ESPN Ranks Possible Coach Openings, Including Colts

While Jeff Saturday is still the interim coach of the Indianapolis Colts, the assumption for the last several weeks is that he's only keeping the seat warm for a permanent appointment for 2023.

Indianapolis has been linked heavily with Michigan Wolverines head coach and former Colts' quarterback Jim Harbaugh, and they may be getting a boost in their efforts from the NCAA.

But the Colts face several challenges in hiring a new coach, some of which of their own making. ESPN's Bill Barnwell picked seven teams he thinks will be in the market for a new head coach, and he ranked each of the positions.

It wasn't pretty for the Colts.

Indianapolis comes in seventh of seven in ranking the potential job openings in the NFL. He lists meddling ownership, under-performing young stars, and lack of quarterback as the biggest cons for the Colts.

What has flown under the radar is how disappointing this season has been for Indy's core of stars. Running back Jonathan Taylor was ruled out for the season after suffering his second high ankle sprain in December, ending a disappointing third season. Shaquille Leonard, the team's top defender, played just 74 defensive snaps while dealing with a concussion and two back surgeries. Superstar guard Quenton Nelson had a disappointing season, and center Ryan Kelly hasn't been the possible franchise player we saw in 2020. Wideout Michael Pittman Jr., saddled with yet another rotating cast of quarterbacks, is averaging just 9.5 yards per reception. -- Bill Barnwell, ESPN

The challenge for a potential new coach would be getting the best out of what was considered, before this season, a terrific group of young talent.

The Colts are also in prime position to address the quarterback position in the NFL Draft as they'll pick between No. 4 and No. 6 depending on this weekend's results.

Alabama's Bryce Young, Ohio State's C.J. Stroud, and Kentucky's Will Levis are all considered possible top-10 picks with Florida's Anthony Richardson lurking.

Barnwell acknowledges that any new coach will be wary of working for Colts owner Jim Irsay who has been more hands on than usual over the course of the last 12 months.

Coaches aren't naïve about where they might go to work. Reich is regarded as one of the most likable and well-respected coaches in the industry, and the sudden way his tenure ended will be a warning to coaches. There are only 32 NFL head-coaching jobs -- and Irsay hadn't been a problem before the end of the 2021 campaign -- but coaches with other options will be more hesitant to work here than they would have been a year ago. -- Bill Barnwell, ESPN

Barnwell's list of job openings in reverse order include:

No. 7: Indianapolis Colts
No. 6: Denver Broncos
No. 5: Arizona Cardinals
No. 4: Washington Commanders
No. 3: Houston Texans
No. 2: New Orleans Saints
No. 1: Carolina Panthers

It's unlikely each of those seven positions will be open next week on Black Monday, but Barnwell gives a good overview of the national perception of the Colts as they currently stand.

Perception is fleeting though, and Barnwell understands how quickly perception can change.

If the Colts hire the right coach, draft the right quarterback and get their core of talent going again after a rough season, 2022 might go down as a blip of a season in which everything went wrong. -- Bill Barnwell, ESPN

Colts fans are hoping 2022 was just a blip and not a harbinger of things to come.