Colts fire GM Chris Ballard after 10 seasons; Steichen remains as coach

The Indianapolis Colts have fired general manager Chris Ballard, ending a 10-year run that produced just one playoff appearance and no AFC South titles. The move lands with the Colts at 2-4 and coming off a home loss to the previously winless Titans.

Ballard exits with a 72-82-1 regular-season record and a 1-2 postseason mark, and Indianapolis has now missed the playoffs in five consecutive seasons. The decision was confirmed across the NFL's major reporters Monday morning, with the team releasing a statement through owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon.

What made the drought stand out, as Ari Meirov noted, was the division-wide context: every other AFC South franchise — the Texans, Jaguars and Titans — won the division at least twice over Ballard's decade in charge while Indianapolis never did.

Coach Shane Steichen remains on the job, the coaching staff stays intact for now. Ballard's tenure included the 2023 hiring of Steichen and a string of high draft picks, but the Colts never found the quarterback stability or division consistency they built around, leaving the search for his replacement as the next big question in Indianapolis.