The Indianapolis Colts keep running it back with general manager Chris Ballard. He is the Sisyphus of the NFL. He keeps doing the same things, finding failure at the end of each season, but his happiness must come from his attempt to succeed. Eventually, he will need to search for that somewhere else.
That could come as soon as the 2027 offseason. He will be employed with Indy through at least next season, but in 10 years leading the team, he hasn't yet won an AFC South title, and has only made the playoffs twice. That is wretched. But what is worse? Ballard keeps getting chances to win, or is the team wrongfully choosing to keep him employed?
Meanwhile, Indianapolis ownership watched this season as the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots reached the Super Bowl. New England rebuilt the team's structure two years ago after Bill Belichick, head coach and de facto general manager, was fired. The team has changed its head coach already, and while needing a huge rebuild with a new QB, the Pats have played at a high level.
Indianapolis Colts fans can only watch as the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots do things better
The Seahawks did the same thing. The team might not have changed its general manager, but head coach Pete Carroll was basically a GM too, as he had roster control, not John Schneider. Seattle also decided to go bold, take a chance on trading quarterback Geno Smith and wide receiver DK Metcalf, and rebuild the culture of the team.
What's even worse is that while Indy decided to sign one 2024 Minnesota Vikings quarterback, they went with the less-expensive option. Daniel Jones was solid for head coach Shane Steichen for most of the first half of the season, but he had a history of getting injured. Twice before, he had seasons end early because of injury. He made it three years by tearing an Achilles tendon in 2025.
Would the Colts have been better outbidding the Seahawks for Sam Darnold? Absolutely. Darnold is better than Jones, and he would also have been a great fit in Steichen's system. If Darnold played for Indy, based solely on the players' injury histories, Indianapolis would have been in the playoffs this season.
Chris Ballard likes to think he has made a bunch of good roster moves and draft picks, and some have given him credit for that, but his record of success with the Indianapolis Colts doesn't match that narrative. The Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots, though? They are playing for a championship quite quickly after making fundamental changes.