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Colts Fire GM Chris Ballard After Loss to Titans
· Confirmed
In Short: Indianapolis Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon fired general manager Chris Ballard on Monday following Sunday's loss to the previously winless Tennessee Titans.
On Monday morning, the Indianapolis Colts announced that general manager Chris Ballard had been fired, following a 26-20 loss to the previously winless Tennessee Titans on Sunday.
The Colts' loss to the Titans dropped them to a 2-4 record, with fans booing resoundingly during the second half and chanting 'Fire Ballard'.
Owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon acted decisively, firing Ballard just a day after the loss, emphasizing the need for a change in leadership to meet the franchise's championship standard.
Ballard had been in the job since 2017, making the playoffs twice in his first four seasons but not since 2020. The team has cycled through several quarterbacks, including Jacoby Brissett, Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz, and Matt Ryan, with little success.
The Colts' recent struggles include a seven-game losing streak in 2025 that derailed their 8-2 start, prompting widespread changes to be considered.
Ballard's tenure was marked by the Andrew Luck saga, which began early in his tenure and culminated in Luck's surprise retirement in 2019, plunging the Colts into quarterback purgatory.
The Colts' loss to the Titans was particularly disappointing, as they were missing key players like Alec Pierce, Tyler Warren, and Ashton Dulin, leaving Daniel Jones to throw primarily to older receivers.
Head coach Shane Steichen, who is 27-30 in his fourth season, could also be on the hot seat following the rough start to the 2026 season.
Owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon emphasized that the decision to fire Ballard was a deliberate one, made to ensure the team could begin the important work of finding a new general manager immediately.
The Colts will now conduct a thorough search for their next general manager, with former quarterback Peyton Manning rumored as a potential candidate.
Despite the firing, Irsay-Gordon stated that the team's goals for the season remain unchanged, and they expect to compete, improve, and win football games.
The Colts' decision to fire Ballard during the season was a clear indication of the urgency to address the team's issues and improve their performance.
What this adds
The firing of Chris Ballard comes after a series of disappointing seasons and a loss to a previously winless team, signaling a need for significant changes in the Colts' front office.
Background
Indianapolis Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon fired general manager Chris Ballard on Monday following Sunday's loss to the previously winless Tennessee Titans.
What's confirmed
- On Monday morning, the Colts announced that general manager Chris Ballard has been fired.
- The Colts have fired general manager Chris Ballard after losing to the previously-winless Titans on Sunday.
- Owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon announced that they have fired General Manager Chris Ballard.
- “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.
- The Titans even scored a late touchdown off a blocked punt because apparently struggling on offense and defense was not enough; special teams needed to join the party too.
- Ballard, 57, has held the position since January 2017 and signed a five-year contract extension in 2021.
- "We've got a lot to fix, and we've got to fix it in a hurry." "We've got to give them something to cheer about," he added of the fans that booed the team during the 26-20 defeat.
- "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."
- "I don't blame them for booing one freaking bit." Perhaps it will be Manning that ultimately decides Steichen's future.
- "Making this change during the season was a deliberate decision," team owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon said in a statement.
- "He cared deeply about our team and our community, and we wish Chris and his family all the best. 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."
- Ballard had been under pressure since the second half of last season, when the Colts lost seven consecutive games and eight of their final nine to close the year.
What's still developing
- The Indianapolis Colts came into this season under a lot of pressure to be competitive and win now, and through six weeks, that goal doesn't seem anywhere close to being within reach.
- Since arriving in Indianapolis, Gardner has dealt with a number of injuries and has not proved to be worth the price of the trade, and now the Colts' ability to build out their roster for the future is significantly damaged because of it.
- But the investments that Ballard and the Indy front office have made on both sides of the ball have raised expectations, and the Colts are not meeting those so far.
- On paper, the Colts might not have the requisite talent on both sides of the ball to claim themselves as AFC South contenders.
- Irsay-Gordon also revealed that the timing of Ballard’s dismissal was intentional, explaining that the organization did not want to delay its search for new leadership.
- Ballard selected Anthony Richardson with the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, but the young quarterback’s development has not gone according to plan.
- Here’s how they have performed in each season under Ballard: The Colts visit the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on Oct. 25, and Irsay-Gordon said the change does not alter the team’s goals for the season.
- According to Dan Patrick, the Colts are considering former quarterback Peyton Manning for the general manager vacancy and exploring if he would be interested in the position and potentially an ownership stake down the line: Manning, 50, has long been rumored as a target for NFL teams in either a coaching or executive role, though to this point he's favored a position in media following his playing career.
- Either way, the Colts now have a vacancy at an incredibly important position.
- Ballard was in the final year of his contract and said before the start of Year 10 that he would not sign an extension prior to the start of the season.
- The Colts started last season 7-1 with Daniel Jones reinvigorating his career after being dumped by the Giants.
- The decision also landed the morning after defensive tackle DeForest Buckner said he was “sick and tired of the same song and dance every year” following Sunday’s loss.