Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard is feeling the pressure.
Going into his eighth season at the helm, Ballard's tenure has been a roller coaster starting with the abrupt retirement of a former franchise quarterback before the 2019 season.
That feels like eons ago, but Ballard still only has one playoff win and two playoff appearances — none since 2020 — to his name.
When asked about why he still believes he's the right man to run the front office, Ballard gave an impassioned answer.
"I’ve always had a strong belief in myself and those around me, a strong belief in what we do," Ballard said last week. "The last three years, not making the playoffs, it's a disappointment. I'm not going to sit here and say it wasn't, but I still have a very strong belief in what we're doing, how we're doing it and how we're going to get there. That will not – either you believe for something or you believe nothing. Like it's easy to vacillate, easy to vacillate and go with what the world wants you to do. You either believe in something or you don't. It's what we believe. If it gets me fired, so be it.”
Ballard has always been the type of general manager who sticks with his beliefs. He's made a few adjustments over the years, but he sticks to his process of roster building as a whole.
Sometimes, it works out. Other times, it hasn't. There always seems to be one position group that gets pushed down the list of priorities every offseason. Entering this new campaign, that position is the safety group.
It's admirable to have conviction in a plan through difficult times. Sometimes, Ballard does so to a fault.
It's very likely Ballard's tenure will be directly linked to the career arc of Anthony Richardson. If the unicorn quarterback hits, Ballard will be safe for a long time.
If Richardson struggles with injuries and the Colts fail to consistently reach the playoffs during his rookie contract, it's difficult to imagine Ballard sticking around after that.
MORE COLTS
Colts GM explains decision to keep 3 quarterbacks on active roster
Josh Downs injury update
NFL analyst proposes Colts 'blockbuster' trade for Steelers tight end
