Recent Success From Indianapolis Colts Showcasing Why Chris Ballard Should Be NFL Executive Of The Year

Since Chris Ballard arrived as Indianapolis Colts general manager in 2017, the overhaul he’s done to the roster has been nothing short of fantastic. He’s made the Colts’ weaknesses a strength — offensive line, defense, running game. Unlike previous eras of Colts football, this team doesn’t need a quarterback like Peyton Manning or Andrew Luck to carry them to victory.

On Christmas against the Arizona Cardinals, they were down the following players due to COVID-19: All-Pro linebacker Darius Leonard, All-Pro offensive guard Quenton Nelson, offensive guard Mark Glowinski, wide receiver Zach Pascal, safety Khari Willis. On top of that, they were missing Pro Bowl center Ryan Kelly due to a personal tragedy and safety Julian Blackmon, who tore his Achilles earlier in the season.

Against all odds, the Colts still defeated one of the best teams in the NFC on the road, 22-16. Reserves who stepped into starting roles thrived, like linebacker E.J. Speed who finished with a game-high nine tackles. It was the latest example of how Ballard’s roster-building strategy continues to pay huge dividends.

When Ballard was hired, he expected to build a roster for the next decade around a superstar quarterback in Luck. Instead, Luck shockingly retired after only one season due to continuous injury problems.

Ballard didn’t fold. Instead, he pivoted and built a sustainable winner even with three different starting quarterbacks over the last three seasons.

Backup Jacoby Brissett was able to keep the team around .500. Philip Rivers led the Colts to an 11-5 record and a playoff berth last season. Now, Carson Wentz’s career has been revived in Indianapolis thanks in large part to head coach Frank Reich and Ballard’s roster being an elite unit built to not need a signal-caller having to carry them.

After the Colts’ 0-3 start to the 2021-22 campaign, they have won nine of their last 12 games. In eleven of those, Indianapolis has led by double-digits at one point.

This team is built to win now and for years to come. And there’s no team hotter in the NFL right now than the Colts, a dangerous team nobody will want to play in the playoffs.

Ballard won Executive of the Year in 2018. It might be time for him to get crowned with the award once again for the season Indianapolis is putting together. Without Ballard building quality depth across the board, plus making the smart albeit risky investment in Wentz, Indianapolis is nowhere close to the position they are currently.

Already known as one of the best talent evaluators in the NFL, continuously hitting on draft picks. Ballard’s patient strategy in free agency and trades has been an amazing trend to monitor throughout his tenure as well.

It’s time to acknowledge that Ballard is the best GM in the NFL. With how young the Colts’ roster is, built around many players age-25 and younger, Indianapolis’ title window is just beginning to open. It’s another feather in the brilliant cap of Ballard’s executive career.