also has a fast-rising résumé after working under Ben Johnson and the Bears last season.
Nate Scheelhaase, the Rams offensive coordinator, is another McVay branch worth tracking. At 35, and with a background as the former Illinois quarterback, he fits the profile of a coach who could make a jump after learning in that ecosystem. For the Colts, the appeal would be in bringing in someone who could help reboot the offense in the original Big Ten country.
Then there are the wild cards. Andrew Luck, now Stanford football GM at 37, would be the boldest swing of all.
He’s trying to steady his alma mater after its last winning stretch under David Shaw, and his name carries obvious weight in Indianapolis. If he weren’t a sideline option, the possibility of him replacing Chris Ballard at general manager would also have to be considered.
And finally, there’s Jim Harbaugh. He’s still under contract with the Chargers, but the source of the opening here is clear enough: if things keep going the way they are in Los Angeles, a parting could happen after a disastrous, still-winless season.
If that door opened, the Colts would have a chance to bring back their former “Captain Comeback” quarterback turned “Saved By The Bell” guest star. Harbaugh returning to Indianapolis, with Luck possibly in the building too, would be a bold jolt.
It also might be exactly the kind of jolt the Colts need.
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Rams Fans Will Have Strong Reactions To This Sunday Notebook
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There was a softer note in the Sunday notebook too, with the team set to host fan Mark Viegas and his family at an upcoming game after he lost his belongings in a fire. In a week where the focus could have stayed on league discipline and sideline warnings, that kind of gesture is the reminder that the Rams orbit extends well beyond the field, and their supporters will likely feel just as strongly about that part of the story as anything else. [Read more 🡒]
Sean McVay Sounds Fed Up With A Rams Problem Fans Know Too Well
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For a Rams team trying to keep pace in a tight NFC race, the issue is bigger than one bad sequence or one missed assignment. McVays comments carried the tone of a coach who knows the talent is there but also knows the margin for error disappears quickly when the hidden-yardage part of the game keeps biting back. Until that gets sorted out, it is hard for Los Angeles to feel fully settled, no matter how competitive the rest of the roster looks. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Face A Key Week 6 Decision With Plenty At Stake
The Rams head into Week 6 with a chance to get back to .500, and the injury picture is as clean as they could have hoped for at this point in the season. Safety Kam Curl and cornerback Trent McDuffie are the only names on the report as questionable, while rookie tackle Keagen Trost was activated from injured reserve, giving Los Angeles a little more flexibility heading into a division matchup that already carries extra weight.
Arizona brings its own challenges, starting with quarterback Jacoby Brissett and the steady presence of tight end Trey McBride. Josh Sweat gives the Cardinals another threat off the edge, which makes this a useful early test for a Rams team trying to steady itself and keep pace in the NFC West. With the standings so tight, even a mid-October game like this can feel bigger than it looks on paper. [Read more 🡒]