The Indianapolis Colts have reaffirmed their commitment to General Manager Chris Ballard and Head Coach Shane Steichen as they navigate a challenging period for the franchise. Principal owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon, who serves as the public face of the organization, expressed confidence in both leaders during a recent press conference. The Colts finished the disappointing season with an 8-9 record and missed the playoff with an 8-2 start. This failure has led to hard questions being asked about the team’s future direction.
Until now, that is, with Colts GM Chris Ballard presiding over a strange nine-year stretch. Under his leadership, the Colts have only won two playoffs and zero Super Bowls. Irsay-Gordon admitted that the franchise had been through a lot during Ballard’s time with the team, especially in terms of quarterback play. She emphasized the need for improvement, stating, “No matter what the circumstances are, we have to be able to find a way to win and finish games.”
Those failures were magnified during the Colts’ final seven games of the season, leading them on a seven-game losing streak. This slump, combined with the team’s overall performance, led to questions about whether Ballard and Steichen could turn things around in the upcoming season. Still, in spite of these concerns, Irsay-Gordon made sure to underscore Ballard’s willingness and capacity to change and grow his methodology regarding roster construction.
“Was able to adapt and change the way as far as how he works on the roster and assembles the roster, and we believe that he is capable of replicating that next season,” she said, reflecting her belief in Ballard’s capabilities.
Along with him came Shane Steichen, one of the more highly coveted offensive coaches in recent memory. He’s earned a reputation for getting the most out of quarterbacks with restrictions. Yet he had enough to prevent him from having consistent success while working with the current roster. As offseason approaches, all the focus will be on quarterback Daniel Jones’ impending free agency. He is presently and diligently as asked, in rehabilitating his ruptured Achilles tendon injury.
Jones’s extensive injury history makes him a bad candidate for long-term franchise quarterback. These are important concerns for the Colts to balance as they look at new hires to replace Wright and Ballard. Irsay-Gordon noted that it is crucial to address their quarterback dilemma effectively, stating, “we’ve had a drought [at quarterback] and we were able to really show that we’re able to execute at a high level on the field. … It was promising what he was able to do.”
Last offseason, Chris Ballard fully committed to free agency with a daring plan. He took unprecedented steps to add talent to the team’s roster. This included a midseason trade for star cornerback Sauce Gardner, which drastically improved the defense. Yet, even with this addition and all of these moves, the Colts missed the mark on their playoff hype.
The decision to retain Ballard and Steichen signifies Irsay-Gordon’s belief that continuity is essential for the franchise’s success. To her credit, she had the wisdom to reflect deeply on Ballard’s whole tenure before making her judgment. Today, she’s positive about where the team is headed.
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