Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - Indianapolis Colts: Is a Head-Coaching Front-Runner Really Emerging?

Starting point is 00:00:00 fellas you know when your lady asks you to complete a project at home and it's been a super long time and it's still not done because you've got to prepare it feels like that's what the Colts are doing to us right now you are locked on Colts your daily Indianapolis Colts podcast part of the Locked On Podcast Network your, every day. Welcome, welcome. Thanks for making us your first listen of the day. This is your daily podcast covering your Indianapolis Colts, part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates that you want to talk to faster.

Starting point is 00:00:58 Post your job for free at linkedin.com slash locked on NFL. I am Jake Arthur and he is Zach Hicks. Today is day 26 of the Colts offseason and they have shown interest in 14 head coaching candidates conducted or scheduled 23 interviews currently have eight finalists and could perhaps move on to a third round of interviews with a group of what I'm going to call super finalists. Zach Hicks I mean, that works for sure. Tim Grahl Yeah, so Zach, we've tried to stay on top of this as much as we can bring in everybody the latest and things just change every day something unexpected comes up every day a new

Starting point is 00:01:35 second interview head coach you know a new front runner this or that basically uh the latest we've heard today we're recording this Thursday so Aaron Aaron Glenn got a second interview on, I guess it was Wednesday night, or he was on his way Wednesday night. It was done today, I guess. That one, no one had really heard much of that after his first interview a week or two ago. So that one was a little surprising. You had mentioned, you know, they had a free day to kill. So just bring in another another candidate and, you know, fill that time, get another get another interview in. Wink Martindale. It was said by, let's see, Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News, who, again, that's a Giants reporter that Martindale is considered one of the front runners.

Starting point is 00:02:24 But, you know, apparently there's a few of them. It was very, uh, I I'm, I'm going to say it wasn't necessarily direct language used in that tweet. It, it sounded like things are very fluid still. So, uh, for what it's worth, that could just be Martindale side of things, you know, someone over in New York trying to pump up his stock a little bit. So, wow. Yeah. Zach, what do you make of the latest that we've, that we've been hearing in the last 24 hours? Yeah. So it's been kind of a whirlwind, obviously,

Starting point is 00:02:55 these last couple of days of you guys listen to yesterday's show where I was kind of doing my little spiel for the last 10 minutes about Brian Callahan and about this Colt head coaching search in general. I was kind of confused by the Aaron Glenn addition to this list, mainly because I thought Shane Steichen had already talked to the Colts. I thought he had already talked to them on Monday or Tuesday. I know for a fact that's when it was originally scheduled. I guess I didn't realize that it got pushed back at all.

Starting point is 00:03:21 So it will be getting done on Friday or Saturday. So the day you guys are listening to this Friday or the next day, and that's right before their deadline that they had to actually talk to him because they had to complete an interview with him by Sunday because the week of the Super Bowl, they're not allowed to talk to Shane Steichen because obviously he's preparing for that big game. But yeah, no, I think the puzzle pieces kind of make a little bit more sense now knowing that shane steigen's interview is going to be in these next couple days because if if

Starting point is 00:03:50 shane steigen's interview did take place on monday or tuesday there was no point adding erin glenn unless you like thought that he was like a top candidate you just overlooked for whatever reason like it made no sense adding him because he's a guy you could have interviewed last week but instead all the guys I talked to this week were guys who were in that playoff game they couldn't talk to last week so adding Aaron Glenn now just because you had an extra day to kill I know it sounds kind of weird like oh they had a day to kill so why not bring him in but from all reports it seems like they called him up Wednesday night and they're basically, hey, if you can get here tomorrow morning, we will do an interview with you. If not, you know, whatever.

