INDIANAPOLIS -- Chuck Pagano isn't naïve. The Colts coach still has three years remaining on his contract, but he also knows he can't afford to have another season that doesn't live up to expectations.

If he does, his job status with the franchise will be even murkier than it has been at the conclusion of the past two seasons.

Pagano survived the first round of firings by Jim Irsay when the owner decided to cut ties with general manager Ryan Grigson in January. There was no guarantee given to Pagano beyond next season, though. There's no more being tied to the hip of Grigson. This is essentially a prove-it season for Pagano.

"I think we all understand the expectations that come with this job. We're all on one-day contracts. That's how I look at it." Chuck Pagano

"I think we all understand the expectations that come with this job," Pagano said in his first interview session since Grigson was fired in late January. "We're all on one-day contracts. That's how I look at it. We're going to work hard, roll up our sleeves, like we always do. Every season is different; every team is different. Again, we have a lot of work to do, a ton to do. My focus is on that.

"Control the controllables. Throw it out there, start the new year with you guys [the media]. There are things that I can control and there are things that I can't control so I'm going to focus on the things that I can and go to work on that."

Pagano said on Jan. 2 that he expected to return as coach of the Colts. But Irsay remained quiet for 20 days after that before he finally, publicly said Pagano would be his coach in 2017. During that silent time, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Irsay reached out to Jon Gruden about potentially coaching the Colts.

This could be looked at as a breath of fresh air for Pagano after the past two seasons were full of tension between him and Grigson. The lines of communication were so poor that it was basically impossible for the two to have a working relationship.

"I have all the respect in the world for Ryan," Pagano said. "Ryan and I shared a ton of great moments and a ton of great wins. He's a good man and obviously I wish him and his family nothing but the best moving forward. I am grateful for the opportunity. I am grateful to be here. I am grateful to be the head football coach and have another opportunity to get this organization and get our franchise back to where it needs to be."

The Colts have had a chance to win the AFC South and make the playoffs in each of the past two seasons, only to end up losing to the Houston Texans at home in December each time. Finishing with an 8-8 record, after Pagano reached the playoffs in each of his first three seasons as coach, isn't the type of standard Irsay expects. That also includes a combined 0-8 record against New England and Pittsburgh, the two teams that played in the AFC Championship Game last season.

"We know how we are judged and it's by wins and losses -- 8-8 the past two years is not good enough," Pagano said. "The standard is the standard; the expectations are what they are. We are never going to be satisfied until we get back to where we need to be. We have a lot of work to do, but the objective always is to win."