The Colts will become just the sixth team since the 1970 merger to start 8-2 and miss the playoffs. This had not happened previously since the 1995 Raiders pulled it off. Considering Chris Ballard‘s time on the GM job in Indianapolis, it is logical to wonder if ownership pulls the plug here.
Ballard engineered a blockbuster trade at the deadline, surrendering two first-round picks and second-year wide receiver Adonai Mitchell for Sauce Gardner. The All-Pro cornerback’s calf injury wounded Indy’s defense considerably, and the team has now lost six straight games. Philip Rivers‘ arrival has shined a spotlight on this losing streak. Beyond the human-interest angle, the 44-year-old passer lost his three starts to move the Colts out of the playoff race.
[RELATED: Riley Leonard To Start Over Rivers In Week 18]
This will be Ballard’s fifth straight season without a playoff berth, with Rivers’ one-and-done first stint being the most recent qualification. The Colts then lost a win-and-in game as a double-digit favorite in Jacksonville — where the team has not won throughout Ballard’s tenure — before striking out on Anthony Richardson in the 2023 draft. Plenty has gone wrong for Ballard, who has nevertheless retained much of the core he had built dating back to Andrew Luck‘s final season. The Colts have also not won the AFC South on Ballard’s watch.
All this said, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes Ballard is believed to be safe for what would be a 10th year at the helm. Ballard has a good working relationship with new controlling owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Fowler colleague Dan Graziano adds. While Fowler notes some around the league believe Ballard would be the first to go if Irsay-Gordon signs off on changes, the quality working relationship with the former Jim Irsay hire represents a plus.
Irsay-Gordon effectively challenged Ballard and Shane Steichen upon taking over for her late father, and the third-generation NFL owner has become famous for wearing a headset on the sideline to learn more about the Colts’ gameday inner workings. She has worn the headset for years, and although she does not communicate with coaches in-game, The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue indicates one team called Ballard to complain about the new owner wearing the headset. Not that Ballard is in a position to indicate he doesn’t want the team’s owner on a headset, but the veteran exec vehemently expressed support (via Rodrigue) for her doing so.
Steichen was in his first months on the job when the Colts drafted Richardson, who underperformed in 2024 — as woeful inaccuracy and maturity concerns defined his second season — and has battled extensive injury trouble. Richardson’s orbital injury led to Rivers’ unretirement, and the former No. 4 overall pick will not be activated from IR this season. He is a decent bet to be elsewhere in 2026, the final year of his rookie contract.
Ballard and Steichen missing on Richardson — after a crowded QB carousel spun post-Luck — and then going from 8-2 to a playoff absence represents a tough sell, but not too much was expected of the Colts this season. The team also sitting 8-4 when Daniel Jones suffered an Achilles tear also provides a point of defense for Ballard, who looked to have done well to stop the carousel with the former Giants starter. Jones and the Colts are expected to enter some complex contract talks, based on the leverage the QB gained with the Gardner trade removing a first-round pick from the equation and then suffering another major injury, in the near future.
It should be expected Ballard will lead those conversations from the Colts’ side. While it would not be shocking to see Irsay-Gordon fire Ballard based on this year’s collapse, it currently appears he will be back. If that happens, the embattled GM should certainly be considered a hot-seat occupant come 2026.
Don’t follow the Colts that well, but it seems like they have good OL/DL and talent. The Richardson pick really set them back, but has there been any other bad moves by the GM?
They did a great job this year what torpedoed their season was Jones getting injured. Very few teams can survive with their starting QB out for a chunk of the season
‘…This will be Ballard’s fifth straight season without a playoff berth…’ Besides the fact, his team hasn’t made the playoffs the last 5 years?
Well…without really thinking about it here’s more of his failures. Nine years with one playoff win. No real QB plan, ignored edge rush forever, spent high draft picks on projects over proven talent, hoarded cap space while watching productive players leave and let coaches come & go while using the same endless “process” excuses over and over again. Same GM, not much for results.
you dont need to be good at your job, you just need be likeable.
And if you’re neither good at your job or likeable you get to be Roger Goodell…lol.
Roger is excellent at his job. The NFL has grown like it’s on steroids during his watch. But, I agree, he’s a jerk.
I dont agree Arty! … this league is getting closer to flag football every single year and Roger and the owners know people will watch no matter what changes to the game are made.
Its amazing the number of players who sit at the slighest, or potential, of injury. In the past, players wanted to play every single game if they could, but with all that television/gate money floating around out there, teams have to build their depth knowing they will have to sit players that dont, or cant play hurt.
I’d argurb that playet sitting now is more prevalent because of the am of money teams have invested in cer players it’s simpl not worth it to risk serious injury on such a massive investment. Teams want players to repor injuries which makes teams require players sitting.
Goodell is doing a great job of exporting the NFL all over the world and putting foreign fans first.
It’s not the GM’s fault that the team went on an 6 game losing streak, not sure why his job would be in jeopardy esp when he traded for an under rated Sauce Gardner, if anything wouldn’t it be the coaches fault?
You have to look at him over 10yrs, not just 2025. It’s not been great. Should’ve been fired already.
Ordinarily, I would buy that argument. However, this conflicts with their (ownership’s) decision to sign off on such a franchise-altering deal (the Gardner one) at the trade deadline. Why do that if you’re on the fence about retaining the guy?
Unfortunately, I am not the decision-maker so I can’t answer that. What I do know is that this team has basically been the same for 10 years, averaging 8 wins per season and missing the playoffs. If the players aren’t performing then they are either not coached properly or the GM brought in the wrong players. Ballard has hired 2 coaches already. If it’s a coaching problem then he should’ve fired for hiring bad coaches (Reich and Steichen).
@Brian Wolf, I agree the league is getting soft, but extends players career and their earnings. The biggest problem the league has right now is crooked officiating. Blatant missed calls, cheap calls etc. Many times it comes as fixed. When the announcers and the rules person say on Tv ‘That should have been called…’ That’s the problem. Also, there isn’t any structure to player’s fines and suspensions.
As for Roger, He has exploded revenues for the NFL & NFPA. That’s probably his #1 responsibility.