On the morning of April 21, three days before the NFL Draft kicks off, reporters packed into the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center, coffee in hand, ready to grill Chris Ballard on everything from O-line depth and the trenches. Well, there would have been this question from someone: how would Daniel Jones fit in the Colts’ QB room with Anthony Richardson? But Ballard already sold the duo: “If I’m a betting man, at some point both of them will help us.”

You could feel it in the room — the usual pre-draft electricity. The Colts hold seven picks over three days. Big decisions are coming. All eyes were on Chris Ballard. But instead of diving into draft boards and smokescreens, Ballard stepped up and paused. He didn’t start with football. No depth charts. No coach-speak. Just a raw, human moment. “Before I start, we had a very unfortunate, sad incident happen to one of our scouts,” he said, his voice heavy. And just like that, the room shifted. Football could wait. Life was bigger than a draft strategy this morning.

Chris continued: “It was a hard week for all of us. For Matt Terpening, and our prayers go out to Matt and his two daughters.” For a man used to controlling a room, calling audibles with confidence, this was different. You could feel it — this wasn’t a prepared statement. This was raw. The death of Coral Terpening, wife of Colts Director of College Scouting Matt Terpening, had cut deep through the entire organization.

Coral passed away unexpectedly on April 12 while attending a volleyball tournament with her daughters in Louisville. She was just 45. A mother, a nurse, a coach, a fierce believer in faith, and — as her friends described her — the brightest light in every room she walked into. Her life story reads like someone who ran a no-huddle offense of compassion, joy, and grit. From ICU nurse to youth volleyball coach, Coral lived fully and gave more than most.

“Something we’ll never get over. We’ll get through it. We’ll always be here for all of them,” Ballard added, pausing between words as the weight of it all lingered. The entire Colts family — from front office to locker room — had shown up for the funeral on Friday, just a week out from one of the most pivotal weekends in their calendar. But there’s a reason Ballard wanted to make this public, beyond internal support.

He needed people to know who Coral was — not just as a scout’s wife, but as a force in her community, a mother of two athletes, a woman who quite literally coached life with love. “The light was watching a community of Westfield come out to support this family,” Ballard shared. “Much organization support the Terpening family. Our prayers go out to all of them.”

So yeah, Ballard eventually did talk about the Draft. But the tone had shifted. Because Matt had lost the love of his life, who is Indy’s scouting guru, basically. “They’re [the family] in my daily prayers,” Ballard concluded. This gesture from Chris was a heartfelt tribute, but something he felt he owed to the Terpening family. It reminds us why this game — and this life — is about way more than wins and losses.

Matt Terpening’s reports would be key for Chris Ballard, this draft

If you’re wondering who’s quietly pulling strings behind the curtain while Chris Ballard stands in front of the cameras — it’s Matt Terpening. He’s not tweeting war room selfies or lighting up press conferences, but make no mistake: the man’s fingerprints are all over the Colts’ draft board. Been that way for two decades. “Director of College Scouting” might sound stiff, but inside the Colts’ building, Terpening’s more like Ballard’s left hand — steady, trusted, and loaded with intel.

You know those Day 2 picks that somehow turn into game-changers? Michael Pittman Jr., Kwity Paye, Jonathan Taylor? That’s Terpening’s homework paying off on Sundays. He’s got a knack for looking past the shiny stats and spotting guys who fit the Colts’ DNA. And in a room with 20-plus scouts and execs all pitching names, Terpening’s word carries weight. Why? He’s built that trust, season after season. Ballard said it himself — it’s not just him calling shots. “We all speak our opinions,” Steichen added. That includes Terpening, who doesn’t just scout. He shapes strategy.

This year, it’s no different. Terpening’s already had his hands deep in the tight end pool — circling names like Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland as instant contributors. He’s also been grinding tape on linebackers and pass-rushers, dialing in on scheme fits and upside plays. And as the Colts try to plug short-term holes without sacrificing long-term value, his reports become the compass. Ballard admitted it — “There’s no perfect ready-made players.” Which is exactly why Terpening’s role matters as he’s finding guys with a high floor. But an even higher ceiling.

So, come Thursday night, when Ballard’s pulling the trigger on picks — just know there’s a stack of Terpening’s notes behind that call. Not flashy. Not loud. But vital. Every war room has a brain trust. For Indy, Matt Terpening is that football brain quietly steering the ship.