The Indianapolis Colts enter the 2025-26 NFL season in pole position for low expectations from its fanbase. After half a decade of band-aids thrown at the sport’s most important position from a lame duck regime to the recent abrupt passing of longtime philanthropist and Colts owner, Jim Irsay, fans far and wide are ready for a changing of the guard.
The Athletic’s annual NFL Hope-O-Meter article series polled fans of all 32 franchises on how they’re feeling heading into the season. In dead last for the least optimistic fanbase leaguewide, the Colts sit at 6.8% optimism and join the New Orleans Saints (9%) as the only two fanbases to poll under 10 percent.
Each voter was also provided the opportunity to share some explanatory thoughts on their reasoning. Here are some of the more notable entries.
“Daniel Jones is our starting QB. Chris Ballard is our GM. This team has been a mess for years. I’m just excited for a reset … unfortunately, we have to wade through this quagmire of a season to get there,” one detested Colts fan explained.
”The team has given up on its first-round quarterback in favor of a player that offers no clear upside,” another pessimistic poller added. “The front office and coaching staff will be gone and the only hope is losing enough to have a chance at a good QB prospect paired with the right GM and head coach. So basically the three most important things in the NFL all being right in the same offseason. No big deal.”
There will always be two sides to a coin; thus, the vast minority of optimistic fans will stick out like a sore thumb and may even be viewed as a contrarian’s take. However, there are still some Colts fans who believe they’ll shock the world this fall.
“Colts made good additions to the defense and Daniel Jones has a good supporting cast of skill players. I think the Colts will surprise the pundits,” one brave soul added. Most may be out on the reclamation project that is Daniel Jones leading the charge, but some aren’t ready to close his book thanks to his strongest supporting cast yet.
Perhaps the ultimate example of the current state of the Colts as an organization is that irony has finally brought the Colts fanbase together under Chris Ballard’s tenure in Indianapolis. After years of turmoil, there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel. Although a full-blown rehaul may require one more season, the togetherness that, although birthed from disgust, has finally brought Colts fans on the same page is a sight to see. It may have taken too many headaches and failed visions to achieve, but a reality where the dog days are over is beginning to take shape.
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