The Indianapolis Colts truly believed they were building something special. A stellar 8-2 start unraveled amid injuries, including Daniel Jones’ leg issues and an eventual season-ending Achilles tear, as Indianapolis lost its final seven games. But the team believed their success could be replicated.

However, after a 2-4 start, with their latest loss coming to the woeful Tennessee Titans, they parted ways with general manager Chris Ballard. Now, ESPN Colts reporter Stephen Holder believes head coach Shane Steichen could be next on the list.

Reporter Explains the Short Leash Shane Steichen Has With the Colts

As the Colts’ 2022 season deteriorated, owner Jim Irsay fired Frank Reich and installed Jeff Saturday as interim head coach. Then they gave Steichen the role permanently before the 2023 season.

An offensive mastermind, the expectation was that he could cement the franchise as an upper-tier contender. But through three seasons, he has failed to win more than 9 games in a year. Instead, the team continues to hover around 8 and nine wins.

This year, though, things have already taken a turn for the worse. Starting 2-4, they lost a game to the previously winless Titans. The Colts squandered a 13-0 halftime lead and were undone by three turnovers, six sacks allowed, and a blocked punt returned for a touchdown. And Holder believes Steichen isn’t too far behind.

“The conventional wisdom is that he [Shane Steichen] has to pull off a miracle if he’s going to stick around here,” Holder confessed on the latest episode of“The Ross Tucker” podcast. “Even if he’s beloved by the ownership right now, if they’re gonna hire a new GM, very rarely strap them with the former coach.”

As a result, it could be a lose-lose situation for Steichen, at least as far as the Colts’ head coaching role is concerned. Instead, the ESPN Colts reporter argues that the decision could fall to whoever becomes the next general manager.

“You’re gonna allow them to make their own hire in almost every instance. It does happen, certainly, but not usually, right?”

This year, the team hasn’t been able to hang its hat on either side of the football. Through Week 6, the defense, despite the trade for Sauce Gardner last season, remains in the bottom 10 of the league in PFN’s NFL Defense Impact metrics.

To make matters worse, through Week 6, the offense, which is supposed to be his specialty, is also barely above average at number 12 on PFN’s NFL Offense Impact metrics. As a result, the Colts don’t have anything to truly hang their hat on.

And as the record continues to get worse without any substantial change, Steichen could be the next man out the door very soon.