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Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard and coach Frank Reich have been given contract extensions through 2026.
Both Ballard and Reich have signed the deals, the Colts announced Wednesday.
“In Chris Ballard and Frank Reich, we have as great a general manager/head coach combination as there is in the NFL, and I can’t tell you how proud I am to have them leading our franchise,” Colts owner Jim Irsay said. “I truly believe this football team is on the doorstep of great things, and that’s because of the culture both have cultivated in their time with the ‘Horseshoe.’
“Whether we are marching toward the playoffs or facing adversity, whether we are building our roster or making a difference in the community, we have the ideal leaders in Chris and Frank.”
Ballard was hired Jan. 29, 2017, and is entering his 21st NFL season. In his four seasons overseeing football operations, Indianapolis has two double-digit win records (11-5 in 2020 and 10-6 in 2018) and playoff appearances in those years. Ballard was selected the 2018 NFL top executive by the Professional Football Writers of America.
Reich enters his fourth season as head coach. Reich has led the Colts to the playoffs in two of his first three seasons at the helm. He has 29 years of NFL experience both as a player (1985-1998) and coach (2006-present). He rejoined the Colts after spending six seasons on the team’s coaching staff from 2006-2011.
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Would have liked to see a season with Wentz first, but both of these coaches have proven they’re great at what they do. Go Colts!
I don’t think Wentz’s success or not has much to say about either Ballard or Reich, but either way I agree with the rest of your statement. Smart teams do not have a lot of turnover in these two posts regardless of a season here or there that might be below expectations. This allows both guys to have plenty of runway protection without looking over their shoulder and, frankly, if things go south, the Colts can let them go and easily pay the balance of the contract without breaking a sweat. (Also, most such contracts have a provision for the firing team to pay only the shortage if the GM or HC finds a new NFL job at a lower rate of pay.)