Colts: 4 Perfect Quarterback/Head Coach Combinations

Which potential quarterback/head coach pairing would be the best for the Indianapolis Colts?

The Indianapolis Colts' head coaching search is entering the final stages of development, as the team has (seemingly) narrowed down the search to seven candidates.

Here is the list of qualified candidates for the job within that final list of seven:

• Shane Steichen, Philadelphia Eagles Offensive Coordinator
• Raheem Morris, Los Angeles Rams Defensive Coordinator
• Rich Bisaccia, Green Bay Packers Special Teams Coordinator
• Brian Callahan, Cincinnati Bengals Offensive Coordinator
• Wink Martindale, New York Giants Defensive Coordinator
• Ejiro Evero, Denver Broncos Defensive Coordinator

This list is certainly different than what we could have expected at the beginning of the search, as there is a good mix of styles and experience among this group. Outside of the head coach search, the next important business matter for the team is figuring out which rookie quarterback best fits this team/potential head coach.

So today, why don't we tackle these two major topics in one all-encompassing article? Let's take a look at the most intriguing Head Coach-Quarterback pairings that the Colts could walk away with this offseason:

Brian Callahan (Head Coach) + C.J Stroud (Quarterback)

Kyle Robertson - Columbus Dispatch - USA TODAY

The one HC-QB pairing that has left most Colts' fans salivating over the potential is Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan and Ohio State quarterback C.J Stroud. Both are seen as top options this offseason for the Colts, so this potential pairing isn't too far outside of the realm of possibility.

Callahan is a coach that is plenty experienced in working with a pocket passer, as he has famously worked with the likes of Peyton Manning and Joe Burrow in the past. Callahan has a background in a Gary Kubiak/Mike Shanahan style of offense, which has led to many great seasons over the past 20 years for traditional pocket passers.

With that, the most natural fit in this draft class is Stroud, who is a smart passer that throws with beautiful touch. With the Colts' type of weapons on the outside (big, contested catch guys) and Callahan's offense, Stroud could fully reach his potential in Indy with a coach like Callahan.

Shane Steichen (Head Coach)+ Bryce Young (Quarterback)

Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

Bryce Young would easily be the top quarterback in this draft class if he were only a little bit bigger as a player. Still, it is hard to not like his ability as a passer. He has a lightning-quick release while also being a magician under duress in the pocket. If he can get with the right offensive system (and avoid big hits), he can be a star in the NFL.

Shane Steichen may not seem like the ideal candidate on paper, as his major selling point is his work with a running quarterback (Jalen Hurts), whereas Young is certainly not that. The main point that I continue to focus on, though, is the RPO game. Young is the best passer in this class at executing RPO passes and quick reads over the middle of the field.

Steichen made life easy for his Philadelphia Eagles' offense by slicing up opposing defenses with heavy usage of the quick game and RAC passes for his receivers. If you add a cerebral and efficient passer like Young to his scheme, he should have a ton of success even without the top rushing ability.

Raheem Morris (Head Coach) + Will Levis (Quarterback)

Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports

This is a bit of a weird one to explain, but I promise there is some sense in pairing this defensive head coach with a quarterback like Will Levis. Levis is a polarizing quarterback prospect that physically can be great, but a lot of that is currently missing in his game.

He is absolutely at his best when he can work in the quick game with his lightning-quick release and also utilize his athleticism and arm talent on play-action passing. To me, that screams a Sean McVay/Jon Gruden style of offense. The one candidate that would be the most likely to bring that style of offense to Indy is Raheem Morris.

Levis is certainly a risk at quarterback, but pairing him with a coach of Morris' caliber (and getting him into a scheme that fits his current skill set) could do wonders for his early career projection.

Shane Steichen (Head Coach) + Anthony Richardson (Quarterback)

© Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Obviously, I can't get enough of Steichen as the Colts' potential head coach, because I also love his fit with another young quarterback in this draft class. Young would find success in his scheme due to his efficiency in the RPO game and how smart of a passer he is, but Anthony Richardson could find it in a completely other way.

Steichen has masterfully found a way to guide Hurts into the MVP-caliber passer that we see today. He did this by using Hurts' ability as a rusher to accentuate what he can do as a passer. That is the exact same thing that Richardson needs to become the star that he can potentially be.

Steichen is the one candidate that would make me feel the most comfortable about taking Richardson high in the draft. Steichen would build up a creative run game to support this 6'5", 230-pound athletic quarterback, while also taking advantage of the space that having a weapon like this can provide in the secondary. Pairing Steichen with Richardson could be the home run duo that Indy desperately needs.

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