As Colts GM Chris Ballard left Lucas Oil Stadium on Tuesday—his six-week, two-chapter coaching search complete—one thought came over him, with Frank Reich in place as Indianapolis’ new head coach and Reich’s introductory press conference in the books. Ballard laughed a few minutes later recalling it.
Why didn’t I interview him in the first place?
It wasn’t supposed to be this way. Ballard and Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels spent dozens of hours over the past year forging a relationship and, essentially, vetting one another. And while, as Ballard said, McDaniels was just one of five to interview during wild-card week, and McDaniels also interviewed with the Giants and Bears, the sense from the start was that this one was in the bag.