Colts Reportedly Interview LB’s and DB’s Coaches
According to Fox Sports Senior NFL Reporter Alex Marvez, the Indianapolis Colts are reportedly interviewing linebackers coach Ken Flajole, as well as defensive backs coach Jon Hoke:
Source tells @NFLonFOX that Ken Flajole interviewed for @Colts LB coach opening. Flajole was NFL assistant for 16 seasons (1998-2013)
— Alex Marvez (@alexmarvez) January 12, 2016
Ex-@ChicagoBears DBs coach Jon Hoke interviewing w/@colts today. @buffalobills Donnie Henderson did same Monday, @NFLonFOX has learned
— Alex Marvez (@alexmarvez) January 12, 2016
Apparently, Ex-Buffalo Bills defensive backs coach Donnie Henderson interviewed for the same position with the Colts on Monday.
Flajole was most recently the inside linebacker’s coach of the Cleveland Browns in 2013. However, he’s also been the secondary coach of the New Orleans Saints (2012) and the defensive coordinator of the St. Louis Rams (2009-11).
Prior to joining the Rams, he was the Carolina Panthers linebackers coach (2003-08), as well as a defensive coach for the Seattle Seahawks (1999-2002). He started his professional coaching career with the Green Bay Packers as a defensive assistant (1998). He has 37 years of coaching experience.
Hoke most recently was the South Carolina co-defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach this past season. However, he was also the Chicago Bears defensive backs coach (2009-14)–including an NFC Championship Game appearance in 2010.
Prior to joining the Bears, Hoke was the Houston Texans defensive backs coach (2002-08). He has 33 years of coaching experience.
Regarding Henderson, he was most recently the Buffalo Bills defensive backs coach (2013-2015). He’s also been the defensive backs coach for the Arizona Cardinals (2009-10), Jacksonville Jaguars (2008), and Baltimore Ravens (2000-03).
Between such stints, he was also the defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions (2006), as well as the New York Jets (2004-05). He has 30 years of coaching experience at both the NFL and collegiate level.
In the wake of Chuck Pagano‘s 4-year extension, the Colts have fired 6 members of their coaching staff and are looking to bring in new coaches in order to fill in the coaching vacancies.
The team recently named Ted Monachino as their new defensive coordinator and are looking to find coaches who can successfully teach his defensive scheme, while developing their young players.
It’s worth noting that last season’s linebackers coach and defensive backs coach were Jeff FitzGerald and Mike Gillhamer respectively.
It will be interesting to see if either of Flajole and Hoke are eventually hired to the Colts defensive coaching staff.