During his end-of-season press conference last Friday, Indianapolis Colts GM Chris Ballard admitted that it was a mistake to bring back essentially the same roster for the 2024 season. He acknowledged that the team is far from being a contender and is not close to where it needs to be.
The Colts’ playoff hopes were officially dashed after a disappointing 45-33 loss to the New York Giants in Week 17, which highlighted serious concerns about the team’s culture. Good teams don’t get blown out in a must-win game, especially by a team with the worst record in the league.
Ballard took responsibility for the struggles, noting the team’s failure to make the playoffs in four straight years, a lack of division titles, and no playoff victories since 2018.
Looking ahead to 2025, the Colts are facing the same offseason challenges as the previous year. Instead of waiting until the season begins to add depth, Ballard needs to focus on signing free agents who can help the team become an AFC contender.
He admitted that he made the decision to stick with homegrown players rather than bringing in new competition.
Ballard expressed understanding of fan frustration and said it was a natural outcome of not winning. He remains confident in his abilities and in his staff, but he knows the team has not performed as expected. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to continue working with the organization and emphasized his commitment to getting things right for the team and the city.
The 2025 season is shaping up to be a pivotal year for the Colts, especially when it comes to their quarterback situation. Ballard admitted that while he wished rookie QB Anthony Richardson could have developed as a backup, the team instead threw him into the starting role.
Ballard isn’t convinced that Richardson is the right leader for the team yet, as he has struggled with injuries and has not proven he can stay healthy or perform consistently. Richardson’s completion percentage of 47.7% is the worst in the league and the worst in Colts history.
Ballard believes the key issue for Richardson is staying healthy, as he’s been sidelined for 17 out of 34 games in his first two seasons. Consistency is another area of focus as Richardson continues to struggle with consistency in his play.
The Colts need to reassess their roster to become more competitive. Several starters may be on the hot seat, especially given the team’s league-worst 171 missed tackles and poor third-down defense, allowing opponents to convert 44% of third downs and allowing QBs to complete 69% of passes, both ranking 30th in the NFL.
With such a subpar defense, no player should feel secure in their position. To improve, Ballard needs to engage more with the free agent market, bringing in players who can enhance the team’s culture and performance.
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