Colts General Manager Chris Ballard: “I Hear the Criticism and It’s Warranted”

Source: Justin Casterline / Getty

INDIANAPOLIS–Indianapolis Colts General Manager Chris Ballard began a press conference on Friday by saying the criticism of both him and the team is warranted.

The Colts finished the 2024 season with a record of 8-9 and missed the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year.

“A lot of that falls on my shoulders,” said Ballard.

Ballard called his “biggest disappointment” not bringing in the type of players that would hold each other accountable both on and off the field.”A good culture has some friction in it because there’s some accountability within it that challenges each other and never walks by a mistake. We’ve got to get there,” said Ballard.

Ballard acknowledged that he could be stubborn at times and is willing to look at free agency in the offseason as a way to improve the team.

“We’ve got to be better at making sure that we identify the right free agents to push this team to where it needs to go,” said Ballard.

Bringing most of the roster back is something Ballard believes, in hindsight, may have caused complacency within the team.

“I created an atmosphere that clearly wasn’t competitive enough,” said Ballard.

Ballard also said he’s got concerns about quarterback Anthony Richardson.

“Like we can’t beat our head against the wall,” Ballard said of the Colts’ handling and evaluation of Richardson. “We’ve got to have competition at the position just for the fact that, one, competition makes everybody better and, two, he’s not proven he can play 17 games.”

Richardson only played 11 games in 2024 and four games in 2023.

The Colts also haven’t won a playoff game since 2018. They also haven’t won the AFC South since 2014.

“I’ve got to own all of that. There’s definitely a sense of guilt for not getting it done at this time,” said Ballard.

Colts Owner Jim Irsay elected to bring Ballard and Head Coach Shane Steichen back for another season.

The Colts have the 14th pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. That will be held April 24-26 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.