Colts drop head coach Frank Reich to hire a shocking pick

Indianapolis, Indiana - Following one of the Indianapolis Colts' worst offensive performances to date, head coach Frank Reich was shown the door on Monday after five years with the team.

After five seasons, Frank Reich was let go as head coach over the Indianapolis Colts following a poor start to the NFL season.
After five seasons, Frank Reich was let go as head coach over the Indianapolis Colts following a poor start to the NFL season.  © MICHAEL HICKEY / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP

Despite multiple changes to their offensive team, including a recent starting quarterback change from Matt Ryan to Sam Ehlinger and the firing of offensive coordinator Marcus Brady last week, the Colts were handed their third straight loss this season by the New England Patriots on Sunday.

While the team is notoriously known for being slow starters that still regularly attain an NFL playoff berth, the Colts are in the worst shape this year (3-5-1) of any in Reich's tenure - ultimately leading to his firing.

If Indianapolis was a laughingstock before, the team will now press on in the season with coaches who have no real experience in offensive play calling or NFL calling in general.

Following the announcement of Reich's departure, the Colts named former player and current ESPN analyst Jeff Saturday as interim head coach - a move that comes completely out of left field.

Saturday takes the head coaching position without any notable professional experience. He coached high school football from 2017 to 2020 - the extent of his coaching resume.

A five-time Pro Bowl player and two-time All-Pro First Team selection, Saturday played 13 seasons for Indianapolis from 1999-2011 and was inducted into the team's Ring of Honor in 2015.

Indianapolis Colts fans rush to Twitter to share their disappointment over Frank Reich

Former Colts player, Jeff Saturday stunned fans as the new interim head coach for Indianapolis on Monday following the release of Frank Reich.
Former Colts player, Jeff Saturday stunned fans as the new interim head coach for Indianapolis on Monday following the release of Frank Reich.  © ANDY LYONS / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

When the team revealed Saturday would replace Reich, fans were in total shock, and rushed to social media to share their disbelief.

Saturday makes NFL history as the first and only person to serve as head coach without any coaching experience at either the NFL or college level.

"The Colts bypass two former NFL head coaches already on staff — Gus Bradley, John Fox — and a rising head-coaching candidate in Bubba Ventrone, to name former center Jeff Saturday the interim coach," Zak Keefer of The Atlantic noted.

"He's bringing Stephen A to be his offensive coordinator," another user tweeted, referencing Saturday's colleagues in his job as an analyst.

Sarcastically, one fan posted a video of two clowns play fighting, with the caption, "Jeff Saturday vs Josh McDaniels next week" – referencing the Colts' matchup against McDaniels' Raiders next weekend.

Having turned down an opportunity in 2019 to become the Colts' offensive line coach, Saturday will make his first appearance as head coach for the Colts this Sunday at 4:05 PM EST in Las Vegas.

Cover photo: MICHAEL HICKEY / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP

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