WR Alec Pierce Open To New Colts Deal
Alec Pierce looms as one of the top free agent options at the receiver position this spring. Remaining with the Colts appears to still be on the table, although an exploration of the market also seems to be approaching. 
“I’ve got great relationships here with this organization and the people in this building, this city,” Pierce said on Monday (via Nathan Brown of the Indy Star). “They’ve done so much for me so far, and I definitely would love to continue to be part of this organization, and we’ll see where things go.
“But I don’t know. I don’t know how this will all work out… I think I’ve got to see it all laid out in front of me. There’s so many different variables that go into that decision. I think it’s really hard to say what the priorities are, because you’re looking at 50 different variables at each place.”
While playing out his rookie contract, Pierce has emerged as one of the league’s premier deep threats. In each of the past two seasons, the former second-rounder has topped the NFL in yards per reception average. Pierce enjoyed a career year in 2025, setting a new personal best in catches (47) and yards (1,003).
Even after quarterback Daniel Jones suffered his Achilles tear, Pierce managed to have strong games at times down the stretch (including a two-touchdown performance yesterday). The Cincinnati product could be highly sought after during his first trip to free agency, especially if George Pickens winds up receiving the franchise tag from the Cowboys to prevent a departure. Whether it comes from the Colts or a new team, a major raise is forthcoming in Pierce’s case.
With Indianapolis having elected to retain head coach Shane Steichen and general manager Chris Ballard, attention will turn to the matter of re-signing Jones. The 2024 free agent signing enjoyed a stellar campaign prior to being injured, and he wants to stay in place. Keeping Jones in the fold will require more than the $14MM he signed for last spring, although the injury could complicate his value.
Pierce, 25, said continuing to play with Jones represents an attractive selling point in the case of re-signing with the Colts. Based on his comments, however, it would come as little surprise if he were to at least test the waters in March.
Titans Arrange Raheem Morris HC Meeting
His Falcons tenure cut short after two seasons, Raheem Morris represents a prime defensive coordinator candidate. But a report earlier today indicated the two-time NFL HC would be expected to draw interest for another top job.
The Titans will make good on that, as ESPN’s Peter Schrager reports Morris will meet with the AFC South team about its HC vacancy. The interview is scheduled for this week. Morris is among a host of candidates linked with the Tennessee job thus far; a round of interview slips went out today.
Tennessee is hoping to interview Kevin Stefanski, Matt Nagy, Steve Spagnuolo, Vance Joseph and Lou Anarumo. Morris joins Stefanski as a dismissed HC on the market. Because Morris and Stefanski are unattached, they can meet in-person with any interested team. Coaches who are tied to a team presently cannot, giving the unemployed options a leg up to start the process.
Anarumo, Joseph, Nagy and Spagnuolo can meet with the Titans starting Wednesday. Joseph can meet with the team remotely. Had the Broncos not won in Week 18, Joseph would have been unable to meet about the job until after three days after the wild-card round. Since Denver secured a first-round bye, its DC can discuss the position this week. The Titans must interview two external minority candidates to satisfy the Rooney Rule. Joseph is seen as one of this market’s top candidates; after Morris went two-and-done in Atlanta, it is difficult to gauge his standing.
Morris, 49, went 16-18 in his second Falcons stint. Overall, he is 37-56. It is fair to point out Morris has been tied to inconsistent quarterbacks throughout his coaching career. The Buccaneers’ failed Josh Freeman experiment occurred during Morris’ time leading the Tampa Bay staff, and Michael Penix Jr. struggled before going down with a season-ending injury this year. The Falcons made the atypical decision to hand out a big free agency deal (to Kirk Cousins) only to turn around and use a top-10 pick on a passer six weeks later. This made for a convoluted setup, though Morris’ staff was believed to be a key part of the Penix investment.
A defensive coach who won a Super Bowl ring as the DC for the Rams, Morris also is the rare leader with extensive experience on both sides of the ball. He coached Falcons wide receivers from 2015-19 and served as Dan Quinn‘s offensive pass-game coordinator during part of that time. This past season, the Falcons rejuvenated their pass rush; Atlanta’s 57 sacks trailed only Denver this season. That represented a remarkable turnaround, but while that occurred during a season in which the Falcons won their final four games, the team still opted to reboot and fire both its HC and GM (Terry Fontenot).
