The Indianapolis Colts are changing who relays defensive play calls ahead of their Week 2 trip to Kansas City, moving the green-dot helmet from safety Cam Bynum to linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither.
Head coach Shane Steichen announced the switch Wednesday after Indianapolis allowed 506 yards in its 41-23 season-opening loss to Baltimore. The move is designed to simplify communication, especially before the snap, by putting the radio in the middle of the defense instead of asking Bynum to receive the call from the secondary and then move forward to relay it.
Why Indianapolis is changing the defensive communicator
Bynum handled the green-dot role in Week 1, but Steichen said the Colts saw moments when the defense was rushed while getting aligned. The issue was not framed as a lack of trust in Bynum. Instead, Indianapolis believes the structure will be cleaner with a linebacker receiving the call closer to the line of scrimmage.
That matters because the green-dot player must hear the defensive call from the sideline and communicate it quickly enough for the front, linebackers and secondary to make their checks before the snap. A delay of even a few seconds can create alignment problems, especially against offenses that shift personnel, change tempo or force defenders to communicate across multiple levels.
Davis-Gaither said the adjustment should help calm the back end and allow defenders to process their own keys instead of spending extra time moving the call through the defense.
Davis-Gaither already knows Lou Anarumo’s system
The transition is made easier by Davis-Gaither’s background. He spent five seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals while current Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo was running that defense, giving him built-in familiarity with the terminology and structure Indianapolis is using.
Davis-Gaither spent the 2025 season with Arizona before signing with the Colts. In Week 1 against Baltimore, he recorded eight tackles, and now his responsibilities will expand beyond his own assignment to include getting the rest of the defense organized.
Steichen said the switch should also free Bynum to focus more on his responsibilities in the secondary. That is particularly important against Kansas City, where Patrick Mahomes can punish hesitation before and after the snap.
The change follows a rough defensive opener
The Colts’ decision comes directly after a Week 1 performance they do not want repeated. Baltimore totaled 506 yards, and Indianapolis struggled to consistently slow an offense that produced explosive plays through Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry and Zay Flowers.
FSN’s recap of Baltimore’s 41-23 win over Indianapolis detailed how quickly the Ravens found a rhythm. Communication was not the only issue in that loss, but changing the green dot is one of the first concrete adjustments the Colts have made as they try to correct what went wrong.
Why the timing matters against Kansas City
Indianapolis is making the switch before a Sunday night road game at Arrowhead Stadium, one of the more difficult communication environments in the league. Crowd noise can make defensive organization even more challenging, particularly when the offense changes tempo or uses motion to force late adjustments.
Putting the call with a linebacker gives the Colts a more traditional setup and keeps the initial communication closer to the defensive front. Whether that produces cleaner execution will be one of the first things to watch against the Chiefs.
What to watch next
The important question is not simply whether Davis-Gaither wears the green dot successfully. Indianapolis needs the change to translate into faster alignment, cleaner checks and fewer moments where defenders appear rushed before the snap.
The Week 2 matchup gives the Colts an immediate test. After allowing more than 500 yards in the opener, moving the radio helmet is a small structural change with potentially important consequences for how quickly the entire defense can play.
Sources
- Indianapolis Colts: Akeem Davis-Gaither to hold green-dot duties in Week 2 (September 16, 2026)
- Associated Press via FOX Sports: Colts change defensive communication setup (September 16, 2026)