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By Cameron Kiszla
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The Indianapolis Colts are coming off a roller coaster of a season in which they won seven of their first eight games, then dropped their last seven and ultimately missed the postseason entirely.
It's the latest in a string of five mediocre seasons, all of which resulted in the Colts narrowly missing the playoffs.
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In fact, the Colts haven't won a playoff game since the 2018 season, back when the now-retired Andrew Luck was still under center.
Given those results, general manager Chris Ballard knows the fanbase is discontent, and on Tuesday, he addressed the concerns head-on.
'We Need to Win'
Ballard, speaking from training camp, was asked about an extension to his contract, which expires at the end of this year.
"No, I wouldn't do one," he explained to reporters, as shown in video taken by WISH-TV News in Indiana. "I'm in the last year of my deal. We need to win. We need to win."
The 2026 season looks to be a good opportunity for Ballard and the Colts to get back on the winning track.
Granted, last season started in a promising fashion but fell apart due to injuries, but quarterback Daniel Jones is back, providing stability at a position the Colts have been bandaging up for years.
Additionally, the team brings back star running back Jonathan Taylor and multiple other playmakers, as well as a defense anchored by cornerback Sauce Gardner, defensive tackle DeForest Buckner and pass rusher Laiatu Latu.
Despite having key pieces in place — and apparently with his own job on the line — Ballard downplayed the question of urgency this season, as shown in video taken by Mike Chappell of FOX 59.
"I'm just a steward in this position, and I've always believed that," Ballard said. "I'll always do the best thing for the organization, both short and long term. That's just how I tick and how I roll. I'm grateful that I've always had a job in this league and I have great respect for — and that will never change. The fun to me is in the journey."
That journey across an NFL season is what keeps fans coming back for more, but if it doesn't end in a winning destination, Ballard might find himself looking for a new gig for next season.
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