The Indianapolis Colts, who last week fired their offensive coordinator, made another big change on Monday following their brutal 26-3 loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday, have fired head coach Frank Reich.
The have named former offensive lineman Jeff Saturday as their interim head coach, according to ESPN.
Saturday, 47, a six-time Pro-Bowl center who played 13 seasons for the Colts and is currently an ESPN analyst. Saturday had been serving as a consultant for the team, and is a part of their Ring of Honor.
While Saturday has no coaching experience at either the NFL of the collegiate level, Saturday was head coach for the Hebron Christian Academy in Dacula, Georgia, for three seasons.
The Colts have scheduled a news conference for 6 p.m. ET on Monday with owner Jim Irsay, general manager Chris Ballard and Saturday.
Apparently, the move does not violate the Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview minority candidates for head coaching vacancies.
“The rule does not apply to an interim head coach during the season,” league spokesman Brian McCarthy said, per ProFootballTalk. “It does apply after the conclusion of the team’s season. The club would have to fulfill the rule before hiring a full-time coach.”
Reich, 60, was 40-33-1 (.547) in the regular season and had a 1-2 record in two playoff appearances, but Sunday’s ineptitude, was the team’s worst offensive performances in recent memory, was the final straw.
