Dan Dakich is not upset about the Indianapolis Colts firing general manager Chris Ballard; he’s just upset that it took the franchise this long to make the move.
On Monday, a day after the Colts lost to the winless and hopeless Tennessee Titans at home, Indianapolis announced that Ballard has been relieved of his duties as team general manager. Carlie Irsay-Gordon, owner and CEO of the Colts, issued a strong statement regarding why the decision to fire Ballard unfolded at this specific point of the regular season.
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“As I said at the start of the season, the sense of urgency has never been higher. Our standard is to compete for championships, and I believe a change in leadership is necessary to meet that standard,” Irsay-Gordon’s statement said in part. Making this change during the season was a deliberate decision. Waiting would only delay the important work that needs to begin now.”
General Manager Chris Ballard of the Indianapolis Colts walks off the field after the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 29, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) (Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
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Dakich, the Indiana legend and host of ‘Don’t @ Me,’ has been adamant for years that Ballard simply was not the right man for the job, and believes he got exactly what he deserved by being fired six games into the season.
Indianapolis Colts General Manager Chris Ballard during a NFL game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Indianapolis Colts on September 13, 2026 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN. (Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) (Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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“Well, the worst general manager in the history of the NFL just got fired,” Dakich said on Monday while reacting to the breaking news.
“Look, this is seven years too late. As I said last night on Twitter to one of the Irsays, how did I know this a long time ago and none of you did? How could I watch ‘Hard Knocks’ five years ago and go ‘this is an absolute sh–tshow and none of you did?’ How could you keep a guy over the last five to seven years, who hasn’t made the playoffs in the last five, hasn’t had a draft pick worth a damn since Jonathan Taylor, however many years ago, has spent your money frivolously, and been incredibly arrogant to fans, and actually cried blaming white people for social unrest?
“No, this guy was a sh–show from the beginning.”
Chris Ballard of the Indianapolis Colts speaks during a press conference at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on February 24, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
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As he noted, Dakich did tag Irsay-Gordon on Twitter on Sunday afternoon following the Colts’ 26-20 loss to the Titans, asking her how he knew that Ballard wasn’t fit for the job, and she didn’t.
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Ballard was officially hired by the Colts in January 2017. Indianapolis never won the AFC South and made the NFL playoffs just twice, winning just one postseason game in 2018, during his tenure. He was relieved of his duties with the team sitting at 2-4 on the year.