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5 coaches Colts could hire as defensive coordinator if Matt Eberflus leaves

By Jaleel Grandberry

Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Don Martindale during an AFC Wild Card playoff football game. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Don Martindale during an AFC Wild Card playoff football game. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Indianapolis Colts defensive backs coach Alan Williams during their preseason training camp practice. /

Colts in-house options

There will be a lot of places Indy can turn to interview for a new defensive coordinator but the process can start in-house. The Colts already have a couple of coaches on staff that could be primed to step up and take over as defensive coordinator.

Hiring in-house keeps continuity within the system and also gives power to a coach that Indy’s players already have familiarity and comfort with.

Here are two possible candidates that could emerge from the current staff.

Colts could hire Alan Williams

Alan Williams returned to Indianapolis as a coach in 2018 with Reich and Eberflus. The last four seasons, he has served as Indy’s defensive backs coach.

Williams previously served as the Colts defensive backs coach from 2002-2011, so he is no stranger to Indianapolis or coaching its defense.

The majority of Williams’ 30-year coaching career has been coaching defensive backs but he did serve as the Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator from 2012-2013.

In 2012, the Vikings had the 15th-best defense, but in 2013 they dropped to the worst in the league. Williams and every other coach in Minnesota was fired that offseason.

With more knowledge and experience around quality defenses, Williams may be ready to accept the coordinator responsibility again.

Colts could hire Dave Borgonzi

Dave Borgonzi doesn’t have the experience that Williams does, but he is apart of the regime that came to Indianapolis in 2018. He has served as the linebackers coach the last four seasons.

What Borgonzi lacks in experience, he makes up for in having the best unit on Indy’s defense. The biggest catalyst to the defense’s turnaround has been linebacker play.

Drafting Darius Leonard in the second round of the 2018 draft helps a lot with that, but Indianapolis has gotten quality play out of all its linebackers. From Bobby Okereke to EJ Speed, this has been a strong unit.

Borgonzi could possibly parlay his time in the system and his work with the linebackers into being named as the new defensive coordinator.

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