After the Indianapolis Colts’ first OTA practice, head coach Shane Steichen shared about his first time meeting Jim Irsay. “This season is for Jim.”
The Indianapolis Colts opened OTAs on Wednesday, and following that practice was the first time that head coach Shane Steichen addressed the media since Jim Irsay’s passing.
An emotional Steichen shared that his thoughts and prayers were with the Irsay family, and that this season would be for Mr. Irsay.
“A lot of you guys knew Mr. Irsay really well and covered this team for a long time,” Steichen said, “I was with him for two years, phenomenal human being. You guys know how generous he was. I told the team last week, every time I talked to him, in the building, on the phone, every time, he would always tell me at the end, Coach, whatever you need for this team and this organization, we got you. And that is the man that he was. Thoughts and prayers with all of them through this time, and we’re going to honor this season for Jim and we’re going to win for Jim this year.”
On paper, there is a lot to like about this Colts team. The secondary was reshaped this offseason, along with the Colts hiring Lou Anarumo and his more aggressive, disguise-heavy scheme, to lead the defense.
The Colts also have what should be a formidable defensive front and a number of playmaking options on offense, which now includes Tyler Warren at the tight end position.
However, the big question mark lies at the most important position: quarterback.
The Colts will hold an open competition this summer between Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones for the starting job. As Steichen has said previously, the two will split the starting reps throughout the offseason programs and into training camp, while ultimately it is consistency that will determine who is the Week 1 starter.
At the end of the day, the ceiling for this Colts team will be determined by whoever is under center for them this season.
“Just the passion he had for this city, this organization,” Steichen said about meeting Mr. Irsay for the first time. “A football guy. I remember sitting down with him for probably four and a half hours in a hotel in Philadelphia on a Friday night, and we talked for a long time about everything. The team, philosophy, his passion, he’d tell me stories from 1986 and 1990. He went back and knew everything. But just a phenomenal, phenomenal human being.”