Jeff Saturday Adresses The Elephant In The Room

Interim Indianapolis Colts head coach Jeff Saturday admits he doesn’t know where this situation will end up. 

In that respect, Indy has the advantage of a head coach who understands the fans. That’s where the positives end, though.

Jeff Saturday is the somewhat surprising and controversial replacement for the fired Frank Reich. His only coaching experience comes from a high school team from 2017 – 2019.

Jeff Saturday is the first former player with no professional or college experience to be named a head coach since Norm Van Brocklin in 1961.

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With the NFL taking steps to increase the number of minority coaches, there are fair questions to be asked about Saturday’s hiring.

The Colts aren’t breaking any rules here – the Rooney Rule doesn’t apply to interim head coaches. They don’t have to consider it until after the season.

Nonetheless, an inexperienced former player who’s friendly with the owner getting the gig doesn’t look good. Much less one who admits he isn’t sure what the immediate future holds for the franchise.

“I’ll address, I’m know the question I’m sure is going to be asked. The Rooney Rule,” said Saturday. “I’ll be honest with you, it’s an important rule. I do not diminish it one second, I believe and understand fully why it is as important as it is. I don’t minimize, this is important. My role here is for eight games. 

“When this is over, they’ll do an exhaustive search and pick whoever their best candidate is to be the head coach of the Colts. If I’m considered, I’d be honored. I have no idea where this thing is going to go. Not even a little bit.”

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“But I can assure you that’s going to be handled. From the organization’s perspective. From my perspective as a man. Here’s the deal: I’m completely comfortable in who I am as a man. I know I can lead men, I know I know the game of football, and I’m passionate about it. I have no fear about are you as qualified as somebody else. 

“Bro, I spent 14 years in a locker room. I went to the playoffs 12 times. I’ve 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 GM, how they work? I’ve won (one Super Bowl), been to two. Here’s the deal. 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 could be really good at it, I got no idea. But I dang sure won’t back down. I can tell you that.”