The Indianapolis Colts shook up the NFL world in early November by firing Frank Reich and installing former All-Pro center Jeff Saturday — who had never coached at the NFL or collegiate level — as their interim head coach. As the regular season concludes, the list of potential Colts head coach candidates is undoubtedly long, so we’ll attempt to narrow it down to a few true contenders.
5 Head Coach Candidates the Colts Should Consider
The Colts could very well retain Saturday as their head coach heading into 2023. The 47-year-old is exceptionally close with owner Jim Irsay and has remained open to holding onto the job for the long haul. Depending on how Saturday wraps up the season, he could be a realistic candidate for the role.
However, if the Colts decide to go in a different, more traditional direction, these five coaches could be on their radar next year.
Kellen Moore, Dallas Cowboys OC
The Colts have issues up and down their roster, but given how poorly Indy’s offense has played, it would make sense for Irsay to target another offensive coordinator after parting ways with Reich. Indianapolis ranks 29th in yards per play (4.9), 30th in points per game (16.1), and 31st in expected points added per play (-0.136).
Kellen Moore’s Cowboys offense is at the other end of the spectrum and has been for years, as Dallas ranks eighth in offensive efficiency since Moore became the play-caller in 2019. When injuries have sidelined Dak Prescott, Moore has coordinated Andy Dalton- and Cooper Rush-led offenses to respectable levels. And when Dak has been available, the Cowboys’ offense has been truly dynamic.
Moore could be enticed by a young Colts offensive corps that includes Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce, and Jelani Woods. Still, he’d have to feel comfortable tackling two significant issues: finding Indy’s next quarterback and rebuilding a once-dominant offensive line.
DeMeco Ryans, San Francisco 49ers DC
Teams that just fired an offensive-minded head coach often hire their next coach from the other side of the ball, and vice versa. Thus, if the Colts want to erase the Reich era from their memory, hiring an up-and-coming defensive coordinator could be the way to go.
DeMeco Ryans has built upon what former 49ers DC and current Jets head coach Robert Saleh left behind, turning San Francisco’s defense into one of the most fearsome in the NFL.
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Sure, he coaches stars like Nick Bosa and Fred Warner, but Ryans has also gotten the most out of late-round or undrafted prospects like Talanoa Hufanga and Azeez Al-Shaair. The 49ers defender with the most snaps is safety Tashaun Gipson, who wasn’t even on the roster until Aug. 22.
Ryans declined a second interview for the Vikings’ HC job last offseason, and he could be among the most coveted candidates this cycle. His defection from the 49ers would continue the brain drain from San Francisco, which has lost Saleh, Mike McDaniel, and a host of positional coaches in recent years.
Brian Callahan, Cincinnati Bengals OC
The Broncos gave Brian Callahan his only head coaching interview last year (and he reportedly impressed), but the 38-year-old should garner more interest this offseason after helping design another impressive offseason for the Bengals.
While Callahan doesn’t call the plays in Cincinnati, head coach Zac Taylor and the Bengals’ offensive players have been effusive with their praise of Callahan, citing his ability as a communicator and teacher. Alongside Taylor, Callahan has quickly adapted Cincinnati’s offense to defensive alterations, including this year when the Bengals have moved to an almost all-shotgun offense.
The son of longtime NFL coach Bill Callahan, Brian has worked closely with Peyton Manning, Matthew Stafford, Derek Carr, and Joe Burrow. Callahan would have a good deal of input on the Colts’ next QB, and he also has experience rebuilding an offensive line, something he’d have to do in Indianapolis.
Dan Quinn, Dallas Cowboys DC
Each of the Colts’ last four head coaching hires — Saturday, Reich, Chuck Pagano, and Jim Caldwell — were first-time NFL head coaches. Indianapolis hasn’t hired an experienced HC since Tony Dungy in 2002.
If the Colts want to go back to that well and hire a coach who’s done the job before, Dan Quinn should be near the top of the list. Quinn went 43-42 as the Falcons’ head coach from 2015-20 and nearly won a Super Bowl trophy.
Since joining the Cowboys in 2021, Quinn has completely reinvented himself as a defensive play-caller. He’s turned Micah Parsons into the best defensive player in football and developed hoards of role players like Dorance Armstrong, Jayron Kearse, and Donovan Wilson.
Quinn would need to make sure he surrounds himself with a solid offensive staff. His first OC pick in Atlanta, Kyle Shanahan, was a home run. But his second and third hires — Steve Sarkisian and Dirk Koetter — didn’t work out nearly as well.
Sean Payton, Free Agent
Every team with a head coaching vacancy in 2023 should at least be interested in Sean Payton. He’s one of the best head coaches of his generation, a Super Bowl winner, and a future Hall of Famer.
Still, it’s unclear if Payton would actually be interested in joining the Colts. Payton has mentioned several factors he’ll look for in his next job, including a franchise QB, good weather, and a stable ownership group. Indianapolis has none of those.
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The Colts also don’t generally spend much money in free agency. It’s unclear if that’s a directive from Irsay or simply general manager Chris Ballard’s preferred team-building strategy. Either way, Payton may not want to land with a team that isn’t typically among the NFL’s leaders in active cash spending.
Indy’s skill-position talent could appeal to Payton, and he could be tempted by the idea of drafting and developing a young quarterback. But unless Irsay is willing to make Payton the highest-paid coach in the NFL and give him carte blanche to remake the entire organization, the former Saints head coach is probably a pipe dream for the Colts.