San Diego Chargers (first stint) In 2011, Steichen was hired by the
San Diego Chargers as a defensive assistant under head coach
Norv Turner. Turner’s son
Scott was close friends with Steichen; the pair were teammates at UNLV. Turner was fired after the 2012 season, and Steichen was not retained by new head coach
Mike McCoy.
Cleveland Browns In 2013, Steichen was hired by the
Cleveland Browns as an offensive quality control coach under head coach
Rob Chudzinski and new offensive coordinator
Norv Turner. Despite multiple injuries at the position, the Browns had three starting quarterbacks (
Jason Campbell,
Brian Hoyer and
Brandon Weeden) each post 300-yard passing performances for the first time in franchise history (sixth instance in NFL history). In 2016,
Rivers registered the second-most passing touchdowns of his career (33) while completing 349-of-578 passes for 4,386 yards. During his tenure as play caller, the unit ranked fifth in the league in total yards per game (384.3), sixth in passing yards per game (272.1) and seventh in third down percentage (42.7 percent). Steichen worked with quarterback
Justin Herbert, whom the team selected with the sixth overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft. The 2020 Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year completed 396-of-595 passes for 4,336 yards with 31 touchdowns with 10 interceptions for a 98.3 passer rating. Herbert set NFL rookie records in completions and passing touchdowns, while registering the second-most passing yards by a rookie in league history (
Andrew Luck – 4,374). He finished in the top 10 in the league in completions (fourth), passing yards (sixth) and passing touchdowns (10th). Additionally, wide receiver
Keenan Allen caught 100 passes for 992 yards and eight touchdowns en route to Pro Bowl honors. Steichen was instrumental in the development of quarterback
Jalen Hurts, who completed 265-of-432 passes for 3,144 yards, 16 touchdowns, and nine interceptions for an 87.2 passer rating in his first season as a starter. Hurts also rushed for 784 yards and 10 touchdowns. He became just the eighth quarterback in NFL history to register 3,000 passing yards and 750 rushing yards in a season. Hurts also became the youngest Eagles quarterback to ever start in a playoff game.
DeVonta Smith, whom the team selected with the 10th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, registered 64 receptions for 916 yards and five touchdowns. He set the franchise rookie record in receiving yards. Tight end
Dallas Goedert totaled 56 receptions for 830 yards and four touchdowns. Goedert's 830 receiving yards were a single-season career high and ranked fifth in the league among tight ends. Steichen also helped
Jason Kelce (First Team) and
Lane Johnson (Second Team) each earn Associated Press All-Pro recognition.
Kelce was also selected to the Pro Bowl. Additionally, Lane Johnson (First Team), Jason Kelce (First Team), A. J. Brown (Second Team) and Jalen Hurts (Second Team) each earned Associated Press All-Pro honors. During his two seasons as offensive coordinator, Steichen coordinated an offense that ranked first in the NFL in rushing yards per game (153.6), rushing yards (5,224) and rushing touchdowns (57) over that time frame. Philadelphia also ranked tied for first in fewest interceptions (19) and third in fourth down conversion percentage (58.92 percent). Additionally, the Eagles offense set new single-season franchise records in third down conversion percentage in back-to-back seasons.
2023 season Steichen won in his second preseason game 24–17 against the
Chicago Bears on August 19, 2023. However, the Colts lost in Steichen's regular season debut against the
Jacksonville Jaguars by a score of 31–21 on September 10, 2023. The following week, Steichen won his first regular-season game against the
Houston Texans by a score of 31–20. Steichen oversaw the development of rookie quarterback
Anthony Richardson, who drew comparisons coming out of college physically to Steichen's former quarterback Jalen Hurts, before Richardson suffered a season ending shoulder injury in Week 5. From that point on, with
Gardner Minshew running the offense, Steichen brought the Colts within one game of a playoff berth, which they ultimately fell short of with a season-ending loss to the Texans during the regular season finale. In Steichen's first year as head coach, the team's offense improved across many metrics, including points per game, yards per game, and total offensive touchdowns, despite key injuries to Richardson and running back
Jonathan Taylor.
2024 season In the 2024 season, Steichen led the Colts to a 8–9 record, which did not qualify for the postseason. After a tumultuous season which included quarterback controversy, defensive struggles, and sluggish offensive production, Steichen entered the end of the season on a relatively short leash and uncertainty of his future. The day after the 26–23 overtime season finale victory against the
Jacksonville Jaguars, owner
Jim Irsay announced his intention to retain both Steichen and general manager
Chris Ballard.
2025 season In 2025, Steichen returned as head coach for his third season. Steichen and the Colts brought in former
New York Giants quarterback
Daniel Jones, who won the starting position over
Anthony Richardson. Jones and Steichen saw a vast and historic improvement in offensive performance in 2025, fielding the most offensive points in the first eight games of the year since the
2009 season. Steichen and the Colts' 7–1 start is their best since their 2009. However, after the hot start, the Colts went 1–7 over their next eight games, during which Jones sustained several injuries and was ruled out for the season. After the season ended, Colts CEO and co-owner
Carlie Irsay-Gordon announced that Steichen would remain the team's head coach going into the 2026 season. ==Head coaching record==