CBS 4/Indy
The Colts’ introductory press conference for Jeff Saturday was an absolute disaster.
On Monday afternoon, the Colts made the shocking announcement that they had hired Saturday, despite the fact that he has no NFL coaching experience.
Breaking: Colts are naming their former six-time Pro-Bowl C and ESPN analyst Jeff Saturday as their interim head coach. Saturday has been a consultant for the team, is in its Ring Of Honor, and also was head coach for the Hebron Christian Academy football team in Dacula, Georgia. pic.twitter.com/VEmHOeSrFR
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 7, 2022
Jeff Saturday is the first NFL head coach with no college or pro coaching experience since Norm Van Brocklin went from 1960 NFL MVP with the Eagles to coach of the Vikings in 1961.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) November 7, 2022
Colts owner Jim Irsay tried to explain his decision to hire Saturday during a press conference on Monday Night, and every answer he gave was bizarre.
During the presser, Irsay said he liked that Saturday didn’t have any NFL experience because he hasn’t learned “fear” and won’t lean on analytics.
Jim Irsay says of Jeff Saturday: "I'm glad he hasn't had the NFL experience"."
Because he hasn't coached, Irsay says Saturday doesn't have the fear that coaches often have and they often turn towards analytics for decision making.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) November 8, 2022
“I’m glad he doesn’t have any NFL experience. I’m glad he hasn’t learned the fear in this league. Because it’s tough for all our coaches. They’re afraid. They go to analytics. And it gets difficult. He doesn’t have all that. He doesn’t have that fear.”
Irsay then bizarrely bragged about being in the “top quartile” of franchises since 2000.
“Look we’re the fourth winningest franchise in the league since 2000. That means in the upper quartile of winners were in the top quartile of that upper quartile.”
😵💫😵💫😵💫 pic.twitter.com/ns1RrBZB2I
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) November 8, 2022
The presser was so bad that coaches/execs called it a “mockery” and were furious that Saturday was hired with no experience.
Texts from some NFL ppl during that #Colts presser included words like “mockery,” “insanity” and “chaos.”
The Jeff Saturday hire upset a lot of coaches + execs (and not just minorities) … But Jim Irsay’s comments seems to have made it even worse
— Kimberley A. Martin (@ByKimberleyA) November 8, 2022