Overview
- The Colts dismissed general manager Chris Ballard on Monday after a 26-20 home loss to the winless Tennessee Titans left Indianapolis at 2-4.
- Irsay-Gordon called the timing deliberate, said a formal, thorough search for Ballard’s successor will begin immediately, and insisted the team’s goals for the 2026 season remain unchanged.
- Ballard ran the Colts from 2017 through 2026 with a 72-82-1 record, two playoff trips and no division titles, and his tenure drew criticism for roster choices including the 2025 trade for Sauce Gardner and repeated quarterback instability.
- Head coach Shane Steichen remains in place for now, but the new general manager could reshape the coaching staff and roster direction as the franchise looks to fix persistent personnel and depth problems.
- Fan outrage at Lucas Oil Stadium and a pattern of late-season collapses under Ballard were cited by club officials as reasons for immediate change, signaling a possible broader front-office overhaul if the search yields an outside candidate.