The Colts fired veteran general manager Chris Ballard on Monday, putting them in the market for a new football operations leader for the first time since 2017. There are several paths the Colts could take to find Ballard’s replacement, including entrusting the role to someone with no managerial experience. Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning, a Colt from 1998 to 2011, fits that description. Since Ballard’s ouster, there have been conflicting reports about whether the Colts are interested in reuniting with Manning in a key organizational position. On Monday’s episode of his radio and television show, Dan Patrick said he heard Manning would be the first phone call the Colts would make. They would ask Manning for “names and suggestions” and gauge his interest in the GM job, according to Patrick. The Colts could also discuss an ownership stake with the 50-year-old. As of Tuesday afternoon, Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon had not yet contacted Manning, a source told FOX 59’s Mike Chappell. However, Chappell is not ruling out the idea of the Colts reaching out to Manning, who led them to two AFC titles and a Super Bowl as a player. Indianapolis unveiled a statue of Manning outside Lucas Oil Stadium in 2017. Manning finished his career in Denver, where he won two more AFC championships and a Super Bowl from 2012 to 2015. John Elway, Denver’s general manager during Manning’s tenure at Mile High, led the Broncos to five Super Bowls during his 16-year Hall of Fame career with the Broncos. Manning could take a similar career path to Elway if he returns to his old stomping grounds in Indianapolis to run their front office. However, for now it is unknown if either party is interested in discussing the work. Even if the Colts come calling, Manning may be happy to continue focusing on his media company, Omaha Productions.
