Colts owners release letter to fans INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Colts finished 8-9 for the second straight season and missed the playoffs for the fifth straight season. Colts owner and CEO Carlie Irsay-Gordon talked with the media on Monday and addressed the decision to bring back both genera l manager Chris Ballard and Shane Steichen, the playoff drought, and more. 1. Irsay-Gordon’s message to Ballard and Steichen “We have been very clear with Chris and Shane that giving them another opportunity means that the sense of urgency for them to deliver and perform has never been higher. Chris and Shane are both capable of facing this challenge head-on and finding a way to achieve the results that our fans deserve, which is winning games, getting to the postseason and ultimately winning championships.” 2. Irsay-Gordon’s message to the fans “To our fans, my sisters and I want to extend our heartfelt gratitude for your loyalty and support as always, but particularly this season. You’re right to be frustrated with how the latter part of our season went.” 3. Irsay-Gordon on if the team is ready to compete for a championship “So, I think that based on what we had – like I said, the tale of two seasons. What we saw in that first half is we were in a record way dominating offensively. I think with a lot of the roster moves we made, I think we just have to be able to face adversity better and I believe in the team.” 4. Irsay-Gordon on frustration from fans “I want to validate them, and we hear them. That’s not the way that we ever want to end a season. I think as we evaluate it, we’re going right back to work to make sure that we find a way to finish and win games next year and ultimately get us into the postseason.” 5. Irsay-Gordon on what gives her confidence in Ballard and Steichen “I think we saw a lot of progress. Chris (Ballard) was able to adapt and adjust his approach. I think we saw a lot of improvement there obviously, before we faced some of the adversity of the latter half of this season. And Shane (Steichen) is a really young, talented head coach, and I know he’ll be the first to admit, and I think everyone in our building, we’re always trying to learn and grow. I think what we saw though, was we believe that they can replicate what we started off doing, and the sense of urgency to do that has never been higher. We believe they can do it next season.” 6. Irsay-Gordon on the quarterback situation “I’m going to stay in my lane on evaluating the quarterback position. But I think that was something that was I think a great decision. It’s really unfortunate with what happened with Daniel (Jones). What we saw though, was really promising. I think it’s up to Chris (Ballard) and Shane (Steichen) to what they want to do.” 7. Irsay-Gordon on the sense of urgency “The sense of urgency is higher than last year.” 8. Irsay-Gordon on the impact the Sauce Gardner trade had on the decision to keep Ballard and Steichen “It’s certainly one of the components out of many that we look at. And like we said, Chris (Ballard) was able to – that wasn’t something he’d necessarily done before, and I think we were able to see some progress there. And like we said, we faced some adversity, and we just have to find a way to overcome that adversity.” ...read more read less