The Indianapolis Colts (4-12-1) wrapped up their forgettable 2022-23 season with a loss to the lowly Houston Texans (3-13-1) and will now begin their head coaching search after firing Frank Reich mid-season. According to reports, their search is currently keyed on four candidates. Per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Colts have already put in a request to interview Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen, with plans to also interview Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn and Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris.
Colts Head Coach Search Set To Begin With Four Coordinators
The Colts made the controversial decision to pull former center Jeff Saturday from the ESPN daily talk show circuit to become their interim head coach. He led to a 1-7 record to finish the season but vowed that he would make drastic changes if the interim tag is removed from his title.
“If I get this job, there’s going to be significant change. . . . The way I do things is not the way it’s been done,” Saturday said, via Joel A. Erickson of the Indianapolis Star.
Both Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson became popular faces within the Lions organization during their stark turnaround this season. Despite beginning the season 1-6, the Lions rallied to finish at an impressive 9-8 clip, including an upset win over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field to cap the Week 18 slate.
Johnson, 36, has been a popular name in the head coach rumor cycle. Replacing Anthony Lynn to begin the season, Johnson led a Lions offensive unit that ranked fifth in the NFL in PPG (26.6).
“He would be worthy of that,” Campbell said of Johnson potentially getting a head coach opportunity, per Detroit Free Press. “I think a ton of him. I think he’s – I’ve said it before, I just think he’s extremely bright, he’s creative. He’s organized. He’s a great communicator. I mean, he just, he’s got it.”
Raheem Morris filled in as the Atlanta Falcons head coach during the 2020 season, also serving as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach from 2009-11. He has spent the past two seasons on Sean McVay’s staff in LA and was an integral part of their Super Bowl win last season.
Perhaps Shane Steichen will be the first of several members of the Eagles staff who will be considered for head coaching jobs in the future. He has gotten a lot of the credit for the Eagles’ ascent into one of the best offensive units in the league, taking over play-calling duties during the 2021 season and molding Jalen Hurts into an MVP candidate, while also building a stout run-first approach around Miles Sanders.
The Colts will need major changes to their roster but expect them to continue to expand their head coach search in the coming days and weeks to find the right candidate to change their culture.
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