Chris Ballard is entering his 10th season as the Indianapolis Colts’ general manager, and for the first time during his tenure, he’s beginning the final year of his contract without an extension. This could be Ballard’s last ride, though some may argue that he’s already overstayed his welcome.
“Eventually, my time will be up at this place, and that’s part of it. That’s OK,” Ballard said Monday during the NFL’s annual meeting at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix. “When they tell me I’m not the guy for the job and I’m not good enough for it, OK, we’ll deal with that. But I’m still as confident as I’ve ever been. I still believe in what we do.”
The Colts have a 62-69-1 record during Ballard’s stewardship. They haven’t won a playoff game since 2018, they haven’t made the postseason since 2020 and they’ve never won the AFC South under Ballard. Most teams would have fired a GM whose resume was this lackluster, yet Ballard has managed to stick around for a decade. Whether he survives any longer likely depends on the 2026 season.
Ballard spoke for nearly 40 minutes on Monday about the state of his team and his desire to deliver. Here’s what stood out and how I interpreted it.
On the Colts’ 8-2 start last year and the belief that they can build on it in 2026: “I’m over the 8-2 (start). That s— is over. And I’m over the end of the s— at the end of the season, too. It’s a new beginning, but we saw a lot of positive signs (with) some of the players in the building that we had, including the quarterback, what he can do going forward. I’m not gonna sit here and say we’re gonna start out 12-0. I can’t say that. It’s a new season.”
My takeaway: This was as blunt as Ballard has been about his team’s need to turn the page, but it’s a tough needle to thread. After all, Indianapolis’ main selling point this offseason for its belief in the 2026 season has been headlined by its 8-2 start last year. The Colts, however, ended their promising campaign on a seven-game losing streak that was mostly brought on by injuries. So, on one hand, it makes sense for Ballard to want to focus on a new chapter since the Colts’ success was short-lived. On the other hand, though, it’s fair to suggest Ballard, coach Shane Steichen and quarterback Daniel Jones, who’s coming off a torn right Achilles tendon, likely would not have been retained if Indianapolis didn’t believe in what it saw in its rearview mirror.
Early last season, it was all good news for the Colts and quarterback Daniel Jones. Then the injuries hit. (Trevor Ruszkowski / Imagn Images)
On re-signing Jones and stamping him as the team’s QB of the future: “I think confidence-wise, knowing he has a place that believes in him and is all in with him … that’s a big thing. And I know not only the organization, but the team believing him, I think that’s critical for any player, but the quarterback position even more. You don’t even worry about what kind of teammate he is, how he works, his commitment to winning. There’s zero doubt. But you got to play. … You got to play again.”
My takeaway: It’s no surprise that Ballard profusely praised Jones because that’s exactly what he’s done all offseason, even before the team signed Jones to a two-year, $88 million deal. But near the end of Ballard’s response here, I think he finally acknowledged the elephant in the room, which the Colts have mostly treated like a housefly. Jones must prove himself again in 2026. This time, coming off a ruptured right Achilles tendon, and this time for a full season. Yes, Jones was playing at a Pro Bowler-caliber level during Indy’s 8-2 start last season, evidenced by his 20 total touchdowns (15 passing and five rushing) and league-leading 2,659 passing yards through his first 10 games. But to ask a player who’s played only one full season (in 2022 with the New York Giants) through his first seven to rebound from a devastating injury and end the Colts’ playoff drought seems naively hopeful at best and downright dumb at worst.
On having a contingency plan in place for Jones, given his ongoing rehab and injury history: “We like Riley (Leonard). We like what he did. The game wasn’t too big for him. That’s what I like the most. … He bought in 100 percent. So, does that mean we’re not gonna add somebody? No, we still could. But we like Riley, and the team likes Riley.”
My takeaway: Ballard is very pleased with Leonard’s development, and although the GM didn’t clearly state he’d be comfortable with Leonard starting Week 1 if Jones isn’t ready yet, that feels like a safe bet. Leonard has now been in Steichen’s offense for a full year, and he ended his rookie year on a high note that was tangible proof of his progress. The 2025 sixth-round pick was 21-for-34 passing for 270 yards and two touchdowns against the Houston Texans, plus he had three carries for 21 yards and one touchdown. Ballard commended Leonard for his unrelenting work ethic that helped him refine his throwing mechanics. The GM also confirmed that Leonard, at the moment, is the Colts’ backup quarterback, which raised an obvious follow-up about another in-house QB.
