Indianapolis Colts GM Chris Ballard is seen on day two of training camp at Grand Park Sports Campus.
Robert Goddin-Imagn Images
The Indianapolis Colts decided to fire Chris Ballard as general manager not long after the 26-20 Week 6 loss to the Tennessee Titans. With the franchise going in a new direction with the front office, head coach Shane Steichen shared his thoughts on the situation.
Steichen informed media members that he has the utmost respect for Ballard, according to James Boyd of The Athletic. The 41-year-old gave Ballard credit for all of his hard work and claimed that he doesn't believe all of the blame falls on the former GM for the club's lack of success.
“I got a ton of respect for Chris,” Steichen said. “He worked tirelessly for this organization, for this city. And it's the s***** part of the business. I don’t think it completely falls on Chris. I'm the head football coach. It takes all of us. Coaches, scouts, everybody, and we gotta put our best foot forward moving forward… A ton of respect for Chris as a human, the person. How much he cared for this organization. The players, the city as well.”
#Colts HC Shane Steichen on GM Chris Ballard:
“He worked tirelessly for this organization, this city. And it’s the shitty part of the business. I don’t think it completely falls on Chris. I’m the head football coach. It takes all of us. Coaches, scouts, everybody. …” pic.twitter.com/IVAdDGWnXi
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) October 19, 2026
Ballard was the general manager for the Colts for 10 seasons. During that span, the franchise had eight different Week 1 starting quarterbacks and failed to win a single AFC South divisional title. The team named assistant general manager Ed Dodds the interim general manager until further notice, with the 57-year-old no longer in the picture.
Rumors suggest the Colts have already called two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback Peyton Manning regarding his potential interest in replacing Chris Ballard. While that will likely remain a hot rumor for the rest of the campaign, Shane Steichen must get his team prepared for the Week 7 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.