With Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Gus Bradley officially gone, attention is already being directed towards who his replacement might be.
The first issue is one of the team itself. The Colts franchise notoriously has a culture problem, though head coach Shane Steichen has steadfastly denied it. Numerous players, including team captains, openly and publicly criticized the team, while anonymous sources -- including players -- have meanwhile said that the team has no vision or focus.
DeForest Buckner, one of the best defensive players on the team, has likewise reported that ego is a major problem on the defense. “Everybody needs to check their ego at the door,” he said. “We all have them. Especially as a man in that locker room, we all have egos. But great teams, those guys, they sacrifice that ego and check it at the door. . . . At times I felt like there was just a bunch of individuals out there playing football. It didn’t look like a unit out there at times and it showed.”
So whoever is hired to replace Bradley will have a big mess on their hands to clean up with a dysfunctional squad. Head coach Shane Steichen will have a big decision to make when he chooses Bradley's replacement. And there are quite a few decent options to consider.
Dennis Allen
The Colts' plan for 2025 seems to revolve around consistency rather than change, and Allen can provide that in some measure. Like Bradley, Allen previously tried his hand as head coach, but his skills are far more suited to running a defense than an entire team. Allen was fired from the New Orlean Saints this past season, but before he cycled through multiple teams as a head coach, he was defensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos and during his first stint with the Saints. Allen did a great job as defensive coordinator with the Saints.
Allen is likely the most high-profile figure Steichen could hope to get.
Mike Caldwell
A former linebacker himself, Caldwell served as the defensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars before moving on to the Las Vegas Raiders as their linebackers coach and run game coordinator. Stopping the run has been a major problem for the Colts defense, and Caldwell would likely be a huge improvement.
Matt Eberflus
A familiar face for the Colts franchise, Eberflus just lost his job as head coach of the Chicago Bears. Before that, however, he was defensive coordinator for the Colts, and after being fired mid-season from the Bears, Chicago's defense fell apart. He also did quite well with the Indianapolis defense, and like with Allen, Eberflus might simply be more well-suited to a coordinator position than as a head coach.
Wink Martindale
Previously the defensive coordinator for the New York Giants and Baltimore Ravens, Martindale currently serves as the defensive coordinator for the University of Michigan. He would be a massive change from what the Colts currently are used to; his style and scheme are different, and he's also much more aggressive than the more laid-back attitude Bradley had -- something that could be necessary, given Buckner's comments.
Steve Wilks
Wilks currently doesn't have a job in the NFL, so he might be an easier prospect for the Colts. He most recently worked for the San Francisco 49ers as their defensive coordinator, but was fired after they lost Super Bowl LVIII. Following his being fired, the 49ers defense took a huge step backwards. Like Allen, Wilks has not had much success as a head coach, but he's done well on defense, and could be an attractive candidate for Indianapolis.