Are Colts' Chris Ballard, Shane Steichen on hot seat after ownership change?

The death of Indianapolis Colts owner and CEO Jim Irsay this past May resulted in his three daughters assuming control of the franchise. Understandably, some have wondered what this change could mean regarding the futures of Colts general manager Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen.

For a piece published on Monday, James Boyd of The Athletic addressed whether at least Ballard is on the hot seat heading into the 2025 season. 

"...His seat may be hotter than ever with Irsay’s daughters now overseeing the team," Boyd wrote about Ballard. "It’s no secret that Irsay had a strong affinity for Ballard, whom he once compared to Michael Jordan during the Colts’ abysmal 2022 season, which ended with a 4-12-1 record. It’s fair to say that many other NFL owners would’ve fired Ballard by now — he has a 62-69-1 record, one playoff win and zero AFC South titles in eight seasons — and the Irsay daughters may not express the same level of patience as their father."

The combination of Ballard and Steichen will forever be linked with Indianapolis making quarterback Anthony Richardson the fourth overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft. That decision hasn't worked out well for those involved, as injuries have thus far limited Richardson to just 15 starts out of 32 contests (minus a two-game benching last fall).

Richardson was most recently shut down from throwing on May 29 after he experienced pain in his surgically-repaired shoulder, but he is now on track to compete with free-agency signing Daniel Jones for the Indianapolis QB1 job this summer. 

"Unlike her father, who almost always praised Ballard and coach Shane Steichen publicly, [Colts principal owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon] was more measured and direct about the team’s lack of success during their tenures. She expects more from her coach and GM, whom she publicly backed while also indicating that no one should feel safe amid a four-year playoff drought."

As of Monday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Colts as +210 betting underdogs to make the playoffs this coming season. History shows that a different general manager could want to move on from Steichen as part of a franchise reset, but the Colts will first try to prove doubters wrong with either Richardson or Jones leading the offense into Indianapolis' Week 1 game versus the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 7.