Colts Blocking All Interview Requests for Rob Chudzinski

Earlier today, it was reported that the Indianapolis Colts denied the St. Louis Rams permission to interview their special assistant Rob Chudzinski for the Rams’ vacant offensive coordinator position.

Per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, we’ve now learned that the Colts have blocked all requests, including those from the San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears, to interview Chudzinski:

The Colts clearly value Chudzinski on their coaching staff, as he currently serves as the special assistant to head coach Chuck Pagano. However, it’s uncertain whether Chudzinski would’ve liked to have pursued the opportunity to become an offensive coordinator elsewhere. According to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Caplan, he will have the chance to interview next week when his contract expires regardless:

Having previously served as the head coach to the Cleveland Browns in 2013 before joining the Colts coaching staff this past season, Chudzinski brings over 20 years of professional and collegiate coaching experience. However, he’s most known for his unique ability to maximize the production of his tight ends in the receiving game:

"“Among his strengths, Chudzinksi is known for being somewhat of a tight end guru. Having played collegiately as a tight end while at the University of Miami and later serving as a tight ends coach, he’s well versed in the nuances of the position. Several NFL tight ends have enjoyed some of their best years under Chudzinksi’s tutelage, including Antonio Gates, Kellen Winslow Jr., Greg Olsen, and Jordan Cameron.”"

This season, the Indianapolis Colts had the 1st tight end duo in NFL history to have two tight ends that each had 8 touchdowns on the season in Dwayne Allen and Coby Fleener. The former also had 29 receptions for 395 receiving yards, while the latter added 51 receptions for 774 receiving yards (per Indianapolis Star’s Zak Keefer):

Chudzinski was originally thought to be the heavy favorite to replace Pep Hamilton, as the Colts offensive coordinator should Hamilton have taken a head coaching job elsewhere. However, with the head coaching jobs now dried up and the team blocking Chudzinski’s interviews, it now looks as though the Colts’ coaching staff could potentially have both Pep Hamilton and Rob Chudzinski back in the fold for next season. That is, if Chudzinski actually wants to stay. That would bode well for both of the team’s tight ends in Dwayne Allen and Coby Fleener going forward, as Chudzinski’s history has shown: