EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsINDIANAPOLIS -- When the Indianapolis Colts introduced Chris Ballard as their general manager on Jan. 30, 2017, they were elated to land one of the hottest executive candidates in the league.Late owner Jim Irsay made brief remarks before ceding the microphone to Ballard in the initial news conference. But Irsay said plenty in his short statement, saying of Ballard, "I really feel Chris is the best candidate for general manager that has come about so far in the 21st century."Flash forward nearly 10 years and fans on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium were heartily chanting "Fire Ballard!" as the clocked ticked down on the Colts' stunning loss to the previously winless Tennessee Titans.Irsay's bold statement was quite a claim to live up to, but Ballard's vision for the Colts never came close to producing the results Indianapolis expected.No division titles. Two playoff appearances and one playoff victory. A sub-.500 record -- 72-82-1.It all culminated in Ballard's firing on Monday.Now the Colts are at a crossroads. Many questions are left to be addressed. Here are a few:Will coach Shane Steichen survive?Owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Jim Irsay's eldest daughter, seemed to tie the fates of Ballard and coach Shane Steichen together. She met with them privately late last season, amid a seven-game, season-ending losing streak marked by injuries. In that meeting, she granted them another year at the helm.It was, she said, a final chance to demonstrate that they could deliver."We have been very clear with [Ballard] and [Steichen], but giving them another opportunity means that the sense of urgency for them to deliver and perform has never been higher," Irsay-Gordon said in January.But, now, after firing Ballard independently of Steichen, it at least raises the possibility that Steichen will be judged on his own merits. Unlikely as a return for the coach might seem, Steichen does have a solid reputation in NFL circles. Had he been fired after last season, sources told ESPN he was likely to be in the mix for other head-coaching opportunities.But, for the time being, Steichen's seat remains quite hot.Could a fire sale be looming?There was a notable line in Irsay-Gordon's statement on Monday:"Making this change during the season was a deliberate decision," she said. "Waiting would only delay the important work that needs to begin now."Did she mean this generally? Or could it also be a hint at what is to come in the near term?In either case, the Colts are heading for changes in the future. Big roster moves are certain to be among those changes once a new GM takes over and begins acting on personal preferences.In light of the looming Nov. 10 trade deadline, the Colts have to at least consider moving some of their valuable players. At the top of that list are guard Quenton Nelson and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner.Both are in the final seasons of their contracts and continue to show moments of dominance. Nelson, an All-Pro, was engaged in contract talks before the season but did not reach a deal. It is unclear where things stood before Ballard's firing. Buckner was coming off neck surgery earlier this year and had considered retirement, but he has surpassed expectations since his return. Even at 32, he is drawing double teams on 74.5% of his pass-rush snaps, the highest rate of his career.Buckner on Sunday was outspoken about his frustration."I'm pissed off," he said. "I'm sick and tired of the same song and dance every year."Becoming sellers at the trade deadline would be a reversal of philosophy for the Colts, who recently were making calls to the Arizona Cardinals about potentially pursuing receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. before he was traded to Houston.But the situation changed pretty dramatically after Sunday's loss and Ballard's dismissal. The Colts now sit at 2-4 and face Minnesota and Jacksonville in their next two games - teams with a combined record of 9-2.What's next at QB?The Colts' next GM is unlikely to have any ties to current starting quarterback Daniel Jones, increasing the odds Jones could be elsewhere in 2027.Jones is struggling mightily in his return from the ruptured Achilles he suffered last season. He ranks near the bottom among starting quarterbacks in several key statistical categories, including QBR (30th), completion percentage (29th) and yards per attempt (29th). Jones had a career-best 68% completion rate in 2025, but in 2026 is completing a career-low 59.6% of his attempts.There are mitigating factors, like the lack of dependable receiving targets, but it is difficult to envision Jones having a future in Indianapolis under a new executive unless something changes. Jones signed a lucrative extension in March, agreeing to a two-year, $88 million deal. The Colts can void Jones' deal after this season, but it will come at the cost of $35 million in dead money that must be accounted for on their 2027 salary cap.Not to be ignored is 2023 fourth-overall draft pick Anthony Richardson Sr., who remains on the Colts' roster, but hasn't started a game since 2024. Richardson is in the final year of his rookie contract.How will new ownership handle decisions?This is a pivotal moment for Irsay-Gordon and her sisters. They are charged for the first time since their father's death last year with overseeing key decisions that will shape the franchise. They've long been involved in the decision-making process, but the final call historically rested with their dad.Now, the three sisters will have final say.Among the key things to watch is who they rely on for counsel. Jim Irsay routinely sought the advice of people like Bill Polian, his former GM and team president, and Tony Dungy, the Colts' Hall-of-Fame former coach. Will Irsay's daughters use a similar approach? Do they have trusted advisors around the game to assist with the challenge of hiring a new GM?Colts COO Pete Ward remains with the franchise, as he has been for more than four decades. He remains one of the sisters' closest advisors and can help them navigate a GM search.But the Irsay sisters have always felt prepared."We were exposed to every area you could possibly think of," Kalen Jackson, the youngest Irsay sister, said last year. Their father, she said, "never cut us out of any areas of any kind. And I think that will help us in this transition [to ownership]."
