The Indianapolis Colts might only have two games left in the season. After the first eight games, fans might have been expecting that they would be buying playoff tickets. Instead, a dream-like season has turned into a nightmare. Again.
The team has major questions to ask this offseason. Part of that is which free agents to sign (or re-sign), but also whether to keep the coaching staff and the general manager. Head coach Shane Steichen should be safe. General manager Chris Ballard shouldn't be.
One player not under contract for 2026, and almost certainly won't be back, is quarterback Philip Rivers. Rivers was a shocking signing after Daniel Jones was lost for the season after tearing an Achilles tendon in Week 14. But the once-retired QB has always been good for a quip, as well as summarizing things succinctly, sometimes painfully, but always perfectly.
Philip Rivers offers wise words after the Indianapolis Colts lose in Week 16
After Week 16's loss to the San Francisco 49ers at Lucas Oil Stadium, Philip Rivers brought some brutal reality to the Colts' situation by saying, "There's no prize for losing."
Exactly, and the Indianapolis Colts' ownership should remember that this offseason. Steichen proved this season that, with a competent quarterback, his scheme would work at a high level. Heck, even in Week 16 with a Rivers that is physically diminished and has only been practicing for two weeks, the offense was good enough to win.
It is Chris Ballard who needs to have his job questioned. While Steichen was hired ahead of the 2023 season and given a quarterback situation that was a mess, including then-rookie Anthony Richardson who wasn't ready to play in the NFL, the offense has been fine. He likely could continue toi produce good offenses.
Ballard, though, has been the Colts GM since 2017. He no longer has any excuses for not producing a winner. The team hasn't won an AFC South title in his tenure, and it's been almost a decade. He needs to go.
The issue is that Chris Ballard, unlike Rivers' rightful statement, keeps getting rewarded for losing. He keeps getting paid by the Indianapolis Colts for no real reason. Maybe he has built up decent parts of the team, such as the wide receiver group, but he has whiffed in terms of finding a long-term solution at quarterback.
That is the most important position in football, of course. Chris Ballard should know that, but he has no proven talent for making sure his team has a player in place to lead the offense. Still, the only person getting a prize for losing is Indy's general manager.