The Colts have added two more names to their list of HC finalists. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Indianapolis will conduct a second interview with Eagles OC Shane Steichen this week, while Tom Pelissero of NFL.com says that Packers special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia will get a second look as well.
Steichen, who also secured HC interviews with the Panthers and Texans in this year’s cycle, has quickly turned into a hot commodity on the head coaching market. The 37-year-old was the Chargers’ offensive coordinator in 2020 — which happened to be Justin Herbert‘s impressive rookie year — and he joined Philadelphia in the same capacity in 2021. Eagles HC Nick Sirianni handed Steichen the play-calling reins midway through the 2021 season, and the Eagles’ pivot to a run-heavy offense drove them to last year’s playoff bracket. Jalen Hurts’ progression as a passer this year helped the team secure the NFC’s No. 1 seed and a spot in Sunday's NFC Championship Game.
Bisaccia, 62, is one of the league’s most-respected third phase coaches. Of course, he took over as the Raiders’ interim HC in the wake of Jon Gruden‘s resignation in 2021, and he led Las Vegas to a 7-5 record down the stretch, which was enough to secure a playoff berth. That level of success earned him an interview to retain the position on a full-time basis, but the organization pivoted to Josh McDaniels instead. Bisaccia also took an HC interview with the Jaguars last offseason before accepting a job as Green Bay’s special teams coordinator.
Steichen and Bisaccia join a large group of candidates to advance from the Colts’ first round of virtual interviews — which did not include owner Jim Irsay — to a second round of meetings for which Irsay will be present. That group includes interim HC Jeff Saturday, Broncos DC Ejiro Evero, Rams DC Raheem Morris and Giants DC Wink Martindale. Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy and Indy’s own ST coordinator, Bubba Ventrone, also remain in the mix.
The shadow of Saturday continues to loom over these proceedings. Despite both internal and external backlash, Irsay is said to be “pushing” to remove the interim tag from Saturday’s title and keep the Colts’ former center aboard as the team’s permanent head coach. Here’s the full list of Indianapolis’ HC candidates:
- Eric Bieniemy, offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interviewed 1/12; in finalist mix
- Rich Bisaccia, special teams coordinator (Packers): Interviewed 1/20; second interview scheduled
- Brian Callahan, offensive coordinator (Bengals): Interviewed 1/20
- Ejiro Evero, defensive coordinator (Broncos): Conducted second interview 1/26
- Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator (Lions): Interviewed 1/14
- Jim Harbaugh, head coach (Michigan): Mentioned as candidate, to remain at Michigan or join Broncos?
- Ben Johnson, offensive coordinator (Lions): Interviewed 1/13; plans to stay with Lions
- Mike Kafka, offensive coordinator (Giants): Interviewed 1/22
- Don Martindale, defensive coordinator (Giants): Planning second interview
- Raheem Morris, defensive coordinator (Rams): Conducted second interview 1/27
- Dan Quinn, defensive coordinator (Cowboys): To conduct second interview 1/28; to stay with Cowboys
- DeMeco Ryans, defensive coordinator (49ers): Interview on hold; Colts still want to meet; prefers Texans’ job
- Jeff Saturday, interim head coach (Colts): Conducted second interview 1/25
- Shane Steichen, offensive coordinator (Eagles): Interviewed 1/14; second interview scheduled
- Bubba Ventrone, special teams coordinator (Colts): Interviewed 1/11; in finalist mix
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