Indianapolis Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon has relieved general manager Chris Ballard of his duties, a move that prompted former NFL player Dan Dakich to declare the decision "seven years too late." The announcement came on Monday, following a 26-20 home loss to the winless Tennessee Titans, leaving the Colts with a 2-4 record. Irsay-Gordon stated that a change in leadership is necessary to meet the franchise's standard of competing for championships, noting that waiting would only delay essential work.
Dakich, host of the podcast 'Don't @ Me,' reacted to the news by labeling Ballard "the worst general manager in the history of the NFL." He expressed frustration that the organization took so long to act, referencing a previous exchange where he tagged Irsay-Gordon on Twitter after the loss to the Titans. Dakich questioned how he could identify Ballard's shortcomings years earlier while ownership remained unaware, citing a period during which the team failed to make the playoffs and produced few notable draft selections.
The former player specifically pointed to the absence of high-value draft picks since Jonathan Taylor and characterized Ballard's management as frivolous with spending. Dakich also criticized Ballard for being arrogant toward fans and for a previous incident where he blamed white people for social unrest. "This guy was a sh, show from the beginning," Dakich said, emphasizing that Ballard was not the right man for the job.
Ballard was hired by the Colts in January 2017. During his tenure, Indianapolis never won the AFC South division and reached the NFL playoffs only twice. The team won just one postseason game in 2018. Irsay-Gordon's statement highlighted a sense of urgency established at the start of the season, asserting that the current leadership change was a deliberate decision to address performance issues immediately rather than waiting for the off-season.