INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) - The Indianapolis Colts introduced their new general manager, Chris Ballard, at a press conference Monday afternoon.
Ballard worked most recently for the Kansas City Chiefs. In a news release on the team's website Sunday night, the Colts said Ballard emerged from a group of six candidates.
Ballard interviewed with Colts after Ryan Grigson was let go a week ago Saturday.
"I'm jacked...haven't slept in three nights," he said at his introductory press conference.
Ballard has yet to serve as a team's top decision-maker, but he comes with a long history as a scout and front-office executive.
"I will make some mistakes, but I will own them. I will never put the blame off on somebody else," he said.
Ballard said he is sticking with Pagano and vowed to work with the Colts' head coach.
"Me and Chuck will make decisions together for the best interest of the Indianapolis Colts," he said.
Coach Chuck Pagano said he's looking forward to working with Ballard.
Ballard was hired by the Chiefs in 2013 as the director of player personnel and was promoted to director of football operations under current GM John Dorsey. Last season, the Chiefs earned the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs and they've been a consistent playoff contender despite not having a Pro Bowl quarterback.
Like Grigson, Ballard worked with coach Andy Reid. And like Grigson, the move comes after most teams had already announced offseason coaching and front office changes.
Ballard played at the University of Wisconsin football and started as an area scout with the Chicago Bears. After 12 seasons in Chicago, he was hired by the Chiefs.
He takes over a team in Indianapolis that has missed the playoffs each of the past two seasons after going 8-8.
But he also inherits one of the league's best young quarterbacks in Andrew Luck, a Pro Bowl receiver in T.Y. Hilton and a young offensive line that played its best football over the last month of the season.
On defense, Robert Mathis, Indy's career sacks leader, is retiring, and last season's sacks leader, Erik Walden, could become an unrestricted free agent.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
