Colts GM Chris Ballard defends approach despite mixed results

INDIANAPOLIS — As Colts general manager Chris Ballard prepares for his eighth season in Indianapolis, he took some time Wednesday to look back and — along the way — defend his record.

The Colts have not won a playoff game since 2018, are 1-2 in the postseason and have an overall record of 54-60-1 during Ballard's tenure. But Ballard said he believes the Colts are on the right track and he has no plans to deviate from his approach to roster construction.

When asked if he felt like he was in the hot seat in 2024, Ballard replied, “No different than any other year.”

“The fact that we haven't made the playoffs the last three years is a disappointment,” Ballard later added. “I'm not going to sit here and say it wasn't. But I still believe strongly in what we do, how we do it and how we get there. … You either believe in something or you don't believe in anything. It's easy to waver and do what the world wants you to do. You either believe in something or you don't. That's what we believe in.”

“It's going to get me fired, so be it.”

Ballard has famously resisted big swings in free agency, opting instead to develop young talent. That has yielded some positive results as the Colts have assembled a deep roster of talent, mostly made up of homegrown players.

But Ballard also declined to address some problem areas, such as the Colts' very inexperienced secondary.

“We're going to continue to grow these guys,” he said. “They don't become players without playing. I think sometimes we forget that they have to play.”

Indianapolis' success this season will depend in large part on the development of quarterback Anthony Richardson, currently in his second year. The Colts hope he will hit the ground running after returning from an injury that limited him to four games as a rookie.

Likewise, Ballard's tenure could ultimately be tied to Richardson's long-term success or failure.

This is the Colts' best chance at longevity at quarterback since the surprise retirement of 2012 No. 1 draft pick Andrew Luck two weeks before the 2019 season opener. After all the waiting for a possible solution, Ballard preached patience at the quarterback position.

“There are going to be some rollercoaster moments,” he said. “I don't want to say all of them, but most quarterbacks experience those moments when they're young. But they learn from them, grow and move on.”