Now that the Chris Ballard era in Indianapolis has officially hit the cutting room floor, Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon faces the single most important decision of her executive career.
For nearly a decade, the franchise dragged itself through Ballard’s ultra-conservative, draft-hoarding vacuum while the rest of the league aggressively evolved. The results? Two playoff appearances, zero AFC South titles, and a Colts fan base that has collectively lost its patience.
With Ballard gone, Carlie isn’t just looking for someone to draft solid guards and linebackers in the third round. She needs a forward-thinking architect who operates with urgency, understands how to manipulate the cap, and isn’t afraid to attack free agency.
If Carlie wants to build this Colts franchise in her own sharp, modern image, these three general manager candidates should be at the top of her call list.
Glenn Cook (Assistant GM & VP of Player Personnel, Cleveland Browns)
If Carlie Irsay-Gordon wants a brilliant, modern executive who also understands the weight of the horseshoe, Glenn Cook is the home-run hire.
Cook started his NFL journey on West 56th Street as a scouting assistant in 2011. Since then, he’s evolved into one of the most respected, well-rounded front-office minds in the entire league. Working alongside Andrew Berry in Cleveland, Cook has helped manage complex salary caps, navigate high-stakes trade markets, and build deep, talent-loaded rosters.
Why He Fits Carlie’s Vision for the Colts:
Unlike the previous regime’s rigid refusal to utilize free agency, Cook comes from an organizational philosophy that treats every player acquisition channel—trades, free agency, and the draft—as equal weapons. He knows the Indianapolis culture, but he brings a ruthless, modern edge that the Colts haven’t seen in a decade.
Tariq Ahmad (Vice President of Player Personnel, San Francisco 49ers)
If you want to build a powerhouse, you steal from the team that consistently churns out deep playoff rosters regardless of who is playing quarterback. Enter Tariq Ahmad.
Ahmad has been a vital engine inside John Lynch’s San Francisco juggernaut. Rising through the ranks from scout to VP of Player Personnel, Ahmad is widely credited for San Francisco’s uncanny ability to identify mid-to-late-round gems and continually retool elite, physical football teams.
Why He Fits Carlie’s Vision:
The 49ers don’t sit back and play defense in the front office; they attack. Ahmad brings an aggressive scouting background paired with a deep understanding of modern positional value. Hiring him instantly injects a championship-caliber blueprint into a front office that has spent years accepting mediocrity as “part of the process.”
James Liipfert (Assistant General Manager, Houston Texans)
Hiring from a division rival always carries a little extra petty satisfaction, but making a play for James Liipfert is pure football business.
Liipfert cut his teeth in New England’s scouting department before joining Nick Caserio in Houston. Over the past few seasons, he’s been a central architect in one of the most rapid, impressive franchise turnarounds in recent NFL history. He was heavily involved in assembling the core that turned Houston from a division punchline into a perennial contender.
Why He Fits Carlie’s Vision:
Liipfert understands what a modern rebuild looks like because he just helped execute one right down Interstate 65’s divisional path. He combines classic scouting roots with modern analytical asset management—exactly the kind of executive background Carlie values as she steps into full leadership.
The Verdict: No More Half-Measures
The rumor mill will inevitably buzz with flashy legacy names like Peyton Manning, but Carlie Irsay-Gordon’s background in football ops suggests she won’t settle for a gimmick and she will not stand for we like our guys anymore.
This Colts organization needs an elite, modern football mind who can tear down the stale, risk-averse culture and build a contender with real teeth. Whether it’s Cook, Ahmad, or Liipfert, the objective is crystal clear: step out of the past and build the Colts of tomorrow.
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