The 2023 regular season didn't end the way Indianapolis Colts fans hoped. The team's 23-19 loss to the Houston Texans in Week 18 eliminated them from the playoffs.
But despite the loss, Colts wide receivers coach Reggie Wayne reminded them with a message on X (formerly Twitter) about how far the team came in Shane Steichen's first season.
"Fun season. It's not the goal we had envisioned, but the arrow is definitely pointing upwards," Wayne wrote in a tweet on January 7. "Thanks to the true Colts fans for their support all season through the ups and downs.
"Trust me ... Excitement is headed to this team and your souls."
The Athletic's Zak Keefer echoed that sentiment with his own tweet immediately after the Colts Week 18 defeat to the Texans.
"That one will sting, no doubt," wrote Keefer.
"But the Colts took a massive step forward in 2023. Steichen's a stud. Solid core/vet leadership. Richardson + JT will be in the backfield together next season (and for years to come)."
The Colts were an absolute mess last season. A Super Bowl contender entering the 2022 season, the Colts couldn't pass protect for aging quarterback Matt Ryan. That combined with injuries to Johnathan Taylor and Shaquille Leonard led to the midseason firing of head coach Frank Reich.
Indianapolis then finished the 2022 season 1-7 under interim head coach and previously ESPN analyst Jeff Saturday.
Things have changed dramatically in a year thanks to the arrival of Steichen, who, even with Saturday's loss, should still be a strong coach of the year candidate. Steichen had the Colts offense ranked in the top half of the league in yards and points scored even with backup signal caller Garner Minshew playing most of the season.
Steichen coupled with the return of rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson, who flashed tremendous passing and running skill in a small sample, could have the Colts competing for the AFC South title for years to come.
Wayne is right. Colts fans have plenty of reasons for optimism in 2024.
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