The Indianapolis Colts’ once-promising season ended with heartbreak. They dropped their final seven games of the season after rolling to an 8-2 start. Of course, Daniel Jones’ injury took a significant toll on their chances of competing at the highest level, and even Philip Rivers’ heroics were not enough to help their case.
Colts Owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon Raises Stakes for Chris Ballard Entering 2026
Notably, Colts’ owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon believes that HC Shane Steichen and GM Chris Ballard are the right people for the job. However, that doesn’t mean that she’s going to cut them any slack. If anything, she wants everybody in the building to know that the stakes have never been higher:
“We have been very clear with Chris and Shane that giving them another opportunity means the urgency for them to perform has never been at a higher level,” Irsay-Gordon said in his press conference, per the Indy Star.
Irsay-Gordon, who took the reins of the team after Jim Irsay’s death, took a hands-on approach from day one. That gave her a clear understanding of how the team was run, and she liked what she saw from her two most crucial employees:
“There were moments during the season that gave me reason to believe we can achieve sustained success under Chris and Shane’s leadership,” Irsay-Gordon said.
Of course, no one can control injuries, and even though the team should’ve still been able to stop the bleeding, this team looks like an organization trending in the right direction.
#Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon says she hasn’t decided on a contract extension for GM Chris Ballard. He’s under contract through the 2026 season, last year of his deal.
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) January 5, 2026
That being said, Irsay-Gordon’s support won’t last forever. According to The Athletic’s insider James Boyd, she has yet to make up her mind regarding a potential contract extension, and that will only put more pressure on Ballard’s shoulders as the team enters a crucial offseason: “Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon says she hasn’t decided on a contract extension for GM Chris Ballard. He’s under contract through the 2026 season, last year of his deal,” Boyd wrote on X.
The Colts need to figure out what to do with Daniel Jones. He’s expected to be back to full strength for training camp, and he seemingly played his way into a big contract before his season-ending injury.
And with no first-round pick because of the Sauce Gardner trade, Ballard will have to get extremely creative to improve this roster and keep his job.
