Colts’ owner says team ‘pressed pause on a movie’ during hot start in 2025, plans to resume in 2026

PHOENIX — When Indianapolis Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon sat down to converse with the media on the Arizona Biltmore Resort on Sunday, it marked one other clear step in the franchise’s new period. For the primary time in three years, the team’s owner spoke on the file on the NFL annual assembly, as Irsay-Gordon continues his first full offseason because the Colts’ principal owner. She took over for her late father, Jim Irsay, who died in May 2025 and had not spoken on the league assembly the final two years, and inherited a franchise that finds itself removed from its glory days.

The Colts have missed the playoffs for 5 straight years and haven’t notched double-digit victories in a season since 2020, which was fittingly the final time they reached the postseason. Last season, at first, appeared to be completely different. Indianapolis started 8-2 earlier than a litany of accidents, most notably quarterback Daniel Jones’ ruptured proper Achilles tendon, derailed his promising marketing campaign.

Irsay-Gordon spoke for roughly 35 minutes Sunday about why she nonetheless believes in the glimpse of greatness her team displayed final yr and the place it stands now. Here’s what she mentioned and what I believe it means.

On re-signing Jones and trusting him, regardless of his prolonged damage historical past: “Obviously, the human body is a mystery and everything points to his rehab went great, everything went well. And he’s gonna do all of the right things, so I’m really convicted that he’s gonna be (good). It’s sort of like last year, before we kind of faced some adversity and went downhill, it’s like we pressed pause on a movie and now we’re pressing play, and we get to see what happens at the end, which I think is gonna be a really cool thing.”

My evaluation: Jones was undoubtedly the perfect QB the Colts have had since Philip Rivers in 2020 (not to be confused with the one who got here out of retirement in 2025). During Indy’s 8-2 start, the team averaged 3.17 factors per drive, which was the fourth-highest mark by a team by means of its first 10 video games this century. Jones threw 15 landing passes in opposition to seven picks and held a 101.6 passer ranking during that span. He additionally had 5 speeding touchdowns.

Irsay-Gordon seems to be banking on Jones placing collectively a full season in 2026, however, utilizing her film analogy, the sequel might not be a lot better than what we noticed in 2025. The actuality is that Jones is injury-prone, evidenced by him enjoying just one full season by means of his first seven. She additionally famous Jones’ chemistry with Colts coach and play caller Shane Steichen, in addition to a number of gamers on the team — particularly extensive receiver Alec Pierce — wanting him again as huge causes he was retained. The Colts had no need to start over at QB, she mentioned, which is comprehensible. But I’m nonetheless extra inclined to assume this season will not have the fairy-tale ending Irsay-Gordon is hoping for. Sports hardly ever work out that means.

On Anthony Richardson Sr.’s future with the franchise after he requested a commerce: “(General manager Chris Ballard) can probably speak more to that, but I think Anthony, I’m proud of the way he’s handled himself. … He’s so immensely talented, and I feel like the world is his oyster. He totally has an opportunity to have a career in the NFL if he wants to. I just feel so bad that he’s getting the short end of the stick (with injuries).”

My evaluation: I requested Irsay-Gordon instantly if the Colts would really like to commerce Richardson earlier than subsequent month’s draft, and unsurprisingly, she didn’t give a definitive reply. To be honest, it in all probability would not be sensible for any owner to converse on the way forward for a participant amid a public commerce request. But her response, in my opinion, reaffirmed that Richardson merely hasn’t labored out in Indy, and a change of surroundings is probably going a formality. The 23-year-old has began simply 15 video games by means of his first three years, and he is thrown 11 landing passes in opposition to 13 interceptions. Irsay-Gordon added it could be simple to look again and say the team ought to have gone in a completely different course, however she defended the Colts’ number of Richardson, saying Sunday he was “the most talented player available” when he was drafted fourth in 2023. It would behoove the Colts to commerce Richardson earlier than the draft to allow them to instantly use no matter potential draft capital they get better.

On if the team has improved for the reason that finish of final season: “I think we’re off to a great start. Obviously, getting Arden Key … and getting both Daniel and Alec signed, and one of the things I’m so excited about — that was so heartbreaking to me — is Justin Walley and Hunter Wohler coming back. … But this is just my layman’s view is that I think the path that we need is obviously D-line, and I think it’s a clear path as far as, ‘What are the pieces that we need?’ And I feel like there’s a lot of great opportunities in the draft.”

My analysis: Irsay-Gordon explained that it was difficult to part ways with veterans such as wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. and linebacker Zaire Franklin, who were traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers, respectively. But those moves were necessary because of “what’s best for the whole” team. The issue, from my perspective, is that while the Colts have moved on from five starters, including Pittman and Franklin, they haven’t found adequate replacements. Therefore, it’s more than fair to say the team hasn’t improved. It was also surprising to hear Irsay-Gordon mention Walley and Wohler, who missed their entire rookie seasons because of ACL and Lisfranc injuries, respectively. Could they be impact players in 2026? Sure, but that’s a lot of pressure to put on two guys who haven’t played an NFL snap.

The Colts have glaring holes at a few positions, most notably defensive end, and while the draft could offer some solutions, Indy also doesn’t have a first-round pick this year. Sure, Key may be a fine addition, but he should not be starting opposite Laiatu Latu on the edge. And if he is, the Colts will be in big trouble, especially if they don’t find a game-wrecking defensive end in the draft. Keep in mind, the Colts drafted former Ohio State edge rusher JT Tuimoloau in the second round last year, and he played just 24 percent of the team’s defensive snaps during his rookie campaign and was a healthy scratch a few times.

On whether the Colts have enough cash to compete with other teams in free agency: “We do. But I additionally assume even if in case you have sufficient money, you do not need to (be reckless). I believe that is why setting a finances and being disciplined (are essential) as a result of what you do not need to do is defer (cash) in perpetuity. … There’s a lot of shifting items, however I believe we have proven this yr that we have spent greater than we now have in a very long time.”

My analysis: Irsay-Gordon dismissed the notion that Indianapolis has any financial restraints when it comes to building a team. The Colts signed Jones to a two-year, $88 million contract with $50 million fully guaranteed, and they signed Pierce to a four-year, $114 million deal with $60 million fully guaranteed, per Over the Cap. Those two contracts speak to the team’s willingness to spend big to retain their top talent and stay competitive, but the question now becomes: What next? The Colts have $26.6 million in cap space, according to Over the Cap, which should give them plenty of money to upgrade their roster, although as free agency wants, there doesn’t appear to be a clear player left whom Indy should back up the Brink’s truck for.

On her end-of-season comments about the team’s sense of urgency being at its highest and how that’s been put into practice this offseason: “When you miss the playoffs for 5 years, you’re feeling it. It’s palpable. … And so, I believe a part of it’s simply being with kind of the street that we have gone on, now it is kind of like, ‘OK, we’re gonna empty the tank as a result of we gotta go balls to the wall.’ And I believe typically feeling that helps everybody kind of elevating that waterline.”

My evaluation: The solely tangible factor I can level to and say that the Colts’ sense of urgency is greater than it has been in the previous, at the least for one individual, is the very fact Ballard is coming into the ultimate yr of his contract — with out an extension — for the primary time in his now 10-year tenure. But other than Ballard’s murky future, Indy’s roster strikes this offseason hasn’t felt as palpably pressing as Irsay-Gordon prompt. Perhaps that might change with a house run draft, which is one thing Ballard can converse to extra instantly when he sits down with the media Monday afternoon, but when anybody is skeptical of the Colts’ offseason plan up to now, they’ve each proper to be.