The Indianapolis Colts since their last AFC South title in 2014, have struggled with inconsistency. And it’s no surprise, that Pro Football Focus recently ranked the Colts 26th in the NFL after free agency. A former Colts player, who played with 13 different QBs in Indy, called the constant turnover a recipe for disaster. He warned HC Shane Steichen to fix the issue before it sank the team again.
The former lead of the Colts’ O-line, Ryan Kelly, officially exited his Indianapolis chapter and entered the Minnesota Vikings. Speaking to reporters for the first time since signing with his new team. Kelly admitted that leaving Indy wasn’t for one event. “I think it was just time to move on,” he said. “I think it was some frustrating times through certain years. Obviously, it’s no surprise I’ve had 13 different quarterbacks since I’ve been there.” The constant QB changes made stability difficult, and while Kelly once hoped to stay with one team.
Former Colts center Ryan Kelly, the team’s top pick in 2016, spoke to Vikings reporters for the first time after signing with Minnesota last week. Here’s a notable excerpt from his comments: pic.twitter.com/C4uGjC2yDC
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) March 20, 2025
Still, there were no hard feelings. “There was no negative impact or no major event that happened where it really pushed me over the edge,” he explained. But when his contract offered no guarantees last year, the idea of free agency became exciting. “I felt like I was OK. It was time for me to maybe check out what else is out there and move on and have a new perspective in this career.” That feeling had been growing for the past year and a half, and now, Kelly is ready for the next chapter. “I’ll miss the guys in the O-line room and I’ll miss a bunch of people there,” he said.
Talking about Ryan‘s time with the Colts, he was drafted in 2016, earning three Pro Bowl honors every year from 2019 to 2021. He was a second-team All-Pro in 2020. He played under multiple HCs and snapped to 13 different QBs, a level of instability that frustrated him until his departure in 2025. Over nine seasons, he played 121 games, all as a starter. Now, in March 2025, Kelly signed a two-year, $18 million contract with the Vikings, and will be bringing his experience to their O-line.
Why the Colts’ power ranking feels like an insult
Kelly’s take makes it easy to see why the Colts have struggled. Constant QB changes mean no O-line chemistry, wide receivers out of sync, and a playbook that’s always in flux. He experienced the different playing styles, leadership approaches, and learning curves of 13 different QBs. And now, looking from the outside, he sees the same problem growing again.
The Colts are in an awkward position with Jones and Richardson. As Richardson is still unproven, and his 2024 season was rough, he didn’t even complete 50% of his passes. And, Jones is trying to rebuild his career after struggling in New York. If Steichen can’t pick the right starter and build around him, this could drown the season. The Colts’ low ranking by PFF comes down to two things, their quarterback situation and roster turnover. Losing Kelly and guard Will Fries hurt the O-line, while the departure of defensive lineman Dayo Odeyingbo weakened their pass rush.
Since Andrew Luck’s retirement in 2019, the Colts are looking for a good QB. Jacoby Brissett, Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz, Matt Ryan, Gardner Minshew, and Anthony Richardson have all been in, yet none lasted long-term. That kind of turnover stunts offensive development and makes it nearly impossible for a team to build momentum. So, until the Colts commit to developing a single quarterback, they’ll stay stuck in this loophole.
However, the Colts made some strong moves in free agency. They signed cornerback Charvarius Ward and safety Camryn Bynum, and also added Khalil Herbert to the backfield, giving Jonathan Taylor a running mate. To be fair, the Colts still have cap space to add more depth in free agency. They also hold valuable draft picks, which they must use being mindful. Most importantly, Steichen needs to make a decision on the QB position. As constant switching won’t work.
Kelly’s warning should serve as a lesson. The Colts can’t afford another year of uncertainty. They need to escape the matrix, prove their ranking wrong, and take control of their future.
The post Colts Castoff, Who Played With 13 QBs in Indy, Sends Strong Message to Shane Steichen Amid Poor Power Rankings appeared first on EssentiallySports.