With Super Bowl 60 now behind us, it’s the offseason for every NFL team, and with that, we have some very early 2026 power rankings. So, where are the Indianapolis Colts currently ranked?
The Colts’ 2025 season ended on a seven-game losing streak. After a red-hot 8-2 start led by one of the NFL’s best offenses, Indianapolis finished 8-9, missing the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season.
Injuries were certainly a factor, but the team’s inability to finish games late and get those must-have wins again reared its ugly head, just as it has in previous years.
However, despite the outcome, the Colts retained GM Chris Ballard, with the belief being that the success from the first half of the season can be replicated and sustained.
Again, on paper, there’s a lot to like about this team, but Ballard has roster holes to fill as well this offseason.
After being more aggressive in free agency last offseason, it sounds like the Colts plan to take a similar approach this year.
Indianapolis is in “good shape,” as Ballard put it, salary cap-wise this offseason.
Here is where the very early power rankings have the Colts ranked.
ESPN
Ranking: 19th
They said it: “The Colts are doubling down after their hot start to 2025, retaining coach Shane Steichen and general manager Chris Ballard while making plans to re-sign quarterback Daniel Jones. Keeping the leadership was unpopular among some Colts fans, but Indianapolis is leaning into the decisions that had it among the top teams in the league before a series of late-season injuries. Still, it’s an imperfect plan. Jones’ long Achilles injury rehab looms over it all. Plus, Indy will need to bolster its defensive front seven and also make a pivotal free agency decision on wide receiver Alec Pierce.”
FOX Sports
Ranking: 25th
They said it: “If you believe Daniel Jones will be back in Indy, healthy, and the same player in 2026, then the Colts should be higher. But that takes a big leap of faith. Also, Indy has defensive issues to fix.”
PFSN
Ranking: 21st
They said it: “Perhaps no team in the NFL suffered a steeper fall from grace than the Indianapolis Colts as 2025 progressed. They started off the year 8-2, with Daniel Jones looking like a surprise MVP candidate in the first half of the season. But the offense soon fell off, Jones got hurt, and they finished the year with seven consecutive losses, missing the playoffs.”
Sporting News
Ranking: 19th
They said it: “The Colts will need to figure out how much they want to keep Daniel Jones coming off his torn Achilles’ and then fix plenty more defensively while also facing some offensive free-agent losses.”
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Where Indianapolis Colts rank in early 2026 NFL power rankings
Reporting by Paul Bretl, Colts Wire / Colts Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
