The Indianapolis Colts are tied for the NFL’s best record through six weeks — who would have believed that back in March, as the franchise appeared to be in a tailspin? As the famous Paul Rudd clip says, “not me.”
Head coach Shane Steichen and general manager Chris Ballard entered the regular season — Steichen’s third and Ballard’s ninth in Indianapolis — with each man’s seat scorching. And frankly, “scorching” is a mild term relative to what some fans were vocalizing.
But now, less than a year later, the pitchforks have been put away in favor of playoff aspirations. It’s true what they say… winning cures all ailments in sports. That sound you hear right now is Ballard saying “I told you so” through his teethy grin.
Chris Ballard should have listened to Indianapolis Colts fans sooner
However, Colts fans aren’t conceding the L here. Instead, the 2025 success only proves that fans —not Ballard — were correct this whole time. It’s easy to get lost in the rose-colored hue of success, but one trip down memory lane shows that the fanbase deserves some praise itself.
Remember when Colts fans were ready to run Ballard out of town because he was nothing short of a tightwad in free agency? I do. How about those same folks begging for elite talent at more important positions, such as pass rusher and tight end? I remember that, too.
What about the section of Colts supporters that swore a more steady hand at quarterback would lead to a significant increase in the win column? It’s a stance many fans have shared since the day Andrew Luck retired, even amidst adding the exciting potential of Anthony Richardson.
It’s not hard to recall those narratives, as all three were alive and present only seven months ago. But in March, Ballard finally listened to those voices. Whether his newfound aggression was forced by owners or Ballard simply had an epiphany… it changed the franchise’s trajectory.
First, in an unprecedented move, Ballard and Co. opened the checkbook when NFL free agency began in March. The Colts not only went “big fish” hunting, but the front office actually shelled out enough cash to land a couple of those highly coveted targets.
Daniel Jones served as the potential upgrade at quarterback, signing with Indy to the tune of a one-year pact worth up to $17 million. While that move was initially met with contempt from fans, myself included, it’s turned out to be a masterstroke.
Next up, the Colts completely overhauled their secondary in free agency by signing established (but still ascending) veterans like Camryn Bynum and Charvarius “Mooney” Ward. Each guy has made his impact felt early in the 2025 campaign, including two game-changing interceptions by Bynum.
That doesn’t even include the addition of defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, who helped push for the Bynum and Ward signings, and has played a major part himself in the Colts’ 2025 renaissance. Simply put, the defense witnessed a facelift that only the Kardashian family can compare to.
What’s more, Ballard had tight end Tyler Warren fall in his lap during the 2025 NFL Draft. Warren, considered by some as a top-five player in the entire class, has been a crucial part of the offensive explosion in Indianapolis. He’s a cheat code for Shane Steichen’s play calling.
Who would have guessed that an aggressive Ballard could make such a difference in the ceiling of this Colts organization? Wait, everyone could — especially the fans who watch week in and week out.
While Ballard’s roster-building through the NFL Draft prowess can’t be debated, he’s never been the type to push all the chips in for premier signings. Instead, he was always content with taking value on lesser players and banking on his draft picks becoming superstars.
But for every successful bet on a cornerstone, such as Quenton Nelson or Jonathan Taylor, plenty of complete whiffs follow — Parris Campbell, anyone? And the average-at-best picks that bolster depth on a roster aren’t enough to meaningfully elevate the squad into contention.
That all changed this past offseason with Ballard likely feeling the heat from the fan base — and his immediate bosses, which now consist of the late Jim Irsay’s children. The result? The best team in the NFL through a month and a half. I can only imagine how big Jim is smiling at that fact.
Ballard’s stubbornness nearly got him jettisoned from town, and it almost took a brilliant offensive coach like Steichen down with him. Thankfully, an offseason of spending led directly to this on-field success. It goes without saying, “It’s about time.”
Daniel Jones deserves his fair share of praise for righting the ship, but it’s the culmination of all the offseason moves that make this DJ experiment work to such a high degree. A steady signal-caller, a reliable defense (when healthy), and a head coach with an entire playbook at his disposal. That’s the recipe.
And while that can read as a “Chris Ballard was right,” let’s not forget that Colts fans have been begging for these upgrades for years. Maybe the narrative shouldn’t be “Chris Ballard was correct all along.” Maybe it should be “Chris Ballard finally listened to Colts fans and now look at them.”