Report: Colts STC Bubba Ventrone Leaving for AFC Foe
There was optimism among fans of the Indianapolis Colts that while Indy had found a new head coach in Shane Steichen, some of the coordinators would be held over from the previous staff.
One of those was Bubba Ventrone, the highly talented special teams coordinator who helped shape the Colts' special teams unit into one of the best in the league. Unfortunately, it looks like Ventrone will be moving on, after all.
According to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, the Cleveland Browns are expected to hire Ventrone as their next assistant head coach/special teams coordinator. While the deal is not reportedly done as of yet, the expectation is it will be finalized Thursday. Ventrone interviewed for the vacant Browns special teams coordinator position on Wednesday.
Ventrone has been the Colts' special teams coordinator since 2018. Ventrone was actually a hire of Josh McDaniels before McDaniels backed out of the Colts' head coaching job. Ventrone decided to stay on board the Colts staff when Frank Reich was hired as head coach.
Ever since his arrival with the Colts, Ventrone has made special teams a weapon for Indy. Over the past five seasons under Ventrone, the Colts have ranked 5th, 21st, 1st, T-2nd, and T-4th in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus. Special teams has had a major impact for the Colts since Ventrone has led the squad.
The Colts thought very highly of Ventrone. Sources indicate that Ventrone was the pick of general manager Chris Ballard to take over as the interim head coach when Reich was fired in the middle of the 2022 season. Owner Jim Irsay had other plans and hired Jeff Saturday as the interim head coach.
Ventrone was given the opportunity to interview for the Colts' head coaching job after the season. Ventrone was one of 13 candidates the Colts interviewed in their search. There have been no reports that Ventrone made it to the second round of interviews.
It has yet to be reported whether or not this was a decision by Ventrone to be let out of his contract with the Colts or if Steichen wanted to move in a different direction for his special teams coordinator. However, Ventrone does have a connection with the Browns as a player. He was a mainstay on the Browns' special teams unit from 2009-2012, serving as a special teams captain his final two seasons in Cleveland.
With Ventrone likely moving on, the Colts have a hole to fill at special teams coordinator. Indy could look to fill the position from within with Joe Hastings, who has been the assistant special teams coach under Ventrone for the past two seasons. Another option could be Joe Pannunzio, the Philadelphia Eagles assistant special teams coordinator who spent the last two seasons with Steichen in Philly.
It will be interesting to see who the Colts bring on to replace Ventrone. With the success the Colts' special teams unit has had over the past five seasons, it will not be easy filling those shoes.
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