49ers LB Tatum Bethune Out For Playoffs; Latest On Fred Warner
The 49ers’ Week 18 loss to the Seahawks prevented them from securing the No. 1 seed in the NFC and a division title. To worsen matters, the 49ers’ banged-up defense took more shots in the regular-season finale.
Linebacker Tatum Bethune will miss the postseason after suffering a groin injury, head coach Kyle Shanahan announced (via Nick Wagoner of ESPN). Fellow linebackers Dee Winters (ankle) and Luke Gifford (quadriceps) are also dealing with injuries from the Seattle game. Their statuses for the wild-card round are uncertain, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
As a 2024 seventh-round pick, Bethune barely factored into the 49ers’ defense as a rookie. The former Florida State Seminole played 11 games and logged 165 of his 216 snaps on special teams.
Bethune remained a relatively anonymous member of the 49ers’ roster early this season, but he took on a far bigger role when all-world linebacker Fred Warner broke and dislocated his ankle in a Week 6 win over the Buccaneers.
Warner’s injury opened up playing time for Bethune, who wound up starting in eight of 14 appearances and totaling 94 tackles. While Pro Football Focus ranked Bethune’s performance an unspectacular 69th among 88 qualifying linebackers, he earned a respectable 73.2 grade against the run.
Warner hasn’t played in almost three months, though there’s hope he’ll return if the 49ers make a deep playoff run. Shanahan said Monday that Warner may come back if the 49ers reach the NFC Championship Game (via Matt Barrows of the The Athletic). In the meantime, sixth-seeded San Francisco will have to go on the road to beat Philadelphia this weekend and then knock off another opponent in the divisional round.
The 49ers’ defense will face more adversity if Winters and Gifford can’t go Sunday. Winters finished second among 49ers defenders with a 91.5% snap share, trailing only cornerback Deommodore Lenoir, and picked up 101 tackles, five passes defensed and an interception. Gifford’s a lesser presence on defense, but he earned his first Pro Bowl nod for his work on special teams. He led the 49ers’ ST unit with an 80.9% snap share in 2025.
In the event Winters and Gifford are unavailable this week, the 49ers will go into the playoffs with Eric Kendricks (currently on the practice squad), Curtis Robinson and Garret Wallow as their top options at linebacker, Barrows notes. Kendricks is a former Pro Bowler with 143 starts on his resume, but the 33-year-old amassed just 46 defensive snaps in three games with the 49ers during the regular season. Robinson has only started three games (all in 2025) during his five-year career, while Wallow’s most recent start came with the Texans in 2022. The 49ers claimed him off waivers from the Broncos on Dec. 6. A month later, defensive coordinator Robert Saleh may have to rely on Wallow in the playoffs.
Saleh’s defense overcame long-term injuries to Warner and Nick Bosa, who tore his ACL in Week 3, during a 12-win campaign. As injuries continue to mount ahead of the postseason, Saleh’s job isn’t getting any easier.
Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa Would Welcome Fresh Start
Tua Tagovailoa avoided major injuries in 2025, but the season will still be remembered as a disappointment in his case. A change of scenery could be coming relatively soon, depending on how the Dolphins choose to proceed. 
When speaking to the media on Monday, Tagovailoa was asked about the possibility of a fresh start. He responded, “that would be dope. I would be good with it” (h/t Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald). Reporters then clarified they were referring to the idea of Tagovailoa playing elsewhere. He declined to comment further.
In theory, a ‘fresh start’ could take place in the form of sweeping coaching changes on the part of the Dolphins. Of the three head coach firings which have taken place so far today, though, none have included Miami. The latest updates on Mike McDaniel‘s status point to him being safe for 2026.
Not long ago, the possibility of Miami retaining McDaniel was tied to the success he had with Tagovailoa in previous seasons. Consistent play under center proved elusive in 2025, however, and after Week 15 the Dolphins proceeded with a new QB depth chart. Tagovailoa was replaced by rookie Quinn Ewers as the starter and demoted to third-string status. Since then, questions have been raised about a potential trade.
During the 2024 offseason, Tagovailoa joined the list of quarterbacks earning $50MM or per year on their contracts. The 27-year-old is on the books through 2028, and he is owed $54MM guaranteed for next year. Absorbing that figure – not to mention a 2026 cap hit of $56.4MM – would be challenging for any acquiring team. A strong market is unlikely based on that factor but also Tagovailoa’s poor play this year. The former fifth overall pick threw multiple interceptions four times in 14 games prior to being benched.
