The Indianapolis Colts have dismissed general manager Chris Ballard after a 2-4 opening to his 10th season, making a major front-office change one day after a damaging division loss to the Tennessee Titans.
Assistant general manager Ed Dodds will run the personnel department on an interim basis. Head coach Shane Steichen and his staff will report directly to Colts ownership following the move.
Owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon said the franchise could not afford to wait before beginning its search for a new football executive. She thanked Ballard for his commitment to the team and Indianapolis community, while saying the organization’s championship expectations required new leadership.
Quick facts
- Chris Ballard was fired after posting a 72-82-1 regular-season record as Colts general manager.
- Indianapolis went 1-2 in the playoffs during Ballard’s tenure.
- Ed Dodds will take over personnel responsibilities.
- The Colts have not reached the postseason since the 2020 season.
- Indianapolis next faces the 5-0 Vikings, 4-2 Jaguars and 2-4 Cowboys.
The immediate trigger was Sunday’s 26-20 home defeat to Tennessee. Indianapolis carried a 13-0 advantage into halftime but allowed the previously winless Titans to rally behind Colts turnovers, defensive breakdowns and a blocked punt.
Ballard took over the franchise in 2017 and initially had to navigate Andrew Luck’s unexpected retirement two years later. The Colts subsequently cycled through quarterbacks, and Ballard was unable to establish a lasting answer at the position.
Indianapolis has largely remained stuck in the middle of the league rather than collapsing outright, but that run of mediocrity eventually caught up with Ballard. The club has missed the playoffs in each of the past six seasons.
His recent aggressive moves also failed to produce the desired turnaround. Ballard surrendered significant draft capital, including a 2027 first-round pick, to acquire cornerback Sauce Gardner from the New York Jets. That selection currently projects inside the top 10, while Gardner’s Colts tenure has included injuries and uneven play.
Quarterback Daniel Jones, signed to a multiyear contract, has also struggled. Among 28 quarterbacks with at least 100 dropbacks, Jones is tied for 24th in expected points added per dropback.
Irsay-Gordon said the in-season decision was intentional because delaying it would postpone work on the club’s future. She said the Colts will conduct a comprehensive search and take the necessary time to find their next general manager.
Still, ownership is not treating the change as a surrender on the current campaign. Irsay-Gordon said Indianapolis is expected to keep competing, improve its performance and win games over the remaining schedule.
Steichen remains in place, but the spotlight will now intensify on the coaching staff as the Colts enter a difficult three-game stretch against Minnesota, Jacksonville and Dallas.
