An ugly loss has spurred change in Indianapolis.
The Colts fired general manager Chris Ballard on Monday after a 2-4 start to begin his 10th season, the team announced.
"I am grateful to Chris for his years of service to the Colts and for everything he poured into this organization. He cared deeply about our team and our community, and we wish Chris and his family all the best," owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon said in a statement. "As I said at the start of the season, the sense of urgency has never been higher. Our standard is to compete for championships, and I believe a change in leadership is necessary to meet that standard."
The move comes after Sunday's dismal home loss to division rival Tennessee, in which the Colts squandered a 13-0 halftime lead, falling 26-20 to a winless Titans team after a slew of turnovers, missed defensive plays and a blocked punt.
The Colts are in an ugly place.
Taking over in 2017, Ballard dealt with the Andrew Luck saga early in his tenure, and the QB's abrupt retirement in 2019 had the Colts cycling through QBs. The GM never found a long-term solution, and the franchise has continued to tread water. Following Sunday's loss, Ballard's career record as GM sunk to 72-82-1, with a 1-2 playoff record.
While things were promising early in his tenure, they've deteriorated in recent seasons. Despite moves to try to put the Colts over the top in a winnable division, Indy hasn't made the playoffs since 2020. Over the past six fruitless seasons, they've been more middling than poor, which seemed to extend Ballard's expiration date. However, his big plays over the past year -- shelling out massive capital to bring in Sauce Gardner and inking Daniel Jones to a multi-year deal -- haven't panned out.
The 2027 first-round pick he sent to New York for Gardner is currently a top-10 selection, while the CB's play has been inconsistent when he's not injured. Meanwhile, Jones has struggled, ranking tied for 24th in expected points added per dropback among 28 QBs with at least 100 attempts, per Next Gen Stats.
Irsay-Gordon pulling the trigger on change now makes sense. Under fire, Ballard had no incentive to sell at the trade deadline. Perhaps if things spiral, the Colts will tear the operation down to the studs and start over. Sometimes hitting rock bottom is necessary, rather than treading water in the middle of an endless ocean.
Of course, the owner still expects her club to compete in 2027.
"Making this change during the season was a deliberate decision," Irsay-Gordon's statement continued. "Waiting would only delay the important work that needs to begin now. We will conduct a thorough search for our next general manager and take the time necessary to identify the right leader for the future of this organization.
"I also want to be clear: this decision does not change our goals for the season. We have a lot of football in front of us, and I expect us to compete, improve, and win football games."
As the losses mounted, change felt inevitable. The message Monday is clear. The next question is how much longer fourth-year coach Shane Steichen might keep his job if the on-field product doesn't improve.
The Colts face the 5-0 Vikings, 4-2 Jaguars and 2-4 Cowboys over the next three weeks.