Ewers projects as a presence in the Dolphins’ quarterback setup for the foreseeable future, although his brief showing late in the season is obviously not a large enough sample size to determine his viability as a starting option. Selecting a new signal-caller early in the draft could be something to watch for; that would likely require trading up in the first-round order. Miami is currently set to select 11th in April’s draft.
Tagovailoa’s entire six-year career has taken place with the Dolphins. He could wind up remaining in place in the absence of preferred replacement options emerging once a full-time general manager is in place. Regardless, a move allowing for a clean slate on a new team is clearly something Tagovailoa would be open to.
Philip Rivers Expected To Receive Coaching Interest
JANUARY 5: When speaking to the media on Monday (video link), Rivers confirmed he would be open to coaching at the NFL level. He added, however, that “there has been no substantive interest” to this point from teams in need of a new head coach. It remains to be seen if any formal interview requests will be made over the coming days.
JANUARY 4: Though he was deemed a healthy scratch for the Colts’ final game of the season, Philip Rivers‘ NFL comeback may not be over quite yet.
While the 44-year-old quarterback will retire from playing for a second time after the end of the regular season, he could stay in the league as a coach. Rivers is expected to receive interest from teams seeking new head coaches this offseason, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, with at least one interview expected.
Both NFL and college teams have considered Rivers for coaching jobs in the past, but he has generally been uninterested. That may have changed after his shocking return to the professional playing field this year.
Rivers’ appeal to NFL teams is obvious. He has already found success as a head coach, albeit as a high school level. His ability to come off the couch and start for the Colts showed that he is still in tune with the pro game. He has ties to a number of coaches across the league and could build a strong staff. Rivers’ age also makes him an old player but would also make him a young head coach. Being a former player would also help him connect with players, many of whom watched Rivers growing up. He had a reputation for taking huge hits in the pocket to get throws off; players who knew their coach gave it his all when he was on the field may be more inclined to do so as well.
The reasons why Rivers might consider a coaching job are just as clear. It would be a new challenge and a significant step up from high school ball. He would be able to stay in the NFL after clearly enjoying his comeback this year. But Rivers also has 11 kids. Taking an NFL coaching job would take him away from his family (or force them to uproot their lives and move).
A career in broadcasting may allow more flexibility; it certainly would not come with the burden and time constraints of being a head coach. He said on Up & Adams this week that he has “not ruled it out,” but noted that other opportunities haven’t “felt right.”
“The one thing I’ve loved since I was however old playing this game and being now as a coach is I’ve been able to have some impact on the score.” Rivers added. “You might be good at it, talking about it, but I have nothing to do with the outcome of this game.”
It’s hard to impact the outcome of the game from the broadcasting booth. But as a coach on the sidelines, everything he does would impact the outcome of the game.
Falcons Request HC Interviews With Klint Kubiak, Anthony Weaver
An eighth straight season without a playoff berth led to a major organizational shakeup for the Falcons, who fired general manager Terry Fontenot and head coach Raheem Morris on Sunday. The Falcons’ former franchise quarterback, Matt Ryan, is expected to take over as president of football operations.
Although Ryan hasn’t officially rejoined the organization yet, Atlanta – with the help of search firm ZRG Partners – is acting quickly to find a new head coach. The team has requested interviews with Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
This head coaching market doesn’t feature many slam-dunk offensive-minded candidates, but the 38-year-old Kubiak has made a case for a promotion this season. Thanks in part to the Seahawks’ Kubiak-led offense, which finished the regular season third in scoring and tied for seventh in yardage, the team went 14-3 and earned the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
With Kubiak’s help, quarterback Sam Darnold put together a second straight strong season in 2025 – his first with the Seahawks after reviving his career with the Vikings in 2024. Darnold’s favorite target, wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, led the league with 1,793 yards.
Kubiak’s presence helped draw Darnold to the Seahawks on a three-year, $100.5MM contract last March. It’s possible the success the two have had since then will lead to a first head coaching job for Kubiak. Moving on from Seattle would mean a third straight one-and-done stint as an offensive coordinator for Kubiak, the son of former Texans and Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak.
