The Colts continue to traverse the path the 49ers did weeks ago at the outset of their GM search, and Indianapolis has requested permission to interview a candidate who didn’t end up getting that chance in San Francisco. The team sent out a request to meet with Chiefs director of football operations Chris Ballard, Tom Pelissero of USA Today reports (on Twitter).
Ballard will take the Colts up on their offer and interview for the job, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The interview will occur today, per Rapoport. Ballard joins Jimmy Raye III, Scott Fitterer and George Paton as confirmed candidates who will meet with Jim Irsay for the job.
This comes after the 49ers made the same request, but San Francisco didn’t have a chance to meet with the exec that was reportedly the team’s first choice because Kansas City blocked the move. With teams being able to block execs from interviewing for GM jobs during their respective seasons, the 49ers lost out on that opportunity. Since the Chiefs’ season is over, Ballard made the decision on his own and will vie for the job.
Ballard has been with the Chiefs for four seasons, coming to Kansas City at the same time GM John Dorsey did. In that span, the Chiefs have returned to being a perennial playoff contender after more than five years spent residing mostly near the bottom of the league. Kansas City finished its second straight season in the divisional round of the playoffs.
What, if anything, would prevent the 49ers from requesting to speak with him again, now that the Chief’s season is over?
The 49ers probably aren’t smart enough to remember the Chiefs’ phone number.
He doesn’t want the job is SF
I thought if Dorsey was to leave the Chiefs, this guy was his predecessor
Well not if he decides he doesn’t want to wait and wants to go to a team with a franchise QB.