Colts execs ‘desperately tried’ to talk ‘hellbent’ owner Jim Irsay out of hiring Jeff Saturday

Colts owner Jim Irsay went against advice from front office executives to not hire Jeff Saturday before the inexperienced, interim head coach led the team to a 25-20 win over the Raiders in his first NFL game at the helm. 

On Sunday, NFL Network revealed that Colts president Pete Ward and GM Chris Ballad ‘expressed their reservations’ to Irsay, who was slammed last week by former All-Pro Cleveland Browns OL Joe Thomas for hiring ‘his drinking buddy.’ 

NFL Hall of Famer Bill Cowher also criticized the decision, calling it ‘a disgrace to the profession.’   

The NFL world was shocked Monday as Jeff Saturday was appointed Indianapolis’ head coach

Saturday and the Colts got off to a 25-20 win on Sunday in the interim’s NFL debut as a coach

Saturday famously has not coached at the league level, nor college football, prior to taking the Colts hotseat. Most recently, he coached high school football in Georgia at Hebron Christian Academy.

Irsay nevertheless made up his mind to hire Saturday, who previously appeared on TV as an analyst for ESPN, after the Colts suffered a third consecutive loss to the Patriots (26-3) on November 6th.   

After the game, former head coach Frank Reich was then asked to stay behind for talks with the Colts owner in Boston before being dismissed the next day.

Irsay later revealed that his decision to give Saturday a chance at coaching at football’s highest level came after he was impressed by the way the Super Bowl champion had conveyed his ideas to solve Indianapolis’ offensive line problems.

Colts owner Jim Irsay hired Saturday after he was impressed by the ex-player’s ideas to solve the team’s offensive line problems

Former Colts head coach Frank Reich was fired after the team’s 26-3 loss to the Patriots

Many media members and users across social media criticized the move for a range of reasons, including hiring Saturday ahead of more experienced coaching members who are currently employed by the Colts.

John Fox and Gus Bradley, both former NFL head coaches who were hired by Indianapolis in the offseason, were overlooked.

Part of the equation to hire Saturday came down to the 47-year-old’s natural leadership skills, which ‘have already shown through’ ahead of his first win on Sunday, according to sources close to the NFL Network. 

While the former Colts player may not have coaching experience at the pro level, he is a six-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl XLI champion following an illustrious 14-year NFL career. 

Notwithstanding the external ridicule, Saturday conveyed a confidence not too dissimilar to the attitude which made him an outstanding player in Indianapolis for 12 years. 

Saturday was Irsay’s preferred choice although the 47-year-old had never coached in the NFL

‘Here’s the deal,’ Saturday said ahead of the Raiders win. ‘Everybody talks about my [inexperience]. I’m completely comfortable in who I am as a man. I know I can lead men. I know the game of football and I’m passionate about it.

‘Bro, I spent 14 years in a locker room. I went to the playoffs 12 times. I got five dudes in the Hall of Fame that played with [me].

‘You don’t think I’ve seen greatness? You don’t think I’ve seen how people prepare, how they coach, how they [manage], how they work?

‘I mean, won a Super Bowl, been to two. Here’s the deal, man. None of us are promised a good job.   

‘I may be terrible at this and, after eight games, I’ll say, “God bless you. I’m no good.” I may be really good at it. I’ve got no idea, but I dang sure ain’t going to back down.’