INDIANAPOLIS -- Colts general manager Chris Ballard built his 2024 offseason strategy around players who were already on his roster. He doubled down by re-signing a slew of them to contract extensions, resisting the temptation to acquire outside free agents in an attempt to make a run at the postseason.
Now, with the Colts watching the playoffs as spectators again, Ballard admits he got it wrong and says it might be time for a philosophical shift.
"I bet that we could bring players back and they would be as upset about what happened at the end of the season last year that they'd want to rectify it," Ballard said Friday in his season-ending news conference, referencing the Colts being eliminated from the playoffs in a close loss to the Houston Texans in the 2023 season finale. "And at the end of the day, we were not able to, and I didn't do a good enough job creating enough competition throughout the roster and keep everybody on edge. There's got to be some stress.
"There has to be real stress within that locker room, an uncomfortability that if I don't play well enough my ass will not be on the field playing."
The Colts governed themselves in the 2024 offseason like a team on the verge of competing for an AFC South title and making noise in the playoffs. But they banked too heavily on existing talent, according to Ballard, which prevented true progress.
In a continuation of Ballard's long-term approach of mostly eschewing free agency, the Colts re-signed core players like wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., cornerback Kenny Moore II and nose tackle Grover Stewart and extended linebacker Zaire Franklin. All told, the Colts committed more than $180 million in contract value to their own players.
But it wasn't enough. The Colts finished 8-9 with late losses to the Denver Broncos and New York Giants that ultimately eliminated them from the postseason in Week 17.
This time around, Ballard said, the Colts can't lie to themselves about where they stand.
"Right now, we're not close," he said. "I'm going to make this really clear. Close is losing on the last play of the Super Bowl. That's close. Going 8-9, that's not close. No, I'm not saying we won't be closer when we get to the start of [next] season. But right now, sitting here today, we're an 8-9 football team. We've got to own that."
Ballard acknowledged the heavy criticism he has received from Colts fans, many of whom have openly lobbied for his firing. Owner Jim Irsay on Sunday released a statement that confirmed Ballard and coach Shane Steichen would return for 2025 but also acknowledged the vocal fans, saying, "I know fans who want immediate change in leadership will be disappointed. That means we have a lot to prove."
Ballard, who just completed his eighth season as general manager, took those critiques head-on Friday.
"I hear the criticism, and it's warranted," he said. "It is. And a lot of that falls on my shoulders. For four years, we've not gone to the playoffs. We've not won a division since I've been here, not won a playoff game since 2018. I've got to own all that. I do, and I'm not going to run from it."
The other primary topic covered by Ballard was the future of quarterback Anthony Richardson, who had a rocky season that included a two-game benching and four games missed to two separate injuries. Richardson had a historically low 47.7% completion rate in 2024 and had his leadership ability and commitment called into question.
"I got excited too about the talent and the 'wow' plays, but now we need the consistency down after down," Ballard said.
Before that can happen, Richardson has to display durability. He has missed 17 games in two seasons to injury, including 12 games because of a season-ending shoulder surgery as a rookie in 2023.
To that end, Ballard said, the Colts are expected to make a notable quarterback signing in the offseason.
"We can't beat our head against the wall," Ballard said. "We've got to have competition at the position for, one, competition makes everybody better and, two, he's not proven he can play 17 games."