The Indianapolis Colts’ hiring of Chris Ballard as general manager in 2017 was widely praised, as he was seen as a smart, methodical choice to rebuild the team after a period of instability. Ballard’s track record of making sound draft picks and his focus on building a strong, balanced roster were key selling points.
However, after seven years, the Colts are facing a difficult period, with the team struggling to find sustained success, particularly at the quarterback position since Andrew Luck’s sudden retirement in 2019. Despite some good individual draft picks and player acquisitions under Ballard, the team has not been able to find consistent success, especially in the playoffs.
This has led to growing speculation that a front-office shakeup could be imminent, especially if the team fails to perform in the 2024 season. The pressure could be mounting on both Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen as they work to right the ship, with ownership potentially considering changes to the front office if things don’t improve soon.
There are concerns about the team’s performance in key areas, such as quarterback play and overall consistency, which could drive the need for significant changes within the organization in the coming seasons.
Yes, Chris Ballard took over as the Indianapolis Colts’ general manager in 2017 after a successful stint as the director of football operations for the Kansas City Chiefs. His tenure began with high hopes, especially since the Colts had just drafted Andrew Luck, their franchise quarterback, in 2012.
However, Luck’s sudden retirement in 2019—just days before the start of the season—left the Colts in a difficult position. The decision, made after years of battling injuries, left the team without a clear face of the franchise at the most crucial position in the NFL. The unexpected departure of Luck significantly altered the trajectory of the Colts’ rebuild and put pressure on Ballard to quickly address the quarterback situation.
In the aftermath, Ballard tried several solutions, including veteran quarterbacks like Philip Rivers in 2020 and Carson Wentz in 2021, neither of whom worked out long-term. This has contributed to the Colts’ struggles to regain stability at quarterback, and despite some solid roster moves and draft picks, the team has found it difficult to put together a consistent contender.
As a result, while Ballard has received praise for his ability to build strong rosters, particularly through the draft, the ongoing lack of a franchise quarterback has been a key factor in the Colts’ inability to return to playoff contention in recent years. With the 2023 season and beyond, it appears the team is still searching for their long-term answer at quarterback to bring the franchise back into prominence.
Under Chris Ballard and Frank Reich, the Indianapolis Colts experienced a strong season in 2020, finishing with an 11-5 record and securing a playoff spot. That season was marked by a solid defense, a productive offense led by veteran quarterback Philip Rivers, and a balanced approach in both the passing and running game. However, the Colts were eliminated in the Wild Card round by the Buffalo Bills, and it seemed like the team was on the right path to being a consistent playoff contender under their leadership.
Unfortunately, 2021 and 2022 were significant setbacks for the franchise. The Colts failed to meet expectations, particularly in the quarterback position, where the acquisition of Carson Wentz in 2021 proved to be unsuccessful. Wentz’s inconsistency, coupled with the team’s inability to execute in key moments (such as a Week 18 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars that cost them a playoff spot), led to Reich’s firing after the 2022 season. The decision to bring in Matt Ryan in 2022 also didn’t pan out, and injuries, along with poor performance, contributed to a season that ended in disappointment.
As a result, the team was left with a roster that had deteriorated in key areas. While there were still talented players—such as running back Jonathan Taylor and defensive standout Darius Leonard (Shaquille Leonard)—the lack of stability at quarterback and inconsistency in other areas contributed to the team’s struggles.
Now, entering the 2024 season, the Colts are facing the possibility of their second losing record in three years. The team has attempted to rebuild, notably by drafting Anthony Richardson at quarterback in the 2023 NFL Draft, but questions remain about the long-term success of the roster and whether Ballard’s approach can turn things around. While he’s made some solid moves in terms of talent acquisition, the team’s continued inability to find consistent play at quarterback remains a significant hurdle. With the Colts now on the verge of a major decision about their future, there’s growing speculation that both Ballard and Reich’s time in Indianapolis may be evaluated as part of the broader effort to restore the team to contender status.
