Ryan Grigson has been fired after five seasons as the Indianapolis Colts’ general manager – but owner Jim Irsay says Peyton Manning is “not in the mix” to take over.
On Saturday, Irsay fired Grigson after five up-and-down years that ended with the Colts missing the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1997-98.
“Ryan is an outstanding man, and this decision was reached with a heavy heart. It was a tough decision, well thought out, and in the end the right decision for the Colts,” Irsay said.
But Irsay said Manning, who played 14 seasons with the Colts and guided them to their first Super Bowl in over three decades, wouldn’t be returning as the new GM. Irsay said: “Peyton, I wouldn’t say that he’s in the picture. Peyton and I have talked through the last year … He and I sat and talked alone. But there was never any serious negotiations or anything like that for him coming in to be general manager.
“He’s not in the mix for this process.”
Irsay, however, didn’t rule out a place for Manning at the Colts in some capacity. The owner also said that Chuck Pagano would be returning as coach for 2017 – as long as the new GM agrees. “He’s our coach for 2017. The new GM will come in and evaluate our whole football program, and we’ll see where we’re at. I hope Chuck can be our coach for many years to come.”
The Colts hired the up-and-coming Grigson after the Colts went 2-14 in 2011. With a series of shrewd moves and No1 overall pick Andrew Luck leading the way in 2012, the first-time GM helped Indianapolis go 11-5 to earn a wild-card spot that season.
Indianapolis made the playoffs three straight times, won back-to-back division titles in 2013 and 2014 and reached the AFC championship game following the 2015 season. But a reported rift between Grigson and Pagano loomed over an injury-riddled 2015 season that didn’t go as expected and was followed with another 8-8 season in 2016 and a second straight playoff miss.
Some players weren’t too unhappy when they heard the news.
After word of Grigson’s dismissal first leaked, Pro Bowl punter Pat McAfee posted on Twitter: “Thank God. ‘Unwarranted Arrogance’ just ran into a brick wall called karma.”
"All Pro punter" please and thank you.. also someone who has seen your best friend treat humans absolutely horrendously for 5 years https://t.co/BUnbWw848A
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 21, 2017
