Peyton Manning's Colts teammate claims he wouldn't have taken interim HC job - "I would have hung up" 

Peyton Manning is one of the best players in the history of the Indianapolis Colts franchise. Manning's teammate for nine seasons in Indianapolis, defensive end Dwight Freeney, is another. In a recent interview on The Rich Eisen Show, Freeney was asked about another teammate of his, Jeff Saturday, who has just taken the Colts' interim HC job.

The three-time All-Pro noted that he wouldn't have taken the head coaching job while speaking highly of Saturday:

"How quickly, then, does your brain turn toward why didn't, say, call me, Dwight Freeney, to be the interim head coach. Dwight Freeney and I would have definitely hung up. ‘I've got something wrong on my phone. Jim, let me check the reception here.’"

He continued:

"Obviously, there's been some type of conversation at some point. Jeff is a great leader. He had been when he was playing for us back in the day."

Jeff Saturday was named the interim head coach following the firing of Frank Reich after four-and-a-half seasons. Saturday played 13 seasons with the Colts and was a six-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro. When Manning, Freeney, and Saturday played together, it was one of the most successful stretches in Indianapolis Colts history.

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The Colts when Peyton Manning, Dwight Freeney and Jeff Saturday were together

Peyton Manning played alongside both Freeney and Saturday for nine seasons (2002 to 2010), winning a large number of games for the Colts. From the 2002 to 2010 seasons, the Colts won 109 games. It was the second-most wins in that stretch, behind the New England Patriots (110).

The Colts won their division seven times in those nine seasons, making the playoffs every season in that period.

Under the trio, the Colts made it to two Super Bowls, winning Super Bowl 41 in the 2006 season. They came up short in the 2009 season, losing Super Bowl 44 to the New Orleans Saints.

Now, as the Colts sit with a record of 3-5-1 in the 2022 season, Saturday is looking to rekindle some magic from the franchise's heyday. It will be interesting to see if he can pull it off.

If you use any of the above quotes, please credit The Rich Eisen Show and H/T Sportskeeda.