INDIANAPOLIS -- Blindsided.
That was a word thrown around a lot Tuesday evening after the news broke that Josh McDaniels wouldn't be coming to Indianapolis after all.
But was it really such a shock?
Maybe. Reports began during the Super Bowl on Sunday that McDaniels could end up turning his back on the Colts and return to New England.
PREVIOUS | Report: Josh McDaniels may not leave Patriots for Colts after all
Either way, Colts fans had a lot to say about McDaniels after he decided to backstab the Colts. And after general manager Chris Ballard ended Wednesday's press conference by saying, "The rivalry is back on."
Trust us, you don't want to spurn a Colts fan. Especially when they're hyped about GM Chris Ballard.
Check out some of their reactions below.
Yooooooo Chris Ballard said “the rivalry is back on” before walking out of his press conference. pic.twitter.com/yR1TsX393m
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) February 7, 2018
Rivalry lol pic.twitter.com/PtRHlsbPxy
— Jay_Mac (@Culloch1Mc) February 7, 2018
Major credit to Ballard for taking questions for nearly 30 minutes.
Was poised, took the high road.
Ends with: “The rivalry is back on."
— Kevin Bowen (@KBowen1070) February 7, 2018
Chris Ballard with the greatest line in Indianapolis #Colts history.
"The rivalry is back on." 😈 pic.twitter.com/2JmPmlXQEZ
— Indy SportsOne (@IndySportsOne) February 7, 2018
Chris Ballard is awesome. Handled that as well as anyone could. And then as he walks off says, "the rivalry is back on." I love pissed off Ballard. Still respectful, but he's fired up.
— Josh Wilson (@JoshWilsonSB) February 7, 2018
The #Colts play in New England next year...in case you were wondering.
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) February 7, 2018
Chris Ballard wrapped up the presser by saying “The rivalry is back on.”
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/wWpopaHvrv
— Michael Grady (@Grady) February 7, 2018
Josh McDaniels: Can’t get fired from a job you don’t take pic.twitter.com/oqKy8G0EsU
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) February 7, 2018
Hey Colts, give me a few hours to put together a résumé. I don’t need a big contract, just want to bring my own staff
Off. Coordinator- @ISPPeru
Def. Coordinator - @Michael_Pruitt1
Special Teams - @IMPDnews
🏋️♂️ coach- @ISPAcademy
Security - (we won’t need it 😉)
— Sgt. John Perrine (@ISPIndianapolis) February 7, 2018
READ | Josh McDaniels changes his mind, will not take job as Colts head coach
I swear Josh McDaniels saw Andrew Luck throwing the Football and went like this 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/eETLdwQLzC
— John Delian (@JDrogo_728) February 7, 2018
I am glad Josh McDaniels has backed out of the Colts head coaching job. I have consistently told people when asked it to not trust fruit from the Patriots tree because it is mostly poison.
— Donald Dante Lee (@Duckman0403) February 7, 2018
Unlike Josh McDaniels, we stay true to our commitments. Noblesville street crews will be out tonight once winter weather hits you can 'do your job' tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/6bKWmowPhH
— City Of Noblesville (@NoblesvilleIN) February 7, 2018
READ | Colts hire former Patriots coordinator Josh McDaniels as head coach
Josh McDaniels seen leaving Indianapolis Colts HQ this afternoon. #Colts pic.twitter.com/VjXi3aduuK
— C.Ross 🇺🇸 (@C_Ross22_) February 7, 2018
Josh McDaniels like... pic.twitter.com/ynsoRtYYhU
— Bob Marrs (@RobertMarrs) February 7, 2018
Guess he couldn't wear his seat belt or follow traffic laws, nor keeps his word like Hoosiers do. Glad he didn't put on any @colts gear. https://t.co/aErQno19Sc
— Sgt. Tony Slocum (@ISPPeru) February 7, 2018
#JoshMcDaniels has missed out on the opportunity of a lifetime to coach @Colts
— melissa heidelberger (@melissaheidelb1) February 7, 2018
Colts New Banner for Josh McDaniels pic.twitter.com/KzQQxDojdM
— 🖤🎡🎶🎧 💔RK ♠️♥️🇺🇸 (@HeartEyes4Brady) February 7, 2018
Josh McDaniels proving that what they say is true. there is NO honor among thieves
— Debbie N (@wuzguest) February 7, 2018
Josh McDaniels Colts head coach 2018-2018
— Jason Kinslow (@kinslow_slice) February 7, 2018
I’ll go to my grave saying Bill Belichick sent Josh McDaniels to sabotage the Broncos. He ran their QB and WR out of town, got off to a 6-0 start just to tease us, then had his own little spygate episode to take pressure off his old boss. He was just a spy https://t.co/c1Zsbrlp6n
— Jonathon Kamuf (@JonathonKamuf) February 7, 2018
Josh McDaniels walking into Colts HQ pic.twitter.com/SNGFyHiiAz
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) February 7, 2018
“Who is: Josh McDaniels?”#JeopardySports #Patriots pic.twitter.com/1ZzDZgmjSR
— Jeopardy! Sports (@JeopardySports) February 7, 2018
Josh McDaniels just did the same thing Bill Belicheck did to the Jets in the 80s😂😂you learn from the best👀👀#Patriots
— Matt Jones (@Jonesmatt15_) February 7, 2018
It looks bad to me that Josh McDaniels backs out of coaching the Colts citing not wanting to move his family, yet apparently cared a lot less about his assistants already leaving their jobs and moving their families to coach with him in Indianapolis. I hope that’s not true.
— Douglas Hargett (@douglashargett) February 7, 2018
If Josh McDaniels is willing to back out of a contract agreement, I don’t want him coaching my team. Move on, find someone with better character who will be a good coach for the Colts.
— Rhett Coblentz (@rhett_cob) February 7, 2018
Which Joshs betrayal was worse, Josh from The Office or Josh McDaniels with the Colts? pic.twitter.com/BxAkYB0QUa
— Matthew Lawson (@Mlawson6754) February 7, 2018
