Chris Ballard, the Indianapolis Colts general manager, just got the boot one day after his team lost 26-20 to the previously winless Tennessee Titans, dropping them to a dismal 2-4 on the season. This dude, the first executive fired in the 2026 NFL season, spent nearly a decade struggling to find a quarterback after Andrew Luck dipped in 2019. It turns out, the ghost of trades past, specifically the one that sent Russell Wilson out of Seattle, is still rattling some chains and, apparently, getting GMs fired across the league.
The QB Quest That Killed a Career
Ballard’s almost 10-year run as GM was absolutely wrecked by his inability to lock down a long-term solution at quarterback. Think about it: after Luck’s sudden retirement before the 2019 season, they haven’t made the playoffs since 2020, when a 39-year-old Philip Rivers ran the show on a one-year, $25 million deal. Rivers then retired after a Wild Card loss to the Bills. But here’s the kicker: Ballard had a shot to end that revolving door in 2021 with Matthew Stafford. Indianapolis was on Stafford’s short list of preferred destinations, right there with the Rams and 49ers. Stafford even admitted on the “New Heights” podcast in March 2025 that he was searching for houses on Zillow in Indianapolis before he got shipped to the Rams! Can you imagine? The Rams ended up giving the Lions a 2022 first-round pick, a 2023 first-round pick, a 2021 third-round pick, and Jared Goff for Stafford. Everyone thought Goff was just a “throw-in” because of his contract, but wouldn’t you know it, he turned out to be the answer in Detroit, landing a four-year, $212 million contract extension in 2024, averaging $53 million a year. Ballard missed that, and it cost him his job.
The Seattle Standard That Changed Everything
Now, let’s talk about why this hits close to home in the Emerald City. The source article makes it clear: what Ballard *should* have offered for Stafford would have been somewhere between the actual Stafford trade and the blockbuster quarterback trades of 2022 for Deshaun Watson and our very own Russell Wilson. Remember that March 2022 trade, 12s? The Seattle Seahawks dealt Wilson and a 2022 fourth-round pick to the Denver Broncos. And what did we get back? A haul! Tight end Noah Fant, defensive lineman Shelby Harris, quarterback Drew Lock, plus 2022 and 2023 first-round picks, 2022 and 2023 second-round picks, and a 2022 fifth-round pick. Reportedly, the Commanders even offered three first-rounders, but Wilson’s no-trade clause gave him the keys. The Watson trade shortly after was just as wild, with Houston getting three firsts, a third, and two fourths from Cleveland. Seattle set the bar for what it costs to land a franchise quarterback, and it was astronomical.
It just goes to show you, in the cutthroat NFL, every single decision at quarterback can make or break a franchise, and sometimes, even send a GM packing. What does this all mean for us? It means the price of a franchise quarterback is astronomical, and the memory of what Seattle got for its own superstar just keeps rising. It’s a reminder that even when things feel tough, the decisions made at Lumen Field can echo through the entire league. Keep those 12s loud, Seattle, because every move matters!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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