Principal owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon dismissed Ballard after a run that ended with a 72-82-1 record, two playoff appearances and no AFC South championships. The Colts have missed the playoffs for six consecutive seasons.

Ballard was hired to build a deep roster around quarterback Andrew Luck, and the team showed promise in 2018. Indianapolis won 10 of 11 games late that season and beat Houston in the playoffs, with standout draft picks including guard Quenton Nelson and linebacker Shaquille Leonard helping reshape the roster.

Luck’s unexpected retirement in 2019 changed the franchise’s course. The Colts cycled through quarterbacks in the years that followed, including Jacoby Brissett, Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz and Matt Ryan. Indianapolis reached the playoffs with Rivers in 2020 but missed the postseason the next year after a late-season collapse with Wentz at quarterback.

Ballard eventually used the fourth overall pick in 2023 on Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson. Injuries, accuracy problems and questions about preparation disrupted Richardson’s two seasons with the team. A later commitment to former New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones showed early promise in 2025, but injuries and a downturn in performance followed.

The quarterback decisions were not the only concern. Ballard invested draft picks and money in the defensive line but did not establish a consistent pass rush, while critics also pointed to the team’s reliance on inexperienced players and a lack of depth at key positions.

The Colts’ 2026 roster moves—including investments at cornerback and efforts to rebuild the linebacker group—did not deliver the expected results. The team faltered, leaving head coach Shane Steichen with a roster that lacked depth in several areas.

Indianapolis now faces its first general manager search in a decade. The next hire will inherit a franchise still looking for a stable answer at quarterback and a return to playoff contention.