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The Indianapolis Colts fired head coach Frank Reich after four-and-a-half seasons with the franchise. The team turned to former Colts star offensive center Jeff Saturday as their interim head coach. This despite him not having any coaching experience at the NFL or collegiate level. He played 13 seasons for Indianapolis, winning a Super Bowl back in the 2006-07 season with the franchise.
The retired NFL player had been an ESPN NFL analyst since 2013 before the hire.
In his time with Indianapolis, Saturday was a six-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro. He played 197 games for Indianapolis, starting 188 of those games. The hire came as a shock to those outside the organization as the team had two in-house coaches with head coaching experience.
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Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley spent four seasons as the Jacksonville Jaguars' head coach from 2013 to 2016. John Fox is the Colts' senior defensive assistant who's been a head coach with three different NFL teams.
He spent nine seasons as Carolina Panthers head coach (2002 - 2008), four with the Denver Broncos (2011 - 2014), and three with the Chicago Bears (2015 - 2017).
Jeff Saturday career at Hebron Christian Academy
He spent three seasons as head coach at Hebron Christian Academy in Georgia and compiled a 20-16 record. NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero tweeted that the Rooney Rule isn't applicable to interim head coach hires made during the regular season.
The Super Bowl-winning player spoke about his time with Hebron Christian Academy and what it meant for him.
Saturday said:
"I'll tell you what, it’s probably one of the most, if not the most, fulfilling thing that I’ve ever done. I really enjoy working with the young people. The game of football teaches people so many lessons in life."
He also noted that he leaned on lessons from his former head coach in Indianapolis, Pro Football Hall of Fame head coach Tony Dungy.
Saturday added:
"I use a lot of the Tony Dungy philosophies of, 'We're going to execute. We're not going to make excuses.' We are going to be a team that really battles from first kickoff until the end. We push our guys hard."
The interim head coach will make his NFL debut on the sidelines in Week 10 at Allegiant Stadium versus the Las Vegas Raiders.
If you use any of the above quotes, please credit USA Today and H/T Sportskeeda.
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