The Indianapolis Colts, considered one of two groups remaining with a head-coaching emptiness together with the Arizona Cardinals, have taken one other in direction of discovering Frank Reich’s full-time successor. They just lately eradicated three candidates for the place: New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka (per ESPN), defensive coordinator Wink Martindale (Bally Sports) and Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan (Sports Illustrated).
These names being crossed off leaves seven coaches whom Indianapolis has interviewed who have not been dominated out but: Colts particular workforce coordinator Bubba Ventrone, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen, Kansas Metropolis Metropolis Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, Colts interim head coach Jeff Saturday, and Inexperienced Bay Packers particular groups coordinator Wealthy Bisaccia.
A brand new Colts head coach doubtless will not be named till after the conclusion of Tremendous Bowl LVII on Sunday on condition that two of the remaining candidates, Steichen and Bieniemy, are teaching within the massive sport.
One of many doubtless causes as to why Indianapolis is taking its time with such an intensive search is the blowback it obtained by giving its interim head teaching gig to former participant Jeff Saturday. The six-time Professional Bowl and two-time first-team All-Professional middle spent 13 of his 14 profession seasons with the Colts from 1999-2011 as Corridor of Famer Peyton Manning’s middle. Considered one of his Professional Bowl seasons occurred within the excessive level of Irsay’s tenure as proprietor, the 2006 season, which culminated within the franchise successful Tremendous XLI over the Chicago Bears.
The 47-year-old Saturday retired from the NFL following the 2012 season with the Inexperienced Bay Packers, and he then went into TV as an analyst for ESPN. When Reich was fired 9 video games into the 2022 season, Irsay plucked Saturday out of the ESPN studios and plopped him onto the Colts sideline as interim head coach regardless of his most intensive teaching expertise coming at the highschool stage. That call led to blowback across the league and from followers at his choice over different extra skilled and numerous Colts present assistant coaches on employees. Saturday received his interim head teaching debut in Week 10 on the Las Vegas Raiders earlier than dropping the ultimate seven video games of the season, together with the largest single-game collapse in NFL historical past: Indianapolis blew a 33-0 halftime lead in opposition to the Minnesota Vikings in a 39-36 extra time loss in Week 15.
Some Colts followers began a petition on Change.org known as “Do not rent Jeff Saturday as head coach.” The petition at present has greater than 4,000 signatures.