| Team: | Indianapolis Colts |
| Year: | 2023 |
| Record: | 9–8 |
| Division Place: | 3rd AFC South |
| Coach: | Shane Steichen |
| Owner: | Jim Irsay |
| General Manager: | Chris Ballard |
| Stadium: | Lucas Oil Stadium |
| Playoffs: | Did not qualify |
| Pro Bowlers: | G Quenton Nelson C Ryan Kelly DT DeForest Buckner QB Gardner Minshew |
| Uniform: | File:Indianapolis Colts Uniforms 2023-Present.png |
| Shortnavlink: | Colts seasons |
The 2023 season was the Indianapolis Colts' 71st season in the National Football League (NFL) and their 40th in Indianapolis. It was also their seventh under the leadership of general manager Chris Ballard and the first under new head coach Shane Steichen. Despite low expectations, the Colts improved on their 4–12–1 record from the previous season after a Week 10 victory over the New England Patriots in Frankfurt, and more than doubled their wins from the previous year, finishing with a 9–8 record. They were eliminated from playoff contention in the final week of the season for the second time in three seasons after a loss to the Houston Texans, extending their AFC South title drought to nine years.
See main article: 2023 NFL draft.
| Round | Selection | Player | Position | College | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | |||||
| 2 | 35 | Traded to Las Vegas | |||
| 44 | From Atlanta | ||||
| 3 | 79 | From Washington | |||
| 4 | 106 | ||||
| 110 | From Atlanta | ||||
| 5 | 138 | ||||
| 141 | Traded to Minnesota | ||||
| 158 | From Minnesota | ||||
| 162 | From Buffalo | ||||
| 176 | Compensatory pick; From Dallas | ||||
| 6 | 211 | From Minnesota | |||
| 7 | 221 | ||||
| 236 | From Tampa Bay | ||||
| 2023 Undrafted Free Agents | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | College | |
| LB | Holy Cross | ||
| WR | Illinois | ||
| WR | Cody Chrest | Sam Houston | |
| CB | Cole Coleman | Elon | |
| G | Alabama | ||
| RB | Maine | ||
| S | North Dakota State | ||
| QB | Georgia Southern | ||
| DT | Illinois |
The Colts opened their 2023 preseason with a 23–19 loss to the Buffalo Bills on August 12, 2023. Anthony Richardson, the fourth overall selection in the 2023 NFL draft, started the game, completing seven of his 12 passes for 67 yards while being intercepted once. He was also credited with two carries for seven yards. Three days later, Richardson was named the team's starter for the regular season by first-year head coach Shane Steichen.[1]
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Recap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | at Buffalo Bills | L 19–23 | 0–1 | Highmark Stadium | Recap | ||
| 2 | Chicago Bears | W 24–17 | 1–1 | Lucas Oil Stadium | Recap | ||
| 3 | at Philadelphia Eagles | W 27–13 | 2–1 | Lincoln Financial Field | Recap |
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Recap | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 10 | Jacksonville Jaguars | L 21–31 | 0–1 | Lucas Oil Stadium | Recap | ||
| 2 | September 17 | at Houston Texans | W 31–20 | 1–1 | NRG Stadium | Recap | ||
| 3 | September 24 | at Baltimore Ravens | W 22–19 | 2–1 | M&T Bank Stadium | Recap | ||
| 4 | October 1 | Los Angeles Rams | L 23–29 | 2–2 | Lucas Oil Stadium | Recap | ||
| 5 | October 8 | Tennessee Titans | W 23–16 | 3–2 | Lucas Oil Stadium | Recap | ||
| 6 | October 15 | at Jacksonville Jaguars | L 20–37 | 3–3 | Recap | |||
| 7 | October 22 | Cleveland Browns | L 38–39 | 3–4 | Lucas Oil Stadium | Recap | ||
| 8 | October 29 | New Orleans Saints | L 27–38 | 3–5 | Lucas Oil Stadium | Recap | ||
| 9 | November 5 | at Carolina Panthers | W 27–13 | 4–5 | Bank of America Stadium | Recap | ||
| 10 | November 12 | at New England Patriots | W 10–6 | 5–5 | Recap | |||
| 11 | Bye | |||||||
| 12 | November 26 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | W 27–20 | 6–5 | Lucas Oil Stadium | Recap | ||
| 13 | December 3 | at Tennessee Titans | W 31–28 | 7–5 | Nissan Stadium | Recap | ||
| 14 | December 10 | at Cincinnati Bengals | L 14–34 | 7–6 | Paycor Stadium | Recap | ||
| 15 | Pittsburgh Steelers | W 30–13 | 8–6 | Lucas Oil Stadium | Recap | |||
| 16 | December 24 | at Atlanta Falcons | L 10–29 | 8–7 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Recap | ||
| 17 | December 31 | Las Vegas Raiders | W 23–20 | 9–7 | Lucas Oil Stadium | Recap | ||
| 18 | Houston Texans | L 19–23 | 9–8 | Lucas Oil Stadium | Recap | |||
With the loss, the Colts started their season at 0–1.[2] The Colts failed to win in Week 1 for the 10th straight season.[3]
With the upset victory over the Ravens, the Colts picked up their second win of the season, improving to 2–1. By successfully kicking four field goals of a distance of 50 yards or greater (54, 53, 53, 53) in a single game, Matt Gay became the first kicker in NFL history to accomplish the feat.
Despite the Colts' comeback that made the game go into overtime, it was not enough, as they lost to the Rams 29–23. With the loss, the Colts evened their record at 2–2.
Quarterback Anthony Richardson suffered a season-ending AC joint injury in this game. However, the Colts were still able to pull out a victory.
The Colts had their ninth consecutive loss in Jacksonville.
The Colts beat the Patriots on the road for the first time since 2006.
The Colts erased a 17–7 deficit and beat the Titans 31–28 in overtime, sweeping them for the first time since 2018.
The Colts suffered their 4th consecutive loss in Cincinnati, and haven't won there since 2005.
The Colts erased a 13–0 deficit and upset the Steelers. It was their first win against the Steelers since 2008, and their first home win against them since 2005.
The Colts lost to the Falcons for the first time since 2011, and lost their first game at Atlanta since 1998.
The Colts beat the Raiders at home for the first time since 2013 when the Raiders were based in Oakland.
The Colts extended their home losing streak to the Texans to 2 games.