On Anthony Richardson’s future and if there’s a scenario in which he remains with the team in 2026: “He asked for a trade, so we’ll see what happens between now and then. … There’s definitely a scenario (where he’s back). He’s too talented. He’s a good dude, and he’s talented. I still want good (things) for Anthony. I still think he’s got a lot in him. He’s had some freakin’ bad luck, but I still think Anthony, he’s got a lot of ability and he’s maturing and growing.”
My takeaway: NFL teams will begin their offseason programs in a couple of weeks, shortly before the draft. From a Colts standpoint, it would make sense for them to trade Richardson before the draft so they can immediately use whatever potential draft capital they receive. And from Richardson’s perspective, it makes sense for him to want to be with a new team for its full offseason, so he can have the most time possible to learn a new offense.
But as for Richardson remaining in Indy, that still seems like a long shot given how tumultuous his three-year tenure has been. Ballard was asked directly if the Colts would consider cutting Richardson, who was the 2023 No. 4 pick, if they don’t find a trade suitor. Ballard sidestepped the question and stated that Richardson is still a member of the team. Richardson has started just 15 games since entering the NFL because of injuries, inaccuracy and past immaturity. Regardless of how much untapped potential he may still have, he’ll likely have to unlock it somewhere else with Jones and Leonard ahead of him on the Colts’ depth chart.
On the Colts’ pass rush and if the team needs to add another proven game-wrecker: “(JT Tuimoloau), who we drafted in the second round last year, we really like. We think he’ll take another step. … And then adding (Arden) Key and (Micheal) Clemons, who both add an energy and toughness that we wanted, we feel like as a group right now, I feel pretty good about it. Does that mean we won’t add? No, we’ve got time.”
My takeaway: Ballard confirmed that the Colts pursued four-time Pro Bowler Trey Hendrickson, who ultimately signed with the Baltimore Ravens. But what was their Plan B? Ballard’s response here sounds eerily similar to how he talked about the Colts’ underwhelming cornerbacks room ahead of the 2024 season, and his neglect of that group quickly came back to bite him. He can’t afford to make that mistake again, yet I don’t feel confident in how he has addressed the Colts’ obvious holes on the edge. Even if 2024 first-round pick Laiatu Latu takes another step forward and grows from being a good edge rusher to a dominant one, Key and Clemons are rotational pieces and should not be starting opposite of him. What’s more, Tuimoloau played only 24 percent of the Colts’ defensive snaps last year, so expecting him to suddenly be an impact player in Year 2 is a lot to ask (and probably too much to ask).
On whether the Colts got better this offseason: “We feel good about what we’ve done. And look, quarterback is such a big part of this, and getting consistent functional quarterback play definitely allows me to sleep at night, which has not always been the case. … We got to play before I can tell you if we’re better or not. Do I like the work we’ve done? Yes. Do we have more work to do? Yes.”
My takeaway: What else could Ballard possibly say here? No GM will ever admit that his team has gotten worse, but I think a sound argument can be made that Indy, at least on paper, is not better than it was in 2025. The Colts parted ways with five starters this offseason, via trade or free agency, and adequate replacements have not been found. Perhaps the most glaring hole on the roster, aside from defensive end, is linebacker. One of last year’s starting linebackers, Zaire Franklin, was traded to the Green Bay Packers, while the other, Germaine Pratt, remains an unrestricted free agent. Ballard spoke highly of Akeem Davis-Gaither, whom the team recently signed. He started 13 games last year in Arizona and spent five years under Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo when the two were together with the Cincinnati Bengals. Ballard also noted 2024 fifth-round pick Jaylon Carlies as an option at linebacker, though he’s played only 13 games through his first two years because of injuries.
After speaking with Ballard and Colts principal owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon on back-to-back days in Arizona, it feels as if the Colts have too many roster deficiencies and too few resources to address them. Perhaps the draft, in which the Colts don’t have a first-round pick, can be fruitful, but building a roster worthy of contention isn’t the same as apple picking.