Klint Kubiak’s first OC opportunity came with the Vikings in 2021, when he succeeded his retired father in the role. With productive efforts from Kirk Cousins, Justin Jefferson and Dalvin Cook, the unit finished with above-average rankings in yards (12th) and points (14th). However, the Vikings then made a head coaching change in replacing Mike Zimmer with Kevin O’Connell, and Kubiak did not return in 2022.
After leaving Minnesota, Kubiak divided the next two seasons between Denver and San Francisco. His year as Russell Wilson‘s quarterbacks coach went poorly, but Kubiak boosted his stock as Kyle Shanahan‘s passing game coordinator in 2023. He first worked with Darnold, then a backup to Brock Purdy, that year. It was the first full season as a starter for Purdy, who fared well with Kubiak and helped the 49ers advance to the Super Bowl.
Kubiak’s performance with the 49ers led to his second shot as an offensive coordinator with the Saints last year. In what proved to be quarterback Derek Carr‘s final season, an injury-limited campaign in which he played 10 games, the Saints’ offense wound up 21st in yards and 24th in points. With New Orleans in the midst of a coaching search last January, Kubiak left for Seattle – a move that has gone swimmingly for both sides.
Weaver, 45, was a defensive lineman for the Ravens and Texans from 2002-08. After coaching D-lines with the Jets, Bills, Browns and Texans from 2012-19, he took over as Houston’s D-coordinator under Bill O’Brien in 2020. O’Brien did not last the full season, though, and after the Texans’ defense finished 27th in yards and 30th in points, Weaver didn’t retain his post for a second year.
Following his Houston exit, Weaver had a three-year run as a D-line coach on John Harbaugh‘s staff in Baltimore. He impressed enough with the Ravens to grab the reins as the Dolphins’ defensive coordinator in 2024. While the Dolphins ranked fourth in total defense and 10th in points under Weaver last year, they fell to 22nd and 24th in those categories this season. Nevertheless, Weaver will be part of the head coaching interview cycle for the second straight offseason. He met with the Bears and Saints last winter.
Brian Flores, Brian Daboll On Raiders’ Radar?
The Raiders have fired a coach for the third time since Halloween 2023, making the expected move to oust Pete Carroll following a 3-14 season. Las Vegas is expectedly retaining GM John Spytek, and Tom Brady will of course be a central figure as the team pursues new sideline leadership.
The first of these recent HC firings removed Josh McDaniels from his position, with GM Dave Ziegler and OC Mick Lombardi booted as well. That effectively ended the Patriot Way in Las Vegas, but Brady’s arrival a year later may change that. Brady may be looking at some of his former coaches this time around.
Rumblings around the NFL have introduced Brian Flores as a candidate to become the next Raiders HC, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio writes, with Brian Daboll on the OC radar. Following that report, The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson floated Flores and Daboll as staff options for the Raiders. Brady has a history with both.
Flores, 44, coached in New England from 2008-18, closing his chapter with a dominant defensive performance in Super Bowl LIII. With Flores as the de facto Patriot DC, the Rams scored three points in that game to give Brady a low bar to clear en route to his sixth Super Bowl win. The Dolphins soon hired Flores as HC.
Daboll, 50, enjoyed two stints with the Patriots. He was part of Bill Belichick‘s first staff back in 2000 and stayed on through 2006, collecting three Super Bowl rings during that period and ending his run as Pats wide receivers coach. Daboll returned to add two more rings while working as New England’s tight ends coach from 2013-16.
Flores has appeared on the HC carousel previously, though perhaps not as much as someone with his experience and credentials should have. Regarded as a top-tier defensive coordinator, Flores is presently suing the NFL and four teams for racial discrimination. A ruling this past summer will allow that lawsuit to proceed to open court, representing new territory for the league. A team hiring Flores as HC under these circumstances may be challenging to envision, and even conducting interviews may meet obstacles based on where the Vikings DC’s lawsuit is headed.
In Minnesota since 2023, Flores no longer has a Vikings contract. Mutual interest exists between the parties to continue working together, but Flores is a coaching free agent. This means the Vikes cannot block a lateral move, with SI.com’s Albert Breer noting DC-needy teams may pursue him. Flores could potentially be a defensive coordinator option in Vegas, depending on the team’s offer, but it would be expected he receives multiple lucrative proposals to leave Minnesota to lead a defense.
The Vikings ranked seventh in scoring defense this season and allowed the third-fewest yards. The latter number represents a significant improvement after a 16th-place finish in 2024. Flores could certainly challenge Vic Fangio to become the NFL’s highest-paid DC; that number is believed to be near $5MM. The Vikings will probably need to go near or beyond that territory to retain Flores.
