What are the probabilities Ballard survives the complete Colts season?

All issues thought-about, it seems like there must be no potential approach Chris Ballard makes it to the tip of the 2025 season. In 9 years, he has two playoff appearances, one playoff win, and nil divisional titles to his title. All of which may be historical past, however Ballard’s greatest hurdle but needs to be the present state of the Indianapolis Colts. There isn’t any franchise quarterback on the roster. After looking for nearly his total tenure, the Colts nonetheless discover themselves with no reply on the sport’s most vital place. The benching of Anthony Richardson might show to be the nail within the coffin.

Ballard has been in search of the person to take over for Andrew Luck since 2019. Sure, it was a troublesome hand to be dealt, however the grace interval for that unlucky second has handed. The quantity of miscalculations have bordered on painfully comical at this level. After working his approach by the NFL retreads, Ballard lastly used the draft to noticeably tackle the place. Choosing Richardson was his defining second. The bodily freak with the proper RAS was chosen to be the face of the franchise. A season price of video games later and his hand picked choice is using the pine. Okay, possibly aluminum is extra correct right here, however you get the thought. Richardson’s fall from grace was swift and serves as an egg on the face second for Ballard and his workforce, because it exhibits an entire lack of means to determine good quarterback play. Couple this with the dearth of postseason success and a recipe for the way not to construct a workforce is the blueprint on the desk.

Logically talking, holding a GM round with Ballard’s resume seems asinine on the floor, but right here we’re. Ballard obtained an extension and has survived, not like Frank Reich. He has been given the reins yr in and yr out. There has at all times been an odd sense of perception in his skills by possession and followers. Many are fast to provide him a go for Luck whereas others level out how properly he drafts different positions and builds his rosters in a savvy method. Savvy solely applies when the formulation works, and it hasn’t labored up to now. There are zero optimistic outcomes for a franchise that was accustomed to preventing for playoff positioning and securing division titles with relative ease. The bar is a excessive one, however it has been lowered within the final decade. Mediocrity has been accepted.

Properly, mediocrity had been accepted. There’s a new sheriff on the town. Carlie Irsay-Gordon just isn’t her father. Sure, she probably shares a whole lot of his qualities, however identical to Jim didn’t need to be like his dad, Irsay-Gordon just isn’t set to be a carbon copy of hers. She could carry over the identical emotions of loyalty, however then once more, she may not. A NFL franchise will be an extension of household, however it’s also a enterprise on the finish of the day. Ballard just isn’t Irsay-Gordon’s GM. She didn’t rent him, and he or she didn’t lengthen him. It will likely be as much as her to fireplace him although. Even when Daniel Jones impresses, Ballard ought to obtain minimal reward for bringing him in in opposition to criticism for his swing and miss on Richardson. Will that be the case? Who is aware of. If Jones wins and wins massive, Ballard would possibly get one other lifeline as a result of successful cures a whole lot of ills. How a lot will Jones need to win to avoid wasting Ballard? That’s as much as Irsay-Gordon to resolve.

As soon as once more, logically, the probabilities of Chris Ballard surviving this season look like slim. Add historical past to the downfall of Anthony Richardson and issues aren’t trying good. Two issues save him: Daniel Jones performing like a rock star and Carlie Irsay-Gordon not eager to rock the boat in her first yr. If the Colts win and Irsay-Gordon waits to get her ft below her with a full season earlier than she begins making franchise altering choices, Ballard would possibly simply make it to 2026. Watch the Colts battle out of the gate, which is par for the course nowadays, and the Ballard luck would possibly simply dry up. There may be nothing pleasurable about calling for the Colts to maneuver on from Ballard. His success means success for the Colts which is what followers actually want. It isn’t private. It’s simply enterprise. Let’s see how the Colts and Irsay-Gordan deal with theirs in 2025.