Frank Reich fired; Who will be 2023 Colts head coach?
INDIANAPOLIS (BVM) – There was a lot of excitement in the Indianapolis Colts organization when they hired Frank Reich in 2018. After a 40-33 record over his tenure, and a 3-5-1 start in 2022, they have decided to move on from their head coach.
Frank Reich is out as the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/8Rat1EvNBk
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 7, 2022
This move comes after the firing of offensive coordinator Marcus Brady last week and General Manager Chris Ballard could be next on the chopping block.
Whether Ballard or someone else decides, these are the top options to take over for the Colts in 2023.
The big fish:
Sean Payton
There is no excuse for Payton not to be the Colts‘ first call. The longtime Saints head coach retired after the 2021 season, but very few believe that will remain after the coaching carousel leading into the 2023 season. Every team with a vacancy will likely be throwing their hat into the ring with Payton, but owner Jim Irsay should throw the kitchen sink at him. Few owners have greater demands than Irsay who will need to flex his financial muscle to land Payton.
Head coaching experience:
Dan Quinn
While Quinn’s six-year tenure in Atlanta ended pretty abruptly, it is easy to forget that he led the Falcons to the Super Bowl in 2016. Now the defensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys, he is leading one of the best defensive units in the NFL. For teams that want to bring in a coach with proven success, Quinn will likely be near the top of the list. With Reich being hired with no head coaching experience, maybe Indianapolis would prefer a guy this time around that has shown that he can do it.
Raheem Morris
Morris’s time as a head coach was not great. Point blank. But it is important to remember how young he is. Now 46 years old, he has turned the Rams into one of the best teams in football at stopping the run. It is rare to find a coach at Morris’ age that already has nearly 60 games under his belt as a head coach. Now years later, maybe he is finally ready for a head coaching gig once again.
Intriguing coordinators:
DeMeco Ryans
Colts fans are very familiar with the two-time Pro Bowl linebacker who spent six seasons in the AFC South with the Texans. As good as his playing career was, he has the potential to have an even better coaching career. Ryans took over the defensive coordinator position for the 49ers when Robert Saleh took the Jets job and San Francisco has not missed a beat. Just 38 years old, Ryans is arguably the most exciting coaching candidate in this cycle.
Kellen Moore
It was a little surprising when Moore did not land a head coaching job last cycle, but nonetheless, the Cowboys offense continues to roll. Moore has been an intriguing candidate for a while, but his stock was boosted even more so when Dallas managed to go 4-1 with Cooper Rush earlier this season.
