Who is Jeff Saturday? Colts fans furious as man without prior experience named interim head coach
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA: The Indianapolis Colts fired head coach Frank Reich, who was hired in February 2018, and named ESPN analyst Jeff Saturday as their interim head coach. Colts’ owner Jim Irsay took to Twitter to announce the move on Monday, November 7. He wrote, “We have parted ways with head coach Frank Reich.” And in another tweet declared that Saturday will serve as interim coach.
Moments after the announcement, fans were left curious and furious about how Irsay chose the 47-year-old Saturday, who has no coaching experience at the NFL or collegiate level and has served only as the head coach for the Hebron Christian Academy, over two former NFL head coaches—defensive coordinator Gus Bradley and defensive assistant John Fox. One wrote, "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. That is a real sentence." While another tweeted by saying, "Jeff Saturday just became the head coach of an NFL team, without any prior coaching experience in the NFL or college football. There are Black coaches in the NFL that have been assistants for years that can’t even get serious interviews to be a head coach. Amazing."
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We have parted ways with head coach Frank Reich. pic.twitter.com/Fam6rNYfKM
— Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) November 7, 2022
We have named Jeff Saturday interim head coach. pic.twitter.com/GetJtD9yAr
— Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) November 7, 2022
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 (@zkeefer) November 7, 2022
That is a real sentence.
Jeff Saturday just became the head coach of an NFL team, without any prior coaching experience in the NFL or college football.
— Colb (@___Colb___) November 7, 2022
There are Black coaches in the NFL that have been assistants for years that can’t even get serious interviews to be a head coach.
Amazing.
Many continued to criticize the decision. An individual commented, "I say this as a fan of Jeff Saturday the player and person: it's absolutely ridiculous that he's the head coach of an NFL team." Another pointed out, "I like Jeff Saturday and enjoyed working with him at ESPN. This is not a critique of him, but rather a NFL system that constantly moves the goalposts for white coaches, but holds Black coaches to tighter standards. A Black coach likely would never be in Jeff’s position."
I say this as a fan of Jeff Saturday the player and person: it's absolutely ridiculous that he's the head coach of an NFL team.
— Derek Schultz (@Schultz975) November 7, 2022
I like Jeff Saturday and enjoyed working with him at ESPN. This is not a critique of him, but rather a NFL system that constantly moves the goalposts for white coaches, but holds Black coaches to tighter standards. A Black coach likely would never be in Jeff’s position.
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) November 7, 2022
Who is Jeff Saturday?
According to Colts, Saturday is a six-time Pro Bowl and two-time first-team AP All-Pro center. He, who has played 13 seasons for the Colts from 1999 to 2011 and is currently an ESPN analyst, served as a consultant in recent years and is in its Ring of Honor. Saturday was also the head coach for the Hebron Christian Academy in Dacula, Georgia, for three seasons. As stated by CBS Sports, Saturday will temporarily take over the Colts team, who are currently last in the NFL in scoring, 30th in rushing, and 31st in red zone efficiency.
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