The general manager isn't too concerned about his job status entering a critical season in Indianapolis.
The Colts, a longtime NFL powerhouse in the first decade-plus of this century, have won just one playoff game and have yet to claim an AFC South division title under his watch. Ballard is aware of the franchise's shortcomings—and addressed them with a rather bold quote about his method on Wednesday.
"I've always had a strong belief in myself and those around me. Strong belief in what we do," Ballard told reporters . "... The last three years, not making the playoffs, it's a disappointment. I'm not gonna sit here and say it wasn't, but I still have a very strong belief in what we're doing, how we're doing it and how we're gonna get there. And that will not waver. Either you believe for something or you believe nothing.
"If you just kind of look through the first few years, we made the playoffs two of the first four, had to overcome a quarterback retiring on us, still found a way," Ballard said. "I thought our '20 team was excellent. We just lost a tough game to Buffalo that ended up being a really good team. And I thought in '21 was another really good football team, and it all kind of fell apart.
The Colts enter the 2024 campaign with the hopes that they finally found their franchise quarterback in Anthony Richardson, who they drafted with the No. 4 pick last April. After seven unfruitful seasons, Ballard's job depends on Richardson's success—and the general manager knows it.Tom Dierberger is a staff writer and editor on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He joined SI in November 2023 after stints at FOX Sports, Bally Sports and NBC Sports. Dierberger has a bachelor's in communication from St. John's University. In his spare time, he can be seen throwing out his arm while playing fetch with his dog, Walter B. Boy.
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