Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones celebrates a Week 2 win over the Denver Broncos at Lucas Oil Stadium. Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images Sep 14, 2025; Indianapolis; Colts QB Daniel Jones celebrates a win vs the Denver Broncos. Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images
By Michael Grant on

10 teams are 2-0 to begin the 2025 NFL season. None more surprising than the Indianapolis Colts.

After an offseason that saw their old owner pass away and a new owner in charge, uncertainty at quarterback, in the front office, and on the coaching staff, the Colts are unbeaten. They can reach 3-0 with a victory over the Tennessee Titans (0-2) on Sunday. To put that in perspective, Indianapolis didn’t win its third game last year until mid-October.

What should we make of this? Credit to reclamation project quarterback Daniel Jones. Credit to on-the-hot-seat head coach Shane Steichen and on-the-hot-seat general manager Chris Ballard. But also, a word of caution. A two-game sample size in a 17-game season is small.

Remember when last year’s New Orleans Saints started 2-0 after dominating the Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys by a combined score of 91-29? Good times in the French Quarter until a 7-game slide en route to a 5-12 record. The NFL stands for Not For Long because so much can change in a hurry due to bad luck, injuries, etc.

We’re not here to suggest that these Colts will be the 2024 Saints. However, it’s important to keep their success in perspective. If they’re playoff-good, we’ll know soon.

Steichen and Ballard are in job-saving mode. That’s the primary reason why Jones is the starting quarterback. The moment Jim Irsay passed away in May, the pressure on that group of experts intensified. His daughter, Carlie Irsay-Gordon, is now in charge. The NFL’s newest and youngest owner is a bit of a curiosity. She wears a headset and takes notes as if she’s a member of the coaching staff.

That’s not typical. Not even publicity-hungry Jerry Jones does that. As a rookie owner, Irsay-Gordon might want to hire her own people. So Steichen and Ballard are playing it safe while also trying to impress the new boss. They can’t afford to wait on often-injured and often-erratic Anthony Richardson.

Jones has been great, directing an offense that has yet to punt this season. He leads the league in yards per attempt (9.3), is sixth in passer rating, and the Colts are fourth in scoring (31.0 points per game). In a salary-cap sport, Jones has been one of the best bargains in the league. Of course, it helps that Jonathan Taylor is the league’s leading rusher (236 yards) through two games.

A pessimist could point to the fact that the Colts needed a special teams penalty to defeat the Denver Broncos last week. If Spencer Shrader doesn’t get a second chance after missing a 60-yarder, the conversations around Indianapolis are different today.

Winning your first two games at home against lukewarm competition is what every team aspires to. The good news is that the schedule is manageable. Based on what we know today, the AFC South isn’t difficult, and the Colts face the 10th-easiest schedule going forward.

If that adds up to a playoff spot, that just might be enough to save Steichen and Ballard’s jobs. If not, Irsay-Gordon will make the biggest decisions of her young tenure.

Win or lose, the Colts will be a fascinating team to watch.

About Michael Grant

Born in Jamaica. Grew up in New York City. Lives in Louisville, Ky. Sports writer. Not related to Ulysses S. Grant.

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