The Indianapolis Colts and Philadelphia Eagles both fell to 2-4 on Sunday. Indianapolis lost 26-20 at home to the previously winless Tennessee Titans, and Philadelphia lost for the fourth straight week.

By Monday morning the Colts had fired general manager Chris Ballard, and within minutes the move fed talk of head coach Shane Steichen returning to the Eagles, whose offense he coordinated in 2021 and 2022.

Steichen is still the Colts’ head coach. Still, less than 20 minutes after the announcement, former Eagles staffer Ryan Paganetti posted that if Steichen becomes available after the season, he sees him as the clear front-runner to coach the Eagles in 2027, provided the Eagles also make a change.

Indianapolis Colts Fire Chris Ballard After Home Loss to Tennessee Titans

Ballard was in his 10th season as general manager, and CBS Sports counted a 72-82-1 record and a 1-2 postseason mark under him. He had been under pressure since Indianapolis lost its final seven games of 2025. Owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon retained Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen after that finish but made clear that the team had to improve in 2026.

Sunday’s loss was the Colts’ second in a row. They led Tennessee 13-0 at halftime at Lucas Oil Stadium, but the Titans outscored them 26-7 after the break. Tennessee scored on a 14-yard return of a blocked punt and broke a 20-20 tie with two Joey Slye field goals in the final 2:03, while Daniel Jones threw two interceptions and was sacked six times.

In a statement, Irsay-Gordon thanked Ballard for his years of service. She said the timing during the season was deliberate and that waiting would only delay work that needs to start now.

She was direct about the reason: “Our standard is to compete for championships, and I believe a change in leadership is necessary to meet that standard.”

She added that the team will run a thorough search for its next general manager and that the decision doesn’t change its goals for this season.

A Former Staffer Points Shane Steichen Back to the Philadelphia Eagles

Paganetti, who has also worked for the Jaguars and Raiders, called Steichen “by far the most likely 2027 Eagles Head Coach, if the Eagles also make a move,” a forecast he posted while Nick Sirianni is still Philadelphia’s head coach.

One reply agreed, saying Steichen “would have his pick of jobs if Colts let him go” and guessing he would choose the Eagles because of his history with Howie Roseman. The same post also offered another landing spot, saying Steichen would be “just what the Jets need.”

Another account put it simply after the announcement: “The Eagles are one step closer to getting Shane Steichen back.”

Steichen’s time in Philadelphia ended after he helped the team reach Super Bowl LVII in 2022, and the Colts made him head coach in 2023.

In 2021, Hurts threw for 3,144 yards, 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions with an 87.2 passer rating. He also ran for 784 yards and 10 touchdowns. Pro Football Network’s NFL QB Impact Grade had him at 75.6 for that season, 19th of 35 graded quarterbacks.

In 2022, he completed 306 of 460 passes for 3,701 yards, 22 touchdowns and six interceptions and ran for 13 touchdowns. His 101.5 rating ranked fourth of 33 qualified quarterbacks, and his Impact Grade was 83.7, 3rd of 35.

After Steichen left, Hurts’ Impact Grade was 82.3 in 2023 (8th of 39) and 85.3 in 2024 (6th of 40). The 2024 grade is his highest of these six seasons.

That year also brought his best passer rating of the six, 103.7, fifth of 36 qualified quarterbacks, and a completion percentage over expected of 7.5 that ranked first of 36. His Impact Grade was 76.2 in 2025, 16th of 38.

This season, with Sean Mannion as offensive coordinator, Hurts has completed 57.8% of his passes, 31st of 33 qualified quarterbacks, for 933 yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions. His Impact Grade through Week 6 is 70.1, 22nd of 34.

The Eagles put Hurts on injured reserve Saturday with a superficial blood clot in his calf. On Monday, a joint statement from the team and his agent, Nicole Lynn, said further tests found deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Hurts is expected to miss the remainder of the season, with his recovery expected to take about three months. The statement said a full recovery is expected.

Tanner McKee started in his place Sunday and went 26 of 45 for 215 yards and a touchdown, with three sacks, in a 25-14 home loss to the Carolina Panthers. The Eagles host the Dallas Cowboys on Oct. 26, a day after the Colts visit the Minnesota Vikings. Steichen is scheduled to bring Indianapolis to Lincoln Financial Field on Dec. 13.