The Indianapolis Colts officially relieved general manager Chris Ballard of his duties on Oct. 19, ending his near-decade tenure at the helm of the football team following a 2-4 start to the 2026 NFL regular season.
The decision comes a day after Indianapolis suffered a 26-20 home loss to the previously winless Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Colts Owner and CEO Carlie Irsay-Gordon announced the dismissal in an official statement released by the franchise.
“I am grateful to Chris for his years of service to the Colts and for everything he poured into this organization. He cared deeply about our team and our community, and we wish Chris and his family all the best,” Irsay-Gordon said. “As I said at the start of the season, the sense of urgency has never been higher. Our standard is to compete for championships, and I believe a change in leadership is necessary to meet that standard.”
Hired on Jan. 29, 2017, Ballard was entering his 10th season overseeing football operations in Indianapolis and his 26th overall season in the NFL. Prior to his arrival in Indianapolis, Ballard spent four seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs as director of player personnel and director of football operations, following a 12-year stint in the player personnel department for the Chicago Bears.
During his nine-plus years in Indianapolis, Ballard compiled a 72-82-1 overall record, earning four winning seasons and two playoff appearances.
Ballard was named the Pro Football Writers of America Executive of the Year in 2018 after constructing a roster that overcame a 1-5 start to clinch a postseason berth and win an AFC Wild Card playoff game. His draft classes yielded landmark franchise pieces, including All-Pro selections Quenton Nelson, Shaquille Leonard and Jonathan Taylor.
However, in recent years, the franchise has struggled to maintain consistency in a crowded conference. Indianapolis finished 8-9 in 2024 and 8-9 in 2025, missing the postseason in both campaigns. Heading into the 2026 season, Ballard attempted to bolster the roster by re-signing quarterback Daniel Jones and wide receiver Alec Pierce, while bringing in defensive additions Micheal Clemons, Akeem Davis-Gaither and Arden Key.
Irsay-Gordon made it clear that making the front-office change midseason was a calculated move to jumpstart the franchise’s upcoming managerial search.
“Making this change during the season was a deliberate decision. Waiting would only delay the important work that needs to begin now,” Irsay-Gordon said in a statement. “We will conduct a thorough search for our next general manager and take the time necessary to identify the right leader for the future of this organization. I also want to be clear: this decision does not change our goals for the season. We have a lot of football in front of us, and I expect us to compete, improve, and win football games.”
Despite those offseason moves, the Colts dropped four of their first six games to open 2026, culminating in a 26-20 division defeat on Oct. 18 and prompting the front-office shakeup.
The Colts will begin a national search for their next general manager immediately.
Contact multimedia and senior sports reporter Noral Parham at 317-762-7846. Follow him on X @3Noral. For more, visit indianapolisrecorder.com.
Noral Parham is the multimedia and senior sports reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Before joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate at the MLK Center in Indianapolis and as a senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver. He is also a business owner.
