The Colts left those around the NFL in a state of embarrassment.
“It’s hard to understand what’s going on there,” wondered the opposing team executive.
That was the consensus among a handful of executives polled. athletic After the Colts fired head coach Frank Reich and replaced him on an interim basis with former center Jeff Saturday, they granted the anonymity of this story so they could speak freely.
Additionally, Colts owner Jim Irsay chose Saturday over qualified candidates already on staff. Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley and senior defensive assistant John Fox have a combined total of 20 seasons in his NFL head coaching experience. It’s common for teams to promote veteran head coaches in this kind of instance, as the Panthers hired Steve Wilkes last month following the firing of Matt Rule.
Alternatively, the Colts could have a trial run with special teams coordinator Ray Ventron, who is considered a rising coach. Or the Colts’ 2006 Super Bowl Championship roster. Wide receiver coach Reggie Wayne and assistant linebacker coach Kate June are also on staff if you hire someone from and are more into the sentimental route. How do Ventrone, Wayne, and June see the future with the organization now?
If NFLPA leadership experience has been appealing, dig further down the rabbit hole — Saturday was a key member recognized for his role in negotiations during the 2011 lockout — at the Colts’ assistant offensive line coach. A certain Kevin Mawae was the president of the PA from 2008-12.
Some of these credentials are obviously more important than others. But throwing them all together is a recipe for why other teams would be shocked by Saturday’s unconventional hiring. All have more coaching experience.
“I have never seen anything like it,” said the executive. “You’ll never see anything like that again.”
Of course, it all boiled down to Irsay’s strong relationship with Saturday. And every owner has the right to make those decisions. But those decisions, especially unconventional decisions, always send some message, whether intended or not.
How will the rest of the staff feel about taking the leap? How will the players react?
After all, the Colts are 3-5-1, still just 2.5 games behind the Titans in the AFC South and the Chargers in the final wildcard spot. The Colts haven’t played consistently like a team that has shown late-game prowess, but the Raiders in 2021 have proven a mid-season coaching change, with different leadership voices inspiring the team. may be sufficient for
Irsay believes Saturday can provide that impetus.
“Because he’s fitter,” Irsay said Monday night when asked why the Colts went Saturday over the team’s experienced assistant. The perfect person for this job, there is no doubt in my mind.I have been around it for a long time.The last coach I hired as an interim coach was Bruce Arians.It is the right coach. So[Saturday]was the best man, and that’s why. There’s no mystery behind it.”
“I’m glad I didn’t have NFL experience[on Saturday],” Irsay said. “I’m glad he hasn’t learned the fear that’s in this league because it’s tough on all of our coaches. They’re afraid. They go to analysis and it gets harder.” I mean, he doesn’t have it all, he doesn’t have that fear, he didn’t have any other candidates.
But with the Colts looking to hire their next head coach in the coming months, how do prospective candidates see position stability? If is chosen by the owner, the next round of interviewees are wary that things like this could be repeated. We tend to be more picky about the opportunity for , knowing that it is likely to be our last shot, and this may be the current factor.
Two rival team executives and an assistant coach used the same word to describe Monday’s event as “crazy.”
The confusion wasn’t necessarily rooted in Reich’s defense, which is respected by his peers, but understandably, after three consecutive losses in a 26-3 noncompetitive blowout in New England, attacked. It was the breaking point for a team that had high ambitions this season before opening with a 20-20 tie against the Texans and a 24-0 loss to the Jaguars. Frustration grew almost every week as the team underperformed, especially on offense.
Now rival executives, including two general managers, are wondering about the future of GM Chris Ballard.
“They’ve hated the QB position ever since he got there,” a league executive said.
While there’s merit in that regard, Ballard and Reich have also dealt with some bad luck in the game’s most important positions. Luck returned in 2018, making his fourth Pro Bowl appearance while leading the Colts to the playoffs, but surprisingly retired during the 2019 preseason. Did.
Ballard signed Philip Rivers in 2020, believing the veteran would play a few years, but despite taking the Colts into the postseason, he retired after one season. Carson Wentz in 2022 and Matt Ryan in 2022, but neither quarterback did well. Ryan was benched last month.
Ballard has only drafted two quarterbacks in six years — Jacob Eason in the 4th round in 2020 and Sam Ehringer in the 6th round in 2021. Further consideration.
The Colts are in a precarious place. Irsay could have promoted Bradley or Foxes in a last-minute effort to save the season, but he chose to deal with the optics of Saturday’s eight-game tryout.
It was a confusing decision as it happened on a Monday afternoon. And if that doesn’t work out and the season is truly lost, this is just the beginning of Fallout.
(Photo: Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
