The Indianapolis Colts have had a roller-coaster season in 2025. A year that started on a historic high is sinking quickly. There’s plenty of blame to go around for yet another late-season collapse, but Indianapolis general manager Chris Ballard certainly deserves his share.
Ballard made a lot of big decisions this year that didn’t ultimately pan out — major free agent signings, key draft picks, and a blockbuster trade. However, Indianapolis is once again trending towards missing the playoffs.
As he continues to struggle in Year 9 with the Colts, it’s fair to wonder whether we’re approaching the end of the Ballard era in Indianapolis.
Indianapolis Colts' Chris Ballard could wind up with a lump of coal this winter…or worse
In 2025, Ballard had a clear goal. After years of disappointment, Ballard needed to turn around a franchise that hadn’t been competitive for a long time. Ballard was busy making moves to upgrade the team, but most of them ended up backfiring.
First, he signed a new quarterback in free agency — Daniel Jones — to compete for the starting job. Jones ultimately won that battle and was one of the best QBs in the league over the first half of the campaign. Unfortunately, that dream signing turned into a disaster when Jones suffered a season-ending injury in Week 14.
Without Jones, the Colts’ playoff hopes are effectively dead. It doesn’t help that Ballard neglected to add a competent backup when he had the chance. That’s exactly why Indianapolis is now dependent on a 44-year-old Philip Rivers to keep their season alive.
Jones wasn’t the only key free agent signed last offseason. Ballard was uncharacteristically aggressive and invested heavily in the secondary. At first, Indianapolis fans welcomed the change in approach, but they may think differently now.
Their most expensive signing was cornerback Charvarius Ward, whom the Colts inked to a three-year $54 million deal. Ward had a great start to the season before suffering back-to-back-to-back concussions. He’s currently on Injured Reserve again as Ward struggles with what could be a recurring, long-term problem.
Beyond free agents, Ballard’s latest draft class has been hit-or-miss — and, right now, there are way more misses than hits. Tight end Tyler Warren was a no-brainer, but the Colts’ other rookies have been non-factors.
Second-rounder J.T. Tuimoloau is barely getting snaps (and was banged up in Week 16), third-round pick Justin Walley tore his ACL in August, and rookie QB Riley Leonard just got passed over for someone who’s been retired for five years.
To top it all off, Ballard’s biggest call of the year was trading for superstar cornerback Sauce Gardner, giving up the Colts’ next two first-round picks in the process. When Indianapolis was winning, that gamble made sense. However, the Colts’ recent losing streak — and Gardner’s injury after just three weeks of action — suggests Ballard prematurely risked his team’s future.
Of course, retrospectively criticizing Ballard for all those decisions is a little unfair. None of them were considered bad moves at the time. Ballard couldn’t have predicted injuries to Jones, Ward, and Gardner, and Indianapolis generally got a passing grade for its 2025 draft.
But hindsight is 20/20. Just a month ago, Ballard was soaking up praise while being labelled a smart and savvy GM. Today, Ballard is under fire from both the media and fans. Although that treatment may be harsh, NFL executives are evaluated based on their actual results, not their good intentions.
Around this time last year, Ballard was on the hot seat, and many expected him to be fired. He’s one of the longest-tenured GMs in the league, and the Colts have just two playoff appearances and zero division titles since Ballard arrived in Indianapolis in 2017.
Ballard was eventually retained by Jim Irsay, but those doubts didn't disappear. A series of unfortunate events means Ballard’s seat is hotter than ever. This could be the year the Colts finally move on from him, especially with new ownership in charge.