Indianapolis Colts formally rent Shane Steichen as head coach

INDIANAPOLIS — A training search that spanned 5 weeks and combed by 14 preliminary candidates has lastly come to an finish.

The Indianapolis Colts have introduced the rent of Shane Steichen as their new head coach, placing the previous Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator on the helm of a staff trying to rebound from a 4-12-1 season and searching for long-overdue stability at quarterback.

The transfer completes Steichen’s meteoric rise from high quality management coach as just lately as 2015 to now changing into one among 32 head coaches within the NFL.

The Colts will formally introduce Steichen throughout a information convention Tuesday afternoon with proprietor Jim Irsay and normal supervisor Chris Ballard.

Although the Eagles’ pursuit of a title fell brief of their 38-35 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII on Sunday, Steichen acquired vital credit score for the staff’s offensive resurgence the previous two seasons. His means to craft the offense across the abilities of quarterback Jalen Hurts has been notably notable, with Hurts becoming a member of Joe Montana and Steve Young as the one gamers to account for no less than 370 complete yards and 4 touchdowns in a Super Bowl.

Despite preliminary hypothesis that interim head coach Jeff Saturday was the front-runner for the job, the Colts adopted by on their promise of a methodical teaching search. Their second spherical of interviews included eight candidates, with Saturday and Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris among the many final different finalists to be eradicated.

The Colts carried out intensive interviews with candidates in the course of the second spherical. One league supply mentioned that between preliminary digital interviews and follow-up in-person interviews, the staff spent between 16 and 18 hours with candidates who made it to the second spherical. Included in that complete was a number of hours of particular person assembly time with Irsay, who dived into the method regardless of his earlier said affection for Saturday, a former All-Pro Colts lineman.

Steichen’s quarterback experience is taken into account central to his match with the Colts, who maintain the fourth general choice within the NFL draft and are extensively anticipated to decide on one of many prime accessible quarterbacks.

Having labored with the likes of Philip Rivers, Justin Herbert and Hurts, Steichen has gained a status for getting vital manufacturing out of his quarterbacks. His work with Herbert throughout his rookie season might be relevant in Indianapolis if the Colts transfer forward with a quarterback choose, as anticipated. Herbert threw 31 touchdowns and accomplished 66.6% of his go makes an attempt in his first season in 2020. Steichen was the Chargers’ offensive coordinator that season earlier than becoming a member of the Eagles the subsequent 12 months.

Steichen, 37, has held a number of roles in his dozen years of NFL teaching. His first foray into the league got here as a defensive assistant with the Chargers in 2011. He then completely transitioned to offense when he joined the Browns in 2013 as an offensive assistant working with the staff’s quarterbacks.

Steichen later returned to the Chargers in 2014 and constantly rose by the ranks within the group from high quality management coach to quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator. In an fascinating coincidence, Steichen labored beneath offensive coordinator Frank Reich upon returning to San Diego.

Steichen now finds himself changing Reich in Indianapolis after the previous coach was fired in November.

Part of Steichen’s attraction is the distinctive adaptability he has displayed together with his offenses. In 2020, when he was the offensive coordinator, the Chargers have been sixth within the NFL passing yardage. The subsequent 12 months, his first in Philadelphia, the Eagles developed a potent working recreation and led the NFL in dashing.

If the hiring of Steichen feels acquainted for the Colts, that is as a result of it ought to. The staff employed Reich in 2018 after a stint because the Eagles’ offensive coordinator. Like Steichen, he landed in Indianapolis instantly after a visit to the Super Bowl, with the Eagles defeating the New England Patriots in February 2018.

Reich went 40-33-1 earlier than he was fired after a Week 9 loss to the Patriots that dropped Indianapolis’ report to 3-5-1.