Local radio host Jim Rutledge has a suggestion for the next Wisconsin athletic director that should excite any and every Wisconsin fan. Rutledge says that the job should go to Chris Ballard, the current general manager of the Indianapolis Colts. That's a hire that would check every box and make a huge splash in the pool. However, it is also a major conflict of interest.
Chris Ballard is one of the most prominent members of Wisconsin's new search committee to find the next athletic director. Which means his name is almost certainly eliminated. If he is interested or if his name comes up, he may end up having to resign from the search committee and move on. Yet, Rutledge isn't the first person to suggest Ballard and for obvious reasons.
“HONESTLY, I WOULDN’T PUT IT PAST CHRIS BALLARD ENDING UP WITH THE JOB.”@JimRutledge believes the Colts GM could legitimately become Wisconsin’s next athletic director... even while serving on the search committee 👀 pic.twitter.com/CuXOpZg052
— ESPN Madison (@ESPNMadison) May 12, 2026
Indianapolis Colts GM Chris Ballard would be a massive splash AD hire for Wisconsin
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Chris Ballard has the pedigree and the background to not only help Wisconsin, but he is already a Badger. Ballard played wide receiver for Wisconsin back in the early 1990s. He went on to coach at a high school in Texas for a bit, but eventually landed in the scouting department for the Chicago Bears. That went so well that he was promoted to director of player personnel.
Eventually, the Kansas City Chiefs lured Ballard away to be their director of player personnel, and, on the same team, later as director of football operations. He was instrumental in drafting Travis Kelce, Marcus Peters, Tyreek Hill, and others.
In 2017, Ballard became the general manager for the Indianapolis Colts and had to get to work on a coaching staff almost immediately, firing Chuck Pagano in his second season as the GM. He went on to win executive of the year in 2018 and signed a contract extension with the Colts in 2021 for five seasons. Yes, his contract expires this year.
For the Badgers, Ballard has a ton of experience, but mostly in football. He hasn't done any fundraising or dealt with a wide range of sports. However, he's savvy and quick. There's a lot he could bring to the table, but for now, it's as a search team member and not as a true candidate. Ballard isn't currently a candidate, even if Jim Rutledge thinks he should be.
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