The Indianapolis Colts have some big decisions to make as the 2024 regular season comes to an end.
After missing out on the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season, general manager Chris Ballard has never been sitting on a hotter seat.
Though it remains to be seen what happens, Adam Schefter of ESPN said Sunday on “NFL Sunday Countdown” that change is expected in Indianapolis in terms of the general manager role.
In providing updates on the potential fates of both Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen, Schefter also hinted at who might be a candidate to replace Ballard if they decide to promote from within.
“Another place where there’s tremendous disappointment in the way the season’s gone. They’re 7-9. They’ve been eliminated from the playoffs. You know that Jim Irsay and his daughters are not going to be happy about that. The feeling is, right now, (Steichen) going to be back in Indianapolis,” Schefter said. “But, it does feel like there’s going to be change in that organization. People wondering whether it will involve the general manager, Chris Ballard. If so, Ed Dodds is on staff. He’s close with the Irsay family. We’ll see what happens in Indianapolis.”
Dodds would be the likely choice if the Colts want to promote from within and keep Steichen on board while developing quarterback Anthony Richardson.
Dodds has been the right-hand man to Ballard since the latter took the general manager role in 2017. Because of that, there’s plenty of hesitation as he’s had a hand in building the roster that has failed to make the playoffs for four consecutive seasons.
With that said, if the Colts feel that Ballard is the main culprit and Dodds can provide some fresh ideas, it wouldn’t be a surprise if they went this route after interviewing candidates.
We’ll see what happens when the regular-season finale concludes Sunday, but there’s a lot of smoke right now pertaining to Ballard’s job.
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