Flores and Brady are believed to have a good relationship, per Florio, who adds the former Dolphins HC was onboard with bringing in Brady — assuming he kept the Miami job beyond the 2021 season. But Flores’ ensuing lawsuit bombshell and tanking allegations against Stephen Ross scuttled the Dolphins’ rumored plan to bring in Brady — amid retirement No. 1 — and Sean Payton in 2022. Brady circling back to Flores after that would be interesting, and Mark Davis signing off on more ex-Patriots staffers would qualify as unusual given how poorly the McDaniels-Ziegler experiment went. But Davis has entrusted Brady with plenty of responsibility since the NFL approved his minority stake.
It is quite possible Flores will be stuck on the coordinator level thanks to his lawsuit. Teams will be leery of meeting with him after he used private conversations with owners as ammunition to craft a lawsuit, ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert adds. Part of Flores’ lawsuit touches on the Giants hiring Daboll over him in 2022. That pair of ex-Belichick lieutenants reuniting in Vegas would be quite interesting through that lens.
Daboll, however, is on track to receive OC interest after three-plus years as the Giants’ HC. Daboll has been an NFL OC on four occasions, and he called Giants plays in 2024. The recently fired HC’s experience will be a plus for coordinator interest, and the Raiders will surely not be the only team to call him in for an interview. Whichever OC candidate lands that job could soon be working with a quarterback drafted first overall.
Daniel Jones Interested In Re-Signing With Colts
The Giants paid dearly for overvaluing Daniel Jones‘ 2022 season. After declining Jones’ fifth-year option in 2022, the Giants gave him a $40MM-per-year deal minutes before the March 2023 franchise tag application deadline. This led to a Saquon Barkley franchise tag and 2024 exit.
Jones faceplanted on the second contract, struggling to both stay healthy or approach his previous play level. The Giants dropped Jones during the second season of the deal, but the former No. 6 overall pick found new life in Indianapolis. Given a one-year, $14MM accord to compete with Anthony Richardson, Jones overtook the erratic passer and had the Colts 8-2.
Before Jones’ Achilles tear, he had been playing through a fractured fibula. Both issues will factor into Jones’ free agency, but the Colts have interest in bringing him back. Jones is also interested in staying, though he did couch his statement on the topic ahead of his third free agency bid.
“I’d love to be back here,’’ Jones said, via Fox 59’s Mike Chappell. “I’ve enjoyed being here, working with the coaching staff here, the players. I think it’s a great organization and I’ve enjoyed being here. Obviously, there’s a business side to it and I understand that.”
Jones, 28, did well on the business side when he was last in a commanding leverage position. An asking price north of $45MM per year emerged — back when the $50MM-AAV QB club had not formed — and the Giants made him their top 2023 priority. It would not seem Jones would have as much leverage this time around, but the Colts traded their 2026 and ’27 first-round picks for Sauce Gardner at the deadline. Indianapolis did so while Jones was healthy, but the team now lacks key ammo to chase a younger option.
Carlie Irsay-Gordon announced the Colts would retain GM Chris Ballard and HC Shane Steichen, and Chappell notes “every indication” points to the duo being a package deal with Jones. Even with the Achilles tear, Jones should possess some leverage ahead of negotiations. The Colts are not believed to have begun those, but with Ballard receiving assurances he is staying, those should begin soon. Indianapolis’ issues finding a long-term signal-caller post-Andrew Luck also stand to help Jones in free agency.
Injury trouble is starting to pile up for Jones, though. He battled a significant neck issue in 2021 and suffered an ACL tear in 2023. The ACL tear came after more neck trouble sidelined him early in the 2023 season. With the fracture and Achilles tear now on Jones’ medical sheet, it would stand to reason the Colts could work out a team-friendlier deal. But the Vikings are expected to pursue a veteran QB to compete with J.J. McCarthy. Considering Minnesota made Jones an offer that was believed to be higher than what Indianapolis submitted, it will be interesting to see if the NFC North club is back in on the player it briefly employed to close the 2024 season.
Jones is expected back by training camp, and the Colts should be expected to re-sign him unless a major course change commences, ESPN.com’s Stephen Holder notes. Where Jones’ asking price settles will be one of this offseason’s key storylines.
