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Mar 31, 2026; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen during the 2026 NFL Annual League Meeting at the Arizona Biltmore. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images As the NFL’s nine-week offseason program is set to begin in April, the Indianapolis Colts have a structured path moving forward into the 2026 season.
Indianapolis will open Phase One of the league’s voluntary offseason training program on April 21, which is a period focused strictly on meetings, strength training and rehabilitation. On-field instruction ramps up in Phase Two as the Colts will hold Organized Team Activities on May 26-27, May 29, and June 1-2 and June 4. The final phase of the offseason training program will be a mandatory minicamp scheduled from June 9-11.
By design, the program emphasizes gradual progression. No live contact is permitted at any stage, but Phase Three allows for non-contact team drills, which is a critical window for installing schemes and evaluating roster battles ahead of training camp.
Fresh off the annual NFL League Meetings in Phoenix, Colts general manager Chris Ballard made it clear that he is done entertaining any hypothetical scenarios from 2025 and instead ready to double down on the direction centered on Daniel Jones. Indianapolis has committed $100 million to Jones across two deals since first landing him 13 months ago. Ballard’s message this week left little room for interpretation, which is that he has heard enough of the Colts 8-2 start in 2025 that showed signs of an unstoppable force. Jones is the starting quarterback, and the organization is aligned to build around him.
That investment effectively closes the door on any quarterback competition. Former first-round draft pick Anthony Richardson was once viewed as the future, but now is stuck in the crossroads. The Colts have explored trade options since Richardson requested a trade during the NFL combine, but a “soft” market yielded no deal to materialize.
The inconsistency, along with a widely scrutinized moment where Richardson gestured to the sideline that he needed to exit the game on a third down, contributed to his plummet down the depth chart. Last April, the Colts drafted Riley Leonard, who eventually showcased a composed performance in a season finale start against the Houston Texans. Leonard is now viewed internally as a viable No. 2 option behind Jones, which leaves Richardson in a tough spot entering the final year of his rookie deal.
With the QB position settled, the focus shifts to maximizing a defense built around younger, faster players. The Colts have to replace at least three defensive starters, including Nick Cross (Commanders), Zaire Franklin (Packers), and Kwity Paye (Raiders). Despite trading away receiver Michael Pittman Jr. to the Steelers, the expectation from head coach Shane Steichen is that more continuity under center will unlock greater consistency across the offense.
Ballard signaled the need to address multiple voids on the defensive side ahead of the NFL Draft, specifically in the front seven. For the Colts, those post-draft evaluations will carry added weight with open spots at the edge, linebacker and strong safety. After a promising campaign faded into a seven-game skid, Indianapolis is betting that doubling down will define its next step forward.
