Indianapolis, IN
Colts ‘Nightmare’ Outcome Realistic
The Indianapolis Colts have missed the playoffs in four straight seasons. Two of those seasons were under head coach Shane Steichen, but general manager Chris Ballard was there for all of them.
Heading into the 2025 season, Steichen and Ballard are both at risk of losing their jobs if results don’t come soon. The leash has been shortened drastically for Indianapolis’ front office following a pair of mediocre seasons that were filled with quarterback controversies.
2023 fourth-overall pick Anthony Richardson has struggled to stay on the field, starting 15 of a possible 34 games. In those 15 games he’s started, Richardson has left the field early due to injury in three of them. Basically, Richardson has finished 12 full NFL games.
The Colts signed former New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones at the start of free agency in an attempt to foster competition for the starting job, but that might not do much if the goal is postseason football, and that isn’t achieved.
Bleacher Report analyst Brad Gagnon described every team’s “nightmare scenario” for the 2025 season, and for the Colts, it revolves around the success of Richardson and Jones.
“A scenario in which they win enough games to lack significant Round 1 draft capital but also don’t get enough out of either Anthony Richardson or Daniel Jones to be confident in the quarterback situation entering 2026,” wrote Gagnon.
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The Colts have had two straight years of mid-first-round picks, selecting 15th overall in 2024 and 14th overall in 2025. Indianapolis is missing out on top-10 talent while simultaneously falling short of meaningful football.
Through two seasons, Steichen has coached the Colts to 17 wins and an equal number of losses. That sort of mediocrity can’t fly if he wants to stay in charge. Richardson and Jones will play a major role in determining not only this franchise’s future, but Steichen’s and Ballard’s as well.
Last year, Richardson started 11 games and threw for 1,814 yards, eight touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. Jones started 10 games in New York and won just two of them while throwing for 2,070 yards, eight touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
Neither guy sticks out, but Richardson likely has the upper edge thanks to his connections to the front office. It’d be a better look for the organization for the guy they drafted to lead the team to the playoffs, but that’s far from a guarantee.
The Colts need reliable quarterback play more than anything. Having the same guy under center for every snap would help, too. Letting receivers and blockers feel more comfortable with who they’re protecting is step one in building a Super Bowl-worthy team.
No matter who wins the job, the Colts should try to stick with them for as long as possible. There’s no point in flip-flopping starters every week, especially if the result is a loss every time.
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ICYMI: Top 5 IndyStar business stories in May 2026
A busy month at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway reignited debates about hotels and the downtown heliport. Plus, Eli Lilly celebrated 150 years.
May came and went, and with it, we saw the closest Indianapolis 500 finish in history, the 150th anniversary of Eli Lilly and a contested primary election day.
There’s also been some movement in retail news ahead of the summer shopping season. On the north side, a new women’s clothing store opened while a piercing studio set up shop in Speedway. Meanwhile, an indoor children’s play place opened on the near north side.
Read on for four spots that recently opened and one in Broad Ripple that said farewell.
Openings
Monkee’s
8659 River Crossing Blvd., monkeesofindianapolis.com, opened in March
Monkee’s of Indianapolis, a high-end women’s clothing store, opened recently on the north side in the Shops at River Crossing near the Fashion Mall. The brand Monkee’s started in the South three decades ago and has since grown to nearly 70 locations. In Indianapolis, Missy Llewellyn and Whitney Schmitt started the franchise to bring the clothing brand to the Circle City.
The Nest Play Cafe
515 E 22nd St Suite 101, indynestplaycafe.com, opened early May
The Nest Play Cafe opened at the corner of Central Avenue and 22nd Street, offering an indoor space for parents and caregivers to bring their children to play. Caregivers can book 90-minute play sessions for $15 per child over the age of one. Tickets for additional siblings run $10. The cafe sells coffee and snacks, too.
Open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Friday 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to noon. Closed Tuesdays.
Forget Me Not Piercing Studio
5324 W. 16th St., jessflowerspiercings.square.site, opened May 27
A new piercing studio opened in Speedway at the end of May just days after the Indianapolis 500. Forget Me Not Piercing offers traditional lobe, helix and conch piercings along with nostril and septum piercings. Artist Jess Flowers opened the one-woman shop on 16th Street.
Open Sunday and Thursday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Black Orchid Barbers Fountain Square
1201 Prospect St. Suite 100, blackorchidbarbers.com, opened in May
Black Orchid, a local barbershop known for its sharp haircuts with a side of humor, opened its Fountain Square spot, marking the company’s seventh brick-and-mortar location. Walk-ins are welcome but Black Orchid recommends grabbing a time slot online for your preferred service.
Open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Closures
Vitality IV Bar
6302 Guilford Ave., vitalityivbar.com
An IV-wellness spot in Broad Ripple shut its doors last month. Vitality IV Bar was located next to the Thieves cocktail lounge, formerly the Broad Ripple Starbucks location, before it went out of business.
Vitality IV still operates an Indianapolis-area location on Mass Ave downtown at 749 Massachusetts Ave where customers can book a variety of infusions with vitamins.
See a store opening or closing near you? Contact IndyStar reporter Alysa Guffey at alysa.guffey@indystar.com.
Forty-one names comprised the 11th layer of Springer’s “The Forgiving Sea VI,” an interactive painting that invites people to wr
Elizabeth Gabriel, Mirror Indy
(MIRROR INDY) — The Garfield Park Conservatory will host multiple family-friendly events throughout June. The events include plant shows, kid’s story time and Dollar Menu Night, which allows residents to harvest and eat veggies from a community garden.
Events at the Garfield Park Conservatory, 2505 Conservatory Drive, range in price and some require advance registration.
The Indianapolis Bonsai Club will have displays and answer questions about a variety of bonsai. Vendors will have items for purchase.
🗓️ 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 6, 1-5 p.m. June 7
🎟️ $7 per person, $15 per family (maximum of two adults per family)
Preschoolers ages 2-5 can participate in nature-themed storytime and crafts.
🗓️ 10-11 a.m. June 9
🎟️ $6 per child
Residents of all ages can harvest and eat veggies from Blakes’ Garden. Advance registration is preferred.
🗓️ 6-7 p.m. June 10
🎟️ $1 per person
Focused on ages 2-8, participants will listen to a nature-themed story and explore Blakes’ Garden. Attendees will relocate to a classroom if there’s inclement weather.
🗓️ 10 a.m. June 12
🎟️ Free
Up to 15 neighbors ages 10 and up will learn to ferment kimchi. Registration is required.
🗓️ 1-2 p.m. June 13
🎟️ $15 per person
Kids ages 2-5 can plant and harvest crops in the Children’s Garden. Registration is required.
🗓️ 11 a.m. to noon June 24
🎟️ $6 per child
The Indiana Insectivores will display tropical and native Indiana predator plants. Plants will also be available for purchase. Those who attend the plant show will also have free entry to the Predatory Plants Presentation 1-2 p.m. June 27.
🗓️ 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 27, 1-5 p.m. June 28
🎟️ $7 per person, $15 per family (maximum of two adults per family)
Mirror Indy, a nonprofit newsroom, is funded through grants and donations from individuals, foundations and organizations.
Mirror Indy reporter Elizabeth Gabriel covers the south side of Marion County. Contact her at elizabeth.gabriel@mirrorindy.org. Follow her on X at @_elizabethgabs.
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