Jeff Saturday was a surprising choice for interim coach for the Colts, to say the least. After a debut victory over the Raiders, Saturday's team has gone 0-4, including a signature loss, blowing the biggest lead in NFL history in the week leading up to Christmas.
With the end of the season nearing, questions around Saturday's job security have remained: Has Saturday done enough, even in a 1-4 run, to have the interim tag removed? Or will the Saturday experiment end after an ill-fated trial run?
If Saturday wants any hope of keeping his job beyond 2022, then the work will have to start in Week 16 on "Monday Night Football," when the Colts take on the Chargers. The Colts finish out their season with a winnable matchup against the Texans. For Saturday, two wins could go a long way.
Here's the latest on Saturday's job status entering the winter:
MORE: NFL power rankings — Where Colts stand entering Week 16
Will the Colts keep Jeff Saturday?
Entering the Week 16 "Monday Night Football" matchup between the Colts and Chargers, there's been no word surrounding the solidity of Saturday's standing as permanent coach for the Colts.
Saturday, though, is hoping that the interim tag is removed from his resume, and that he will stay on as coach entering the 2023 season.
"I'm not wavering," Saturday said. "I've loved it. I've had a great time. …
"I plan on interviewing. As long as they give me the interview, I'm in. I enjoy the heck out of this and have had a lot of fun doing it. Again, I'm not discouraged at all. I have a vision of what this could look like in the future and plan to work that way. That's what I do every day — work toward that goal, understanding what that could look like."
Saturday has gone 1-4 since taking the reins in Indy, and has a few losses that more than sting. In Week 15, the Colts blew a 33-0 lead to the Vikings, the single biggest blown lead in NFL history. They were also at the business end of a 54-19 blowout to the Cowboys in Week 14.
MORE: How Vikings completed biggest comeback in NFL history vs. Colts
Colts head coach options 2023
If the Colts opt to move on from Saturday — something that seems increasingly likely with every loss — here's a few current coordinators they could take a look at in 2023:
Dan Quinn
Current job: Cowboys defensive coordinator
Quinn was a hot commodity during the 2022 head-coaching cycle, potentially getting a second chance sooner than most NFL head coaches would. The long-time defensive coordinator has fostered a reputation as a leader and stabilizer, as evidenced during his run with the Falcons. He interviewed with the Broncos twice, before the job was given to Nathaniel Hackett. The rest, as they say, is history.
DeMeco Ryans
Current job: 49ers defensive coordinator
Ryans has been in the DC chair for the 49ers for two seasons, but has done an exceptional job mitigating the loss of Robert Saleh (hired by the Jets in 2021). The 49ers have the league's No. 1 defense by both points and yards allowed entering Week 17, and are coming off a season in which they were top-5 in most major categories.
Eric Bieniemy
Current job: Chiefs offensive coordinator
Where there's an opening, Eric Bieniemy's name will be mentioned. The long-time offensive coordinator for the Chiefs has interviewed for countless head coach openings through the years, but has yet to land a job. While there's some question as to whether or not the offense falls squarely on the shoulders of Andy Reid, Bieniemy should get some credit for helping along Patrick Mahomes during his career.
Ben Johnson
Current job: Lions offensive coordinator
The Lions turned around their offense in a big way, making use of a hodgepodge of offensive weaponry (and Jared Goff) through the 2022 season. Johnson is only in his first season as OC for the Lions, but his ascent up the ranks for Dan Campbell's staff in 2021 helped make moving on from Anthony Lynn a bit easier. The Lions have a top-5 offensive attack, largely thanks to Johnson's creativity on the offensive side of the ball.
