Jeff Saturday is a candidate, but there are “a lot of great” ones

Within 24 days, the Colts officially start their search to find a new head coach. Jeff Saturday is the interim coach.

Jim Irsay of the Colts, who may have made a decision to hire Saturday, but has no reason to until completing an Rooney Rule-compliant job search, spoke to reporters about Wednesday’s situation.

“I’m looking forward to the interview process,” Irsay said. “I think Jeff’s a candidate but there’s a lot of great candidates out there. I think there’s a lot of great candidates in college. I believe the pool should be expanded. There’s some great college coaches that may be capable. There’s some unknown coaches that may be capable.”

It’s odd that Irsay would consider college candidates, other than Michigan coach (and former Colts quarterback) Jim Harbaugh. (Harbaugh has said he’s not returning to the NFL; Nick Saban also said he won’t be the Alabama coach.) College coaches without extensive NFL coaching experience simply don’t do well in the NFL.

Still, Irsay has shown that he’s willing to embrace the unconventional. From inexperienced to unknown, he seems to be willing to cast a wide net — and to keep something other than the most obvious fish.

Saturday seems to be the favourite. We’ll see if that changes when Irsay assesses the full scope of Saturday’s performance and begins talking to candidates.

Jim Irsay on coaching job: Jeff Saturday is a candidate, but there are “a lot of great” ones Original version: Pro Football Talk