Indianapolis Colts GM Chris Ballard intent on turning team around

Chris Ballard is taking a team approach to his new job as the Indianapolis Colts' general manager.

Ballard was complimentary of Colts franchise quarterback Andrew Luck at his introductory press conference Monday, but stressed the importance of assembling a top-to-bottom winner.

"Andrew is a great player, but it will never be about one guy," Ballard said. "It's about all 53 men in the locker room. All 63 men, including the practice squad. It'll always be about the team. And is he a good piece? Absolutely, but he's just one of the 53 men that we have to win with."

Ballard also came to the immediate support of coach Chuck Pagano, whose job security had been called into question following the Colts' second straight 8-8 season in 2016.

"There were no other options. It was Chuck Pagano," Ballard said. "Chuck Pagano is a good football coach in the National Football League. Three 11-5 seasons, went to the AFC Championship Game, had two 8-8s (seasons) back-to-back, but he has won 49 games. We need to keep our eye on how hard it is to win in this league. It is hard to win and he has won 49 games in the National Football League. It was Chuck Pagano and his staff and we are rolling."

Ballard replaces Ryan Grigson, who was fired on Jan. 21 after five seasons as Indianapolis' general manager. He previously served as the Kansas City Chiefs' director of player personnel and has 15 years of scouting experience.

"Chris is the best candidate for general manager that has come about so far in the 21st century," Colts owner and CEO Jim Irsay said. "That's how impressed we were with him. His energy, his experience, his vision -- I know that he's going to get with Coach Pagano and the Colts are a much better football team today."

Having never held general manager responsibilities before, Ballard is taking a realistic approach to his position with the Colts.

"I'm probably not completely ready to be a GM," Ballard said. "I'm going to screw some things up. I'm going to make some mistakes and I'll own them."