After firing general manager Chris Ballard, the Indianapolis Colts could turn to a franchise legend.

Dan Patrick reported on his program on Monday that Indy's first call will be to former quarterback Peyton Manning. In addition to possibly taking the GM role, Patrick's source said Manning could also take on a minority ownership position.

"I just got this information: The Colts' first call will be/has been to Peyton Manning," Patrick said as he read a message from his phone. "The call will not only get names and suggestions, but the call will explore whether or not Peyton would be interested in being a general manager for the Colts as the entry point that would include ownership interest in the Colts."

Manning, 50, spent the first 14 years of his career with the Colts, winning one Super Bowl. After multiple neck surgeries, Manning was released by Indy and signed with the Denver Broncos in 2012. He played the final four years of his NFL career with the Broncos, winning a second Super Bowl title before retiring in 2016.

Manning has remained closely connected to the Broncos in retirement, and there were reports in 2022 of the team's new ownership group having conversations with Manning about joining the club as an advisor with the possibility of future equity in the team. Manning never officially joined Denver's front office, and while the team has added three minority owners, Manning is not among them.

Manning said in 2024 that running an NFL team wasn't on his radar "in any way." Seven years earlier, Manning downplayed the possibility of owning a team during a 2017 interview with Peter King, but he left the door open to eventually considering "an executive role of some sort."

Manning's daughter plays high school sports in the Denver area. His son attends a college-preparatory boarding school in Chattanooga, Tennessee.