Peyton Manning isn’t expected to play savior for the Colts — at least for now.
The Hall of Famer likely is not going to add Colts general manager to his résumé, ESPN reported Sunday.
The Colts did not approach its former quarterback of 13 years about the vacancy, nor is Manning anticipated to be interested on top of his other responsibilities including ESPN’s “ManningCast,” Omaha Productions and as a commercial star.
A week ago, the Colts fired longtime GM Chris Ballard following the team’s embarassing loss to the then-winless Titans, 26-20.
Ballard served in the position since 2017. Yet, Indianapolis has only made the playoffs once since quarterback Andrew Luck retired in 2019 — a wild-card round loss to the Bills in 2020.
Manning has created a successful off-the-field career that he likely doesn’t feel the need to prepare for and dive into something completely new.
The 50-year-old also has his fraternal twins in high school — 15-year-olds Marshall and Mosley.
The committment that a daily GM job requires may not be appealing or feel right.
In 2024, Manning publicly stated running an NFL franchise was not at the front of his mind at the time. He was soaking in the “ManningCast” alongside his brother, Eli, and spending time with his family at home.
After Ballard’s firing, Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon stated the franchise was ready to conduct “a thorough search” in order to “identify the right leader for the future of this organization.”
Ballard was under a great deal of pressure in the final year of his contract.
After the Colts got off to an 8-2 start in 2025, they endured a seven-game losing streak without quarterback Daniel Jones, who suffered a season-ending Achilles tear. Indianapolis was the first team to get six games over .500 and then finish the season with a losing record.
The Colts have yet to meet those expectations in 2026, as they’re off to a 2-4 start to sit second in the AFC South.
The Colts travel to Minnesota on Sunday to face the undefeated Vikings (5-0).
