Colts GM Chris Ballard Defends Drafting Seth McGowan Despite Past Legal Issues: 'I'm a Second Chance Guy'

In 2020, Seth McGowan, then a freshman running back at the University of Oklahoma, was arrested for stealing marijuana, jewelry, and cash. He pleaded guilty to the charges, served three months in jail, and was subsequently dismissed from the football team.

After a three-year hiatus from college football, McGowan resumed his athletic career in 2023. He played for three different schools across three seasons before being drafted by the Indianapolis Colts last week.

Colts General Manager Chris Ballard expressed full confidence in McGowan’s redemption, emphasizing the team’s willingness to offer him a fresh start in the NFL.

"I'm a second chance guy. How long do you keep punishing him for it?"

Following his departure from Oklahoma, McGowan briefly attended Texas College but did not play. He then enrolled at Butler Community College in 2023, where he returned to the football field. In 2024, he transferred to New Mexico State, and in 2025, he moved again to the University of Kentucky.

Ballard acknowledged McGowan’s troubled past but stressed that his recent performance and character warranted the team’s trust.

"Seth is a guy we've been watching for a while," Ballard said. "He had the incident when he was at Oklahoma which we know and we vetted hard." He added that McGowan’s relationships with coaches at Kentucky and New Mexico State, as well as his work ethic, played a significant role in the Colts’ decision.

Ballard also highlighted his long-standing friendship with New Mexico State head coach Tony Sanchez, which reinforced his confidence in McGowan.

"I don't know if he really wanted to leave New Mexico State, but just financially it was so he didn't have a choice," Ballard explained. "That's kind of what Tony had said to me. He said, 'Look, Chris, he needed to go just 'cause financially it was the best thing for him.' So, you know, he's had a good track record. Feel good about who he is as you learn your lesson, you make a mistake, you pay the price for it, and then you move on."