Ed Dodds to lead Colts personnel department for the rest of the season
The Colts confirmed assistant GM Ed Dodds will run their personnel department for the rest of the season, a day after Chris Ballard's firing following the 26-20 loss to the Titans.
The Indianapolis Colts have handed the personnel department to assistant GM Ed Dodds for the rest of the season, one day after firing GM Chris Ballard following Sunday’s 26-20 home loss to the winless Tennessee Titans. NFL insider Tom Pelissero first reported the move, which the club confirmed and the Indy Star and Colts Wire also reported. (https://coltswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/colts/2026/10/19/ed-dodds-lead-colts-personnel-department-after-ballard-firing/92330360007/)
Dodds, who joined the Colts as vice president of player personnel in 2017 and was promoted to assistant GM in 2018, was Ballard’s right-hand man for nine seasons. He spent a decade with the Seattle Seahawks from 2007 to 2016, through two Super Bowls including the franchise’s XLVIII title, and was a finalist for the Tennessee Titans’ GM job in 2025. (https://coltswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/colts/2026/10/19/who-is-ed-dodds-colts-personnel-chris-ballard/92332008007/)
In a statement via The Athletic’s James Boyd, the Colts said: “Ed Dodds will be leading our personnel department for the remainder of the season. Shane [Steichen] and football staff outside of personnel will report to ownership.” Owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon has promised a thorough search for the permanent GM.
Steichen paid tribute Monday, saying he has “a ton of respect for Chris” and that the club’s failure “doesn’t completely fall on Chris.” “I’m the head football coach. It takes all of us. Coaches, scouts, everybody,” he said. (https://coltswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/colts/2026/10/19/shane-steichen-addresses-colts-firing-gm-chris-ballard/92333905007/)
Dodds faces the NFL trade deadline at 4 p.m. ET on Nov. 10, with the Indy Star naming Jonathan Taylor, DeForest Buckner and Quenton Nelson as potential trade candidates — although Irsay-Gordon says the 2-4 club’s season goals are unchanged. (https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nfl/colts/2026/10/19/chris-ballard-fired-ed-dodds-will-run-colts-personnel-department/92331027007/)
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