Despite Chris Ballard‘s early praise for his approach to building through the draft and using cap space wisely, the Indianapolis Colts have struggled to see long-term success in both areas during his tenure. Ballard has made a concerted effort to rebuild the team primarily through the draft, focusing on drafting young talent and developing them for the future. However, the results have been mixed at best, and the Colts have not seen the sustained success they anticipated.
While Ballard’s draft choices, such as Quenton Nelson and Darius Leonard (Shaquille Leonard), have paid off, several of his picks have not panned out, and the team has failed to address key positions of need, notably the quarterback position. The Colts’ struggles to find a reliable, long-term quarterback after Andrew Luck‘s sudden retirement have exposed some of the holes in Ballard’s draft strategy. Even as the Colts have drafted players like Michael Pittman Jr. and Jonathan Taylor, the lack of quarterback stability has prevented the team from contending at a higher level.
Another significant issue has been cap space management. Despite having ample salary cap space in many offseasons, Ballard has been criticized for not being more aggressive in using that space to sign high-impact free agents. Instead, he has tended to prioritize re-signing the players he has drafted or rolling over cap space into future years. While this approach has helped maintain financial flexibility, it has also left the team without the major acquisitions that could have bolstered their roster in key areas. In some cases, this strategy has been seen as a failure to address immediate needs, such as at the quarterback and pass-rusher positions, leaving the team in a constant state of transition rather than putting together a championship-contending squad.
Given the team’s current state—on the verge of its second losing record in three years—there’s growing speculation that change could be on the horizon for both Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen. The Colts have not been able to make significant strides despite their ample cap space and draft picks, and ownership could ultimately decide that a different approach is necessary to turn the franchise around. The Colts’ struggles to find consistent success, especially at quarterback, could lead to a reevaluation of the front office’s strategy, possibly resulting in a shakeup to find new leadership that can better navigate the team through the challenges they face.
The speculation surrounding Chris Ballard‘s job security has intensified, particularly after years of struggling to build a consistent contender for the Indianapolis Colts. According to Mike Jones of The Athletic, there is a growing belief within the NFL that several teams, including the Colts, may make changes to their front offices this offseason. Ballard and Trent Baalke (general manager of the Jacksonville Jaguars) are being mentioned as the most likely candidates to be fired, given their respective teams’ inability to meet expectations in recent seasons.
Ballard, in particular, has faced increasing criticism from both the local media and Colts fans for his inability to build a team capable of consistently competing at a high level. Despite his early success, including drafting standout players like Quenton Nelson and Darius Leonard, the Colts have failed to find stability at the quarterback position since Andrew Luck‘s abrupt retirement. This issue has haunted the franchise, and the Colts’ inability to resolve it has been a major factor in their decline, despite having significant cap space and draft capital.
Although Jim Irsay, the Colts’ owner, has shown significant patience with Ballard and is one of the longest-tenured general managers in the NFL, the frustration is mounting. If Ballard is ultimately let go, the Colts’ general manager job would likely become one of the most coveted vacancies of the offseason.
The Colts’ situation offers a promising foundation for any potential new GM. The team is projected to have $50 million in cap space, which gives the new general manager plenty of flexibility to make impactful moves in free agency. Additionally, the Colts have Anthony Richardson, a highly regarded young quarterback with significant potential, as well as a solid supporting cast on offense, including Jonathan Taylor and Michael Pittman Jr. On top of that, the team has Shane Steichen as head coach, a rising star in the coaching ranks, who impressed in his first season with Indianapolis. Steichen’s offensive acumen, particularly with quarterbacks, could provide a strong foundation for a new GM to build upon.
With a young, talented quarterback in place and a favorable salary cap situation, the Colts could quickly turn things around with the right leadership. This makes the potential opening in Indianapolis an attractive option for prospective general managers looking to take on a challenging but promising rebuild.
