Sources: Peyton Manning not expected to be candidate for Colts GM job

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Peyton Manning has many jobs -- Omaha Productions, the ManningCast, commercial pitchman -- but he is not expected to add Indianapolis Colts general manager to his list of titles and responsibilities, league sources told ESPN.

The Colts have not approached Manning about their vacant GM job, nor would the Hall of Fame quarterback be expected to be interested in the position, according to sources. Manning has not trained nor aspired to become a GM in the NFL, not with all that he has going on in his life.

Manning has created a post-football, off-the-field career as successful as the one he he had on the gridiron. He has two children in high school, "Monday Night Football" obligations, and commercial shoots scattered across his calendar.

The timing to become an NFL general manager, which requires day-to-day attention, would not be right, according to sources.

The Colts fired Chris Ballard last Monday, ending his run of nine-plus seasons as their GM. Owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon said in a statement that the Colts planned to conduct "a thorough search" for their next GM, adding that the franchise would "take the time necessary to identify the right leader for the future of this organization."

Manning would be willing to listen and consider any NFL opportunities at any time, but the Colts have not discussed any of those possibilities with him, according to sources. It's possible that some could come in the future, sources said, but those discussions likely would involve higher-profile positions similar to the ones that other former NFL quarterbacks have accepted with other franchises.

Former New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady has become a limited owner with the Las Vegas Raiders, as well as a sounding board for the organization. Former Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback Matt Ryan has returned to the franchise as its president of football. And Jacksonville Jaguars former standout offensive tackle Tony Boselli now is the team's executive vice president of football operations.

Back in 2024, Manning publicly said that running an NFL franchise was not on his radar at that time. He said he was enjoying working on the ManningCast with his brother, Eli, and being at home with his family.

By having the ManningCast and Omaha Productions, Manning has been able to stay close to the sport of football, and have as much work as he wants without the demands of running a team.

The Colts could hold sentimental appeal to Manning, just as the Denver Broncos once did for John Elway and the Miami Dolphins did for Dan Marino. Elway became the Broncos' GM, and Marino still is a special advisor for the Dolphins and has been since August 2014.

Ballard, in the final year of his contract, was in a make-or-break season after Indianapolis' seven-game losing streak in 2025 derailed its 8-2 start and prompted Irsay-Gordon and her sisters to consider widespread changes. The Colts were the first team to ever reach six games over .500 and finish with a losing record.

The Colts have been unable to reverse that trajectory so far this season and enter Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings with a 2-4 record.

The Colts made just two playoff appearances under Ballard (2018, 2020), with only a single playoff victory, and posted a 72-82-1 record during his tenure. Notably, the Colts never won the AFC South during his stint and have not won the division since 2014 -- former quarterback Andrew Luck's second season.

After Luck retired unexpectedly in 2019, the Colts have remained on a quarterback carousel that Ballard never escaped. Indianapolis has had 14 different starting quarterbacks under Ballard, tied with the New York Jets and Broncos for the third-most in that span, according to ESPN Research.