There are a lot of weeks in Peyton Manning’s football life that folks can envy. This week isn’t one of them.
On Saturday, his Tennessee Volunteers lost to the unranked South Carolina Gamecocks. Sunday morning, he slipped into fourth place on the NFL’s all-time passing touchdown list. And last Sunday, he watched his Indianapolis Colts lose, at home, to the previously winless Tennessee Titans.
Indianapolis’ loss was the last straw for general manager Chris Ballard, who was relieved of his duties one day after the defeat. Following the dismissal, legendary sports media member Dan Patrick revealed the Colts had reached out to Manning to gauge his interest in the vacant position. ESPN’s Adam Schefter poured water on any fire around that move on Sunday, though, saying Manning was “not expected to be a candidate” for the job.
Indianapolis has lost 11 of its last 13 games. The Colts started the 2025 campaign 8-2, which led Ballard to trade for star cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner. Indy gave up two first-round picks and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell in the deal. That draft capital, and Mitchell, is sorely missed now that the team is on the verge of a rebuild. The Colts battle the undefeated Minnesota Vikings at 1 p.m. ET this afternoon.
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