NFL Rumors on Job Security of Colts' Chris Ballard, More GMs Amid Hot-Seat Buzz

Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard's job reportedly appears more likely than not to be safe, although that's not confirmed as the regular season nears its end.

ESPN's Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler reported the latest news and rumors around the league on Wednesday, and both reporters lean toward Ballard sticking around.

Via Graziano: "I was in Indianapolis on Sunday, and no one there seems to know for sure where things are headed following the Colts' late-season collapse. GM Chris Ballard has a good relationship with owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon, from what I am told, and while the Anthony Richardson Sr. pick seems to have been a miss, the Daniel Jones signing was a hit until he got hurt. I think Ballard sticks around, but people are asking about him a lot these days."

From Fowler: "Ballard remains a moving target because he drafts well and builds good rosters -- but no division titles in nine years is a tough sell. I've talked to a few people in the league who wonder whether Ballard would be the first to go over coach Shane Steichen if Irsay-Gordon makes changes at all. But the Colts had a good thing going for 10 games before the injuries, so that factors in, too. Most people I've talked to are leaning toward Ballard's job being safe."

The 56-year-old Ballard has been the Colts' general manager since 2017. He served as a scout for the Chicago Bears from 2001-2011 before working as the team's director of pro scouting in 2012. Ballard then moved onto the Kansas City Chiefs, working as director of player personnel (2013-2014) and director of football operations (2015-2016) before leaving for the Colts' GM gig.

Indianapolis has gone 70-77-1 since 2017. The Colts have made the playoffs just twice during Ballard's tenure, with one win and no postseason appearances since 2020.

This year's Colts team started 8-2 but has lost six straight games to fall to 8-8 going into their final game of the season on Sunday against the Houston Texans.

Unfortunately, injuries have hit the team hard. Of note, starting quarterback Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending torn Achilles. Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner was held to 10 games due to a herniated disc in his neck, and cornerback Charvarius Ward played seven games after entering the concussion protocol for the third time this year.

As far as other jobs that appear safe, Fowler mentioned both Arizona Cardinals Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort and Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry.

"With other spots, some of the people I've talked to believe Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort will ultimately be safe. Browns general manager Andrew Berry has been operating like someone who will be back, and that's my sense of what will happen. His successful 2025 draft was carefully crafted with 2026 in mind, and he has had the freedom to negotiate extensions with veterans."

As far as the hot seat goes, Fowler and Graziano both mentioned Terry Fontenot of the Atlanta Falcons, who will have won just seven or eight games in each season of his five-year tenure when the 2025 season ends.

Fowler said that "this is a spot people around the league who follow such things have been monitoring closely for potential change, despite the team showing signs of life in recent weeks and its 2025 draft picks emerging."

Another one to watch is New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen, who is finishing his fourth season in town. If the Giants lose on Sunday at home to the Dallas Cowboys, Big Blue will have gone 3-14 in each of the past two seasons.

Graziano had this to say on the matter.

"Schoen seems to be pretty well aligned with the other decision-makers in the Giants' building from what I can gather, but the team's record during his tenure is poor enough that eyeballs are on this situation. Some people wonder whether this could turn out the way the Jaguars' situation did last offseason, when Jacksonville said GM Trent Baalke would lead the coaching search and then ended up firing him to entice Liam Coen to take the head coach job."

The Giants went 9-7-1 and won a playoff game in Schoen's first year, although that team was largely composed of players from the tenure of his predecessor, Dave Gettleman. Since then, the Giants have gone 6-11 in 2023 and 3-14 in 2024. The team notably fired head coach Brian Daboll at midseason this year.