Colts narrow coaching search to seven names, here are candidates we know advanced
After interviewing an extensive list of candidates, the Indianapolis Colts are narrowing their list as they begin a second round of interviews.
The Indianapolis Colts are trying to find a new head coach and they have been searching every corner of the NFL to do so. Since the regular season ended, the Colts set up interviews with a total of 14 candidates. With a list that extensive, there are some coaches that fans would love for Indy to hire and others that fans are hoping Indy stays away from. The world will soon get more clarity about which direction the Colts plan to go as the team has started its second round of interviews.
It has been reported that Indianapolis has narrowed its list of coaches down to seven for the second round of interviews. All seven candidates haven’t been announced yet but a few of the names have been released by reporters. The Colts are expected to hold second interviews with Ejiro Evero, Jeff Saturday, Dan Quinn, and Raheem Morris. Indianapolis also still wants to interview DeMeco Ryans.
Ryans never had his first official interview with the team after he canceled to focus on the San Francisco 49ers Divisional game against the Dallas Cowboys. However, that didn’t deter Indy as the team is working on rescheduling. It’s not clear when that interview will be but it has to be after the NFC Championship per league rules.
I'm told the #Colts are narrowing their list of candidates for head coach to 7 or 8. Jeff Saturday will be among that list to get a second interview and the team still wants to interview #49ers DC DeMeco Ryans after he had to postpone last week.
— Rob Maaddi (@RobMaaddi) January 24, 2023
Colts start second interviews with Jeff Saturday and Ejiro Evero
Saturday is reportedly having his interview on Wednesday and the announcement came with a ton of pushback from fans. Indy’s fans weren’t thrilled with Saturday’s 1-7 stretch as interim head coach and would prefer one of the more experienced candidates. However, Saturday remains a popular name internally and has garnered support from Colts players as well as legendary kicker Adam Vinatieri. Regardless of how many players and legends believe in Saturday, fans won’t be happy if he’s hired until he brings results.
Ejiro Evero is one of the more respected candidates and he’s scheduled for a second interview on Thursday. Evero was the defensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos this past season. Prior to that, he was the secondary coach and passing game coordinator for the Super Bowl Champion Los Angeles Rams during the 2021 season. Evero got his first NFL coaching job in 2007 and has spent time on both sides of the ball. That experience makes him an intriguing candidate for a Colts team that is likely drafting a quarterback in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Dan Quinn and Raheem Morris, the other two names that have already been released, have both been defensive coordinators for the last two seasons. Quinn for the Cowboys and Morris for the Rams. Like Evero, Morris also has experience on the offensive side of the ball. Considering that Indy’s offense is the part of the team that needs the most help, the expectation was that Indy would be interested in a lot of offensive-minded coaches. That very well could still happen as more names are being announced but right now, the second round of Indy’s coaching search is being dominated by defensive-minded coaches.