Titans QB Cam Ward Unlikely To Undergo Shoulder Surgery
Cam Ward avoided injuries throughout his rookie season until midway through Week 18. An injury to his throwing shoulder left the Titans without their starting quarterback to close out the campaign. 
Further testing took place on Monday in Ward’s case. An AC joint sprain was confirmed, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. As veteran Titans reporter Paul Kuharksy notes, it is unclear at this point if the injury is indeed a Grade 3 strain as was indicated yesterday. In any event, the team is viewing today’s updates as the best-case scenario.
It has been recommended to Ward that he avoid undergoing surgery. When speaking to the media on Monday, the 2025 No. 1 pick said (via Terry McCormick of TitansInsider.com) he is not certain at this point if he will have a procedure. Ward does not believe one will be necessary, though. With that matter still unclear at the moment, no firm timeline is in place.
For now, Ward’s attention will turn to rehabbing the injury. The 23-year-old will look to heal in full prior to the offseason program while preparing for his second year in Tennessee. It remains to be seen who his coach will be, but Ward will be expected to build off the momentum generated over the closing stages of the campaign. After throwing one interception in six straights games through September and October, he was picked off only once more the rest of the way.
Ward posted a passer rating of 80.2 and was sacked a league-leading 55 times in 2025. That illustrates the need for further improvement on offense – especially up front – along with development from the Washington State and Miami product. It remains to be seen if the necessary steps forward will be taken in 2026, but at least a lengthy recovery process will not be needed.
Charvarius Ward Considering Retirement
In reeling in Charvarius Ward on a three-year deal worth up to $60MM last March, the Colts added one of the top cornerbacks on the free agent market. Ward looked like a worthwhile investment when he took the field in 2025, but three concussions limited him to just seven games.
With Ward still dealing with complications from his head injuries, he’s “seriously considering retirement,” Stephen Holder of ESPN reports. Ward’s father has already advised him to retire, according to Holder.
“With the brain injuries, you don’t really see it … until you get older sometimes,” said the 29-year-old Ward, who added that “the more I beat my brain up, the more it’ll affect me as I get older. So, I’ve got a lot of life to live out of football. I’ve got to think about my family and kids, too. So, we’ll see.”
Despite going undrafted out of Middle Tennessee State in 2018, a healthy version of Ward has been a consistently productive corner in the NFL. Ward divided his first seven seasons between Kansas City and San Francisco, where he combined for 89 starts and 10 interceptions. In 2023, his penultimate season with the 49ers, Ward notched a career-high five INTs and led the league with 23 passes defensed. He earned a Pro Bowl nod and second-team All-Pro honors for his efforts.
Ward didn’t pull in any interceptions during a 12-game 2024, nor did he in his truncated first season with the Colts. Nevertheless, Pro Football Focus ranked Ward the NFL’s eighth-best corner out of 114 qualifiers in 2025. Ward held opposing quarterbacks to a 56.3% completion rate and an 87.6 passer rating on 48 targets, per Pro-Football-Reference. He finished the year with 25 tackles and seven PDs in seven games (all starts).
Ward was healthy for Indianapolis’ season-opening win over Miami, but he suffered his first concussion of the year in that game and sat out Week 2. After returning to play in three straight, Ward’s second concussion occurred during pregame warmups in Week 6. The Colts placed Ward on injured reserve on Oct. 18. He came back after a four-game absence on Nov. 23, but the Colts made a Nov. 4 trade deadline splash at corner in the meantime.
Then 7-2 and in the mix for the AFC’s No. 1 seed, the Colts swung a massive deal with the Jets for Sauce Gardner, sending two first-round picks and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell to New York. The hope was Ward and Gardner would form a shutdown duo for the Colts. That didn’t come to fruition, though, as both corners were rarely healthy at the same time in 2025. They only played together in two games.
Ward went down with his third concussion in a Week 14 loss to the Jaguars, forcing him to IR again, while a calf strain kept Gardner out of three contests. Those injuries played a part in the Colts’ stunning second-half collapse. Once 8-2, their year ended with seven straight losses and a sub-.500 finish.
Although the Colts have not qualified for the playoffs in any of head coach Shane Steichen‘s three seasons, he and general manager Chris Ballard will return in 2026. It’s up in the air whether they’ll have Ward, but with a $7.98MM roster bonus due in March, he acknowledged he’ll have to make a quick decision on his future.