On Sunday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Indianapolis Colts were not expected to consider franchise legend Peyton Manning to fill the vacancy left by the franchise’s firing of general manager Chris Ballard, and that Manning, whose Omaha Productions inked a nine-year extension with ESPN through 2034, was unlikely to have any interest in the role even if he were to get a call.

Schefter’s reporting conflicted with Dan Patrick’s earlier claim that a source close to the situation told him the Hall of Famer would be at the top of Indianapolis’ list of preferred candidates. On Monday, Patrick clarified his report on The Dan Patrick Show.

“I didn’t say (that Manning is) taking the job,” Patrick said. “I said that my source said if they haven’t, they will reach out to Peyton about joining the front office and eventually doing more with the Colts.

“I followed up with my source over the weekend, and I said, ‘Did I whiff on the Payton story?’ And my source said, ‘Not at all. They have talked, and as you already indicated, ultimately the timing is not right, but the interest is there. Family and business interests are the immediate priorities for Payton. The Colts still have structuring to do.’”

Patrick’s source added that, “Manning ultimately indicated he wants Omaha Productions ‘fully stood up’” and “ideally wants his kids in, or if possible, beyond college. He’d consider consulting before that, but nothing more,” before adding that there could be interest in Manning replacing Troy Aikman on Monday Night Football.

“At no point did I say he was taking the job… I said the Colts, if they haven’t, they will reach out to him. And why wouldn’t you?” — DP provides more information on the Peyton Manning story he shared last week. 🏈 https://t.co/8pRttgziZC

— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) October 26, 2026

Patrick went on to defend his initial claim that conversations around bringing in the greatest quarterback in franchise history to help stabilize what’s been a revolving door of starting quarterbacks since Andrew Luck retired.

“Now, once again, I’m not reporting that he’s taking anything. I’m telling you that there were discussions inside the organization, and that’s it. But at no point did I say ‘he’s taking the job.’

“I said the Colts, if they haven’t, they will reach out to him. And why wouldn’t you? It’s Peyton Manning. You got a chance to bring in one of the brightest football minds. Chris Ballard is gone. Shane Steichen will be gone. Now you bring somebody in and let him run the organization. Maybe it’s not as a GM. Maybe he doesn’t want to be hands-on like that. Maybe he wants a president of football operations, whatever it is.”

ESPN is reportedly paying Omaha Productions, which now has its fingerprints on several shows and podcasts for a host of ESPN personalities in addition to the Manningcast, somewhere in the neighborhood of Pat McAfee’s salary. It’s hard to imagine Manning abandoning his role at the company and his many endorsement deals for a total franchise rebuild, but Patrick says consulting his former team is not out of the question.

“He’s only 50 years of age,” Patrick said. “And if you are the Colts, you have time on your side from the standpoint of, okay, we can wait for Peyton, but you’re going to start dismantling that team. And that would be where I would ask Peyton if he’s going to be a consultant.

“Is he going to do maybe what Troy Aikman did with the Dolphins?”