Chris Ballard takes blame as Colts fail to reach playoffs again
- The NFL playoffs begin with two AFC Wild Card games, featuring the Los Angeles Chargers against the Houston Texans and the Baltimore Ravens hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers.
- Chris Ballard, the Colts' general manager, reflects on his poor decisions that led to another playoff miss, emphasizing the need for a different approach in upcoming offseasons.
- The Colts' management acknowledges a lack of team cohesion and aims to improve their roster significantly ahead of the next season.
In Indianapolis, the Colts general manager Chris Ballard expressed his regret over the team missing the playoffs for another consecutive year. This admission followed a disappointing 8-9 season, leaving the Colts without a postseason appearance. Ballard acknowledged that his decision to retain the same roster instead of introducing new competition was misguided. In the first eight seasons with the team, Indianapolis made the postseason twice, failing to secure a division title and only winning one playoff game. Ballard's reflection came just days after a season that saw visible tensions within the locker room, as defensive tackle DeForest Buckner cited issues with personal egos overshadowing team unity. To address these shortcomings, Ballard plans to pursue free agents more rigorously this offseason and is determined to make substantial changes, including the decision to not renew the contract of defensive coordinator Gus Bradley. The Colts appear to be in a state of transition as they try to identify players who can effectively contribute and help steer the franchise back to contention.