The Colts’ Chris Ballard and the Bears’ Ryan Pace split the NFL’s two Executive of the Year Awards last offseason. Based on his team’s dramatic turnaround and the Khalil Mack trade, Pace won The Sporting News award, voted on by other general managers.
Ballard took home the Pro Football Writers Association crown for two reasons: the Colts reached the playoffs after being left at the altar by coach Josh McDaniels and accomplished they couldn’t under Ballard’s predecessor, keeping Andrew Luck upright.
It reinforced a lesson the Colts learned too late and the Bears would be wise to keep in mind: it’s one thing to invest in a quarterback, but another to protect him.