Colts Missed Opportunity to Acquire Matthew Stafford; Chris Ballard Failed to Replace Andrew Luck

In 2021, the Indianapolis Colts were engaged in discussions to acquire Matthew Stafford from the Detroit Lions, who had yet to send him to the Los Angeles Rams. The Colts were desperately searching for a long-term replacement following the unexpected retirement of Andrew Luck. However, Colts GM Chris Ballard opted not to proceed with the trade.

Five years later, Stafford has proven to be one of the NFL’s elite quarterbacks, having secured a Super Bowl championship with the Rams. Meanwhile, Ballard lost his position on Monday, having failed to find a suitable replacement for Luck. Despite various attempts at securing veteran quarterbacks since Luck’s retirement, none achieved comparable success to Stafford. The Colts eventually drafted Anthony Richardson with the No. 4 overall pick in 2023, yet that move did not resolve their quarterback issues.