Ballard knows he has to be better in what could be his last shot with the team.
The general manager for the Indianapolis Colts took the podium for his end of year presser. Following another disappointing year in which the team he built missed the playoffs and seemed to be in disarray, Ballard was gifted another year by owner Jim Irsay. The leash has been long for Ballard, entering his ninth year, as he has been unable to produce on the field. No division championships and only two playoff appearances have him sounding like a changed man. Two questions linger: has he changed and if so, will it be too little too late.
This is a make or break season for Ballard. As much as I am in shock that he made it this far, I truly feel that unless he shows visible improvement, there will be no year ten. He knows it too. He has looked in the mirror and kicked himself for being so stubborn, as his approach has not worked. It sounds like more free agents will be brought in this year. His “run it back” 2024 didn’t work. (I could have told you it wouldn’t, but…). He is going to bring in outside talent. Does that mean top tier players? I doubt it, but he knows he needs to increase the competition in the room, even perhaps with Anthony Richardson.
These are things fans have been screaming about for years. Why all of a sudden is Ballard listening? Desperation? Sees the writing on the wall? One last shot? Most likely a combination of all of those. It is hard to feel he has changed though, and he admits he has to prove it. Talk is cheap. Talk hasn’t done anything except create losing over his tenure. Will it be enough to save his job with the Colts? I think a legitimate shot at the division on the back of a successful season is about all that could. Duking it out at 9-8 to win a weak AFC South wouldn’t cut it in my book.
At this point, I really don’t have any expectations of Chris Ballard going into year nine. I think he will bring in some more names in the offseason, but it will all be lower tier players for “roster building” purposes. If, in a year which could be Ballard’s last, he doesn’t swing for the fences, he never will. I expect more of the same as he isn’t a man of change. I guess we will see if he proves me wrong. Otherwise, there will be a different type of change for the Colts.
