Peyton Manning has reportedly emerged as a leading candidate to become the Indianapolis Colts’ next General Manager following Chris Ballard’s firing, with reports that Manning could end up with an ownership stake in the team.
Ballard was dismissed one day after the Colts blew a 13-0 halftime lead in a loss to the formerly winless Tennessee Titans. Since Indianapolis hired Chris Ballard in 2017, the team has gone 68-70-1, with only two playoff appearances in 2018 and 2020.
On Monday, Dan Patrick reported that the Colts are considering former quarterback Peyton Manning for the now-open General Manager role and are gauging his interest, which could also lead to a future role on the ownership team.
“Here you go. I just got this information,” Patrick said on his show. “The Colts’ first call will be, and then says, has been, so, the Colts’ first call will be/has been to Peyton Manning. The call will not only get names and suggestions, but the call will explore whether or not Peyton will be interested in being a general manager for the Colts as the entry point that would include ownership interest in the Colts.
“This would be the first major hire for [Carlie Irsay-Gordon], the next generation,” Dan Patrick continued. “So, now you have an opportunity to put Peyton back in Indy as a GM and part owner. And, he gets to pick his quarterback. So, now, all of a sudden, the community is going to love this. The league would love this. Would Peyton love this? So that’s the information I just got.”
How likely is Peyton Manning to take the Colts’ GM job?
“Making this change during the season was a deliberate decision,” team owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon said in a statement about Chris Ballard’s firing. “Waiting would only delay the important work that needs to begin now. We will conduct a thorough search for our next general manager and take the time necessary to identify the right leader for the future of this organization. I also want to be clear: this decision does not change our goals for the season. We have a lot of football in front of us, and I expect us to compete, improve, and win football games.”
Colts Assistant General Manager Ed Dodds will reportedly take over the team’s personnel department for the rest of the season and is also considered a strong candidate for the vacant General Manager job, so it’s no shoo-in that Peyton Manning will take the job. Of course, as Dan Patrick said, everyone interested in the NFL, especially people in Indianapolis, would love to see it.
“We’ve got to give them something to cheer about,” Colts head coach Shane Steichen said after Sunday’s loss. Hiring Peyton Manning to run the team would certainly accomplish that.