Former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Jeff Saturday’s hiring as longtime head coach has been controversial
Jeff Saturday began his successful NFL coaching career last week, but his temporary appointment to the Indianapolis Colts undoubtedly divided opinion.
Saturday served the Colts for 13 years as a player — a bad part of their 2006 Super Bowl victory — but since retiring from the league in 2012, his only coaching experience to speak of was in high school.
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“It’s an advance on people who are busting their asses, putting in time,” Mike Florio said on NBC. Pro Football Talk (Sky Sports NFL, midweek, 6pm) this week.
“The idea that someone who played for this team more than ten years ago, can easily appear and become the head coach, I don’t think this is good for this profession.”
And that’s where Saturday’s timing came from, right in the middle of the blue, when it was announced that he would replace Frank Reich, who was fired until the end of the season.
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay defended Jeff on Saturday as a long-term head coach
He was previously a paid consultant for the Colts, when he turned down a job as the team’s head coach in 2019. His only coaching experience was in high school football, as an assistant for two seasons at Hebron Christian Academy in Georgia. , before taking over as head coach from 2017-2019 – achieving a 21-16 record, per school.
“Disappointment would be meaningless,” he told reporters on Saturday, before adding: “I feel that I have talent.”
“We talked and it escalated quickly. It was a whirlwind 12 hours.”
Colts owner Irsay said Saturday’s lack of training was one of the advantages of the selection.
“I’m glad he has no NFL experience,” Irsay said at the press conference. “I’m glad they didn’t learn the fear in this league, because it’s difficult for all our coaches. They get scared, they go to analytics and it’s difficult.
“He doesn’t have all that. He doesn’t have that fear. And there was no other candidate. We were lucky he was there.”
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Indianapolis Colts at Las Vegas Raiders highlights from Week 10 of the NFL season
Irsay will feel a certain way on Saturday after leading the Colts to an impressive 25-20 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders last weekend, certainly if his Twitter feed is anything to go by.
On Monday, Irsay tweeted: “All you naysayers … you blame all of us in the NFL for losing … When we move to Win … you are so fair! “Who You Crappin’…”. Just Win, Baby!!” Irsay tweeted Monday afternoon. “
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Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr was emotional following his team’s narrow loss to the Indianapolis Colts
Criticism, however, did not come as people disputed Saturday’s ability to lead the locker room. He proved it a lot in his playing days. What they lack in qualifications, they certainly make up for in experience and leadership.
The issue is, as Florio said, the speed with which he has risen to this position – and, therefore, the people he has passed.
“It can make talented people say, ‘Why bother’, if people who didn’t get it, get the job,” Florio said.
“I think this is a real principle; one that can apply to any industry, any job.”
There is also the Rooney Rule to consider. The appointment is not subject to this rule, which requires NFL teams to interview at least two candidates for the position of head coach, but there is concern that Saturday should continue to win this season, any interviews that have taken place in the offseason are. In relation to the permanent position it can be a ‘sham’.
It is an important issue in the NFL, only three Black coaches are leading teams this season – Todd Bowles (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Lovie Smith (Houston Texans) and Mike Tomlin (Pittsburgh Steelers) – the same number in the establishment of games. Rooney Rule in 2003, and follows a lawsuit filed by former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores against the NFL and its three teams earlier this year.
Former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores has sued the NFL and three teams over racial hiring practices.
Flores’ suit accuses the league and the Dolphins, Denver Broncos, and New York Giants of racial discrimination, and alleges that he has been subjected to “false” interviews in the past, which are subject to the Rooney Rule.
The Fritz Pollard Alliance, an organization “committed to equal opportunity” in the NFL, released a statement saying it had “launched an investigation with the NFL” into the Colts’ employment on Saturday.
Irsay, meanwhile, said of the hiring: “At the end of the season, there will be a full evaluation process for a full-time head coach, which we will have an interview process and go from there. This is for eight games and I expect more. .”
He later answered the reporter’s question by saying, “There is no problem or opinion, but some of you make a problem or opinion.”
The problem doesn’t appear to be going away, especially if Saturday’s Colts continue to be eligible this season, making his permanent hire a possibility.
Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles travel to Indianapolis to face the Colts on Sunday
He will be under intense scrutiny for his coaching this Sunday, however, as the 4-5-1 Colts host the 8-1 Philadelphia Eagles, who were the last undefeated team in the league in 2022 until coming off a win against the Washington Commanders. on Monday.
But former NFL quarterback Chris Simms thinks the Colts led by Saturday can be a good matchup with the Eagles.
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Washington Commanders vs. Philadelphia Eagles highlights from Week 10 of the NFL season
“Don’t just look at the notes,” Simms told Pro Football Talk. “I see the Colts hanging around and giving the Eagles a scare here, no doubt about it.
“We know their offense has been worse for years. But last week, it was the best game of the year for Indy’s offensive line. They shot the ball like I haven’t seen them all year … so it’s hard to feel like Jeff Saturday had an impact on the football game.
“The energy he can bring to the team, he’s changing the mindset in the house, he has the ability to do that. We saw a different vibe from him.
“It’s still unstable [Saturday’s hiring], no question about that. But Saturday is very intelligent, he loves football and he understands what it takes.
“It might be crazy but, right now, it doesn’t seem crazy.”
On Saturday, he gets another chance on Sunday to show his critics that not only were the Colts not stupid to hire him, but they were smart as they look to make a late run.
Watch Jeff Saturday’s Indianapolis Colts host the Philadelphia Eagles live on Sky Sports NFL as part of the Sunday night games starting at 5pm; Kickoff in Indianapolis is 6 p.m
