Colts Fire Chris Ballard as Leadership Questions Grow

Segment Spotlight: Quick Hits From Pushing The Odds with Matt Perrault

Colts’ Decision to Fire Chris Ballard Raises Questions About Shane Stein and the Franchise’s Direction

The Indianapolis Colts’ decision to fire general manager Chris Ballard after six weeks of football should have been accompanied by the departure of Shane Stein. If the franchise is cleaning house and does not intend to keep him beyond this season, there is little reason to let him remain in place or draft another quarterback.

The Colts entered a make-or-break season for both the general manager and head coach while relying on a quarterback coming off an Achilles tear. They were also depending on a wide receiver returning from heel surgery who needed more time, with little depth behind him.

Trading two first-round picks for a cornerback also looks like a massive overpay, especially when Joey Porter Jr. could have been acquired for much less. It was one bad move after another. Ballard and Stein appeared to be dead men walking before the season, yet Stein is still drawing a paycheck while the general manager is gone.

These decisions affect real people and their families, so calling for someone to lose a job should not be taken lightly. Still, if the Colts have decided to fire the general manager, the head coach should be gone as well.

From a broader leadership perspective, there is reason to feel comfortable with the franchise’s direction. Although the internet has plenty of criticism about the owner’s leadership, it is not a bad thing for someone leading an organization to immerse herself in its operations, educate herself and understand what is happening day to day.

That approach is preferable to serving as a figurehead or puppet. A leader should ask decision-makers to justify their actions and explain what is happening in simple terms. Anyone in a position of power who cannot handle that level of accountability may not fully understand what they are doing.