It looks like we can rule out the possibility of Peyton Manning becoming the Indianapolis Colts’ new general manager.

ESPN reported Sunday morning that the team “have not approached Manning about their vacant GM job, nor would the Hall of Fame quarterback be expected to be interested in the position.” The Colts became the first NFL team to change general managers in 2026 when they fired Chris Ballard on Monday after a home loss to the Tennessee Titans.

The idea of the former Colts QB re-joining the organization was first publicly floated by former ESPN anchor Dan Patrick on his radio show immediately after Ballard was fired.

“And I had a source last hour, once this news broke with Chris Ballard, saying that he believes the Irsay [family] will reach out to Peyton Manning about being a GM, maybe the entry point of also having part ownership,” Patrick said.

“I know that Peyton and family are happy in Colorado, he has a son who’s playing high school football there. But is this enough potential to be an owner of the Colts? Is that enough to kind of lure him back to the NFL?”

The Colts dropped to 2-4 after the loss to the Titans and in the statement announcing Ballard’s firing, team CEO Carlie Irsay-Gordon said that the team’s standard was “to compete for championships.”

Ballard became the team’s general manager ahead of the 2017 season. During his tenure, the Colts never won the AFC South and made two playoff appearances. The franchise faces a potential decision at quarterback given Daniel Jones’ play as he returns from the Achilles injury he suffered in 2025 and the structure of his contract. And the Colts also don’t have a first-round pick in the loaded 2027 NFL Draft after trading it to the New York Jets as part of a midseason trade for cornerback Sauce Gardner last year.