Chris Ballard Declined Interview with Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Chris Ballard, Kansas City Chiefs’ director of player personnel, is a hot commodity this offseason; and for good reason.
The Chiefs went from 2-14 to 11-5. They made the playoffs and had said playoff game against the Colts won until things fell apart. General Manager John Dorsey and head coach Andy Reid deserve and have gotten much of the credit for the turnaround, but a guy like Ballard probably flies under the radar as far as the general public is concerned.
To NFL front offices looking for a potential general manager though, Ballard has positioned himself to be a top candidate.
One organization looking for a new GM is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While Ballard was thought of a target for the gig, reports have come out now that say he turned down the opportunity to interview.
I'm told that the Chiefs were prepared to grant Ballard permission to interview for the Bucs' vacant GM job. But Ballard declined to go.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 9, 2014
Why in the world would he turn down that kind of opportunity? Breer has more on the situation.
Ballard has five kids, and moved from Houston to Chicago to Kansas City over the last few years, didn't want to move his family again.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 9, 2014
Ballard has a great relationship with Lovie Smith, but also has enjoyed working with John Dorsey. And the Bucs gave Smith power over the 53.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 9, 2014
It’s obvious that there were a few factors that played into this. First, Ballard didn’t want to uproot his family, and who could blame him?
Second though, and perhaps most importantly, it really seems as if Ballard believes in what the Chiefs are doing. Enough to turn down a huge job opportunity, in fact.
Keep in mind that he wouldn’t have had power over the roster in Tampa and would have had to submit to the head coach, Lovie Smith; but this still says a lot about what the Chiefs have going on heading into 2014 and beyond.