Stephen A. Smith Urges Colts Owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon To Fire Shane Steichen Immediately

ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith urged Indianapolis Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon to fire head coach Shane Steichen right away rather than waiting until the end of the season.

The blunt demand came during a fiery segment on ESPN's morning debate show "First Take."

Smith made his remarks alongside former Colts center and former interim head coach Jeff Saturday.

The panel was previewing the team's upcoming NFL Week 9 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.

Indianapolis sits at a miserable 2-6 record on the year.

The franchise appears to be sinking deeper into turmoil with each passing week.

Smith made it abundantly clear that he believes keeping Steichen on the sideline is a waste of valuable time.

AN EXPLOSIVE EXCHANGE ON FIRST TAKE

The conversation initially began as an assessment of two struggling franchises searching for answers.

Dallas entered the matchup with a 3-5 record and one of the league's lowest-ranked defenses.

The Cowboys were also coming off an embarrassing home loss against the Arizona Cardinals.

Smith quickly dismissed any notion that Dallas was in worse shape than Indianapolis.

"I don't give a damn how bad the Dallas Cowboys are," Smith argued on the broadcast.

"They ain't worse than the Indianapolis Colts," he added.

Smith emphasized that Indianapolis has collapsed into complete disarray this season.

"Let's get that out the way," Smith said.

"The Indianapolis Colts are a mess," he continued.

"They've been a mess," Smith noted to Saturday.

Smith then turned his sights directly on Steichen's job security.

"Steichen, he's lucky to still have a job," Smith claimed.

"Ballard's already gone," he said, referring to dismissed general manager Chris Ballard.

"I'm surprised he wasn't pushed out the door with him," Smith stated.

SATURDAY DEFENDS OWNERSHIP ACTION

Saturday immediately pushed back against Smith's sweeping characterization of the front office.

The former Colts lineman reminded Smith that ownership had already taken drastic steps.

Irsay-Gordon relieved Ballard of his duties following a Week 6 loss to the previously winless Tennessee Titans.

"She just fired a guy!"

Saturday responded during the heated debate.

"She fired somebody," Saturday maintained.

"She did do something," the former interim coach emphasized.

Smith refused to back down from his stance.

He demanded to know why Steichen remained employed if the team had already surrendered its season.

"Why the coach there?" Smith pressed.

"What's he there for? Stop. Don't wait. Stop it. You ain't going nowhere. Let the people of Indianapolis know you moving in a different direction."

CRITICIZING THE SIDELINE PRESENCE

A central focus of Smith's frustration was directed at Irsay-Gordon's visible presence on gamedays.

In the years since her father, late longtime owner Jim Irsay, passed away, she has taken over control of the franchise.

Irsay-Gordon has become a consistent fixture along the Colts' sideline on Sundays.

Reports indicate she has spent a decade listening in on coaching play calls and taking notes during live game action.

She stands as the sole team owner across the National Football League who actively roams the sidelines during games.

Smith found her visible sideline routine baffling in light of the team's ongoing collapse.

"You can't defend what this organization has been," Smith said.

"You can't defend this owner," he stated.

"This owner, I'm sitting here going like this, I didn't mind her parading up and down the sidelines," Smith yelled.

"That's what she does," he acknowledged.

"My whole point is, what the hell you doing that for if you ain't gonna do nothing about the product you're seeing?" Smith questioned.

"What you on the sideline for?" he pressed.

"You just sightseeing?" Smith asked directly.

"Do something! Get rid of somebody! Make a change! Send a message that you're moving in a different direction."

Smith claimed that her inaction on the coaching staff renders her sideline posturing pointless.

Former NFL players and television commentators have also publicly voiced frustration over her management approach.

One former NFL defensive tackle called her sideline theatrics "a stain on the game of football."

Critics have also taken aim at ownership's perceived interference with roster decisions.

MOUNTING LOSSES AND A ROSTER FIRE SALE

The on-field performance of the Colts has deteriorated steadily throughout the autumn.

After falling to Tennessee in Week 6 and firing Ballard, Indianapolis failed to find any positive momentum.

The Colts suffered subsequent defeats against the Minnesota Vikings and the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The loss to Jacksonville was a lopsided 42-7 blowout.

That humiliating 35-point division defeat dropped the Colts to 2-6 on the season.

Following that loss, Indianapolis initiated what appears to be a full-scale roster teardown.

The front office traded perennial All-Pro offensive guard Quenton Nelson ahead of the league deadline.

Indianapolis also traded away star interior defensive lineman DeForest Buckner.

More departures could follow as ownership looks toward the future.

Trade speculation continues to swirl around star running back Jonathan Taylor.

Outside analysts have criticized Irsay-Gordon for reportedly holding up trade discussions involving Taylor.

Smith pointed out that Indianapolis has fallen so far that any opponent can beat them.

"You're wondering where he's going to land because we know the Indianapolis Colts are going nowhere fast," Smith said regarding Taylor.

"Anybody can beat them," Smith warned.

"Including the chaos, the dysfunctional bunch that is the Dallas Cowboys," he remarked.

Smith did not hold back his criticism of the sports market as a whole during the broadcast.

"The only thing about Indy nowadays, you understand, is the Pat McAfee Show," Smith declared.

"That's about it," he stated.