Starting point is 00:04:29 So I think it's just them kind of covering their bases. And and also the biggest thing we can say about this whole head coaching search for the Indianapolis Colts is it's been very, very thorough, like extremely thorough. It's not unlikely to see head coaching searches go this long, go into early February or mid-February. I mean, Frank Reich was hired, I believe, the second week of February by the Indianapolis Colts back in 2018. Obviously, there were some weird things with that with the Josh McDaniel stuff, but it was still like that second week of February. So this isn't unheard of, but what is kind of unheard of is just how long these interviews have gone and, and just how many guys they brought in. Usually head coaching searches are six, seven candidates. You narrow that down to like two or three, and then you

Starting point is 00:05:14 narrow that down to your, your final guy, or like the Broncos, you just kind of go crazy and throw a bunch of picks at, at the top guy that you want. But, uh, no, with the Colts, it's been expanded to 14 and it's been cut down to eight. Do we see it get cut down to four or to five or six? Like, what's the next step here? And I think that's what everyone's wondering. It was reported today that they might do a final round. I just don't really see the point in that. But, you know, if anything, at the end of the day, Chris Ballard and the Colts have been very, very thorough. And I'm hoping they land on a candidate that they've properly vetted and they really trust and they really like, because if not, then you're wasting dozens and dozens of hours on these interviews. Like they

Starting point is 00:05:55 must really, really get the guy that they want here, but it's a really expansive list. And I like how thorough they've been. I just hope they end up with a, with a good candidate at the end of it. Thorough is definitely the name of the game. There's not much else you could say to describe it. Just to recount for those of you playing at home, the guys who have had second interviews, Jeff Saturday, Ajiro Evereau, Raheem Morris, Wink Martindale, Rich Bisaccia, Brian Callahan, Aaron Glenn, and then like Zach said, Shane Steichen is scheduled for Friday or Saturday. Guys who they haven't, which the crazy thing is these are finalists, but they've only not brought back three of the guys.

Starting point is 00:06:34 Bubba Ventrone, Eric Biannimi, and Mike Kafka are the only other guys they interviewed that they didn't bring back for second ones. Ben Johnson, of course, withdrew, returned to the Lions. Same story for Dan Quinn. And then D'Amico Ryans never did interview with the Colts, bring back for second ones uh ben johnson of course withdrew return to the lions same story for dan quinn and then demico ryans never did interview with the colts although they were interested so i'm a little curious what a third round would be are there any more pitches they haven't thrown at these guys like what's the last bit of information they're looking to dig out of this because if it's you know think of it as like a third date what what do you what do you present on a third date like

Starting point is 00:07:09 what's different from those first two yeah you better be taking them home at that point like yeah take them home at that point let's go another thing you risk you know so one part of it is you're stringing you're stringing some guys along for a while, including assistant coaches that would join the staff and you're just really drawing the process out. But also like, do you risk giving up too much information to too many people? Like that's kind of something I would question as well. Yeah. I think my biggest question really wouldn't be that. My biggest question would be, you know, we see this all the time and I think Jeff Risdon actually said it to us early in the process. He said, the longer that these searches go on, typically the worse it gets, you know, you get to the point where, because you're taking so long, and we're talking about people's livelihoods here, you know, we're talking about, it's not just Raheem Morris,

Starting point is 00:07:58 who's affected, but when you're stringing him along and, and being like, oh, yeah, you're one of our top guys. But, you know, wait, just keep waiting. We have to interview all these guys. Like guys like Ryan Morris, Ejiro Evro and stuff like that. It's not just those guys. It's those guys' families. It's all people around them and stuff like that. So when we're talking about jobs, you know, and livelihoods,

Starting point is 00:08:18 keep stringing people along. They're going to lose interest and just go back to what they know. I'm not saying the Colts are at a point right now where that's a concern. But if this lasts until the third or fourth week of February, for instance, then you're gonna start seeing guys dropping out because again, this is people's livelihoods. They don't wanna be kept in waiting mode

Starting point is 00:08:35 during when it comes to like their job and stuff like that. Even if it is, you know, one of 32 jobs, a huge opportunity, you don't wanna keep just waiting and waiting and waiting for something that might not possibly happen. So yeah, I think it's important for the Colts to get this hire done pretty soon, you know, either this weekend or early next week, or maybe it is Shane Steichen at least kind of come out with a report saying you're talking with terms or something like

Starting point is 00:09:01 that, you know, something just to kind of narrow down that search and really kind of limit it. But yeah, again, if I think this, if this process gets to the end of February, then we'll see some issues, but I'm hoping, and I think it's going to wrap up by this weekend to early next week. I would say if Steichen winds up being their guy that hopefully he gives, hopefully he's cool with it too and gives his agent the green light to say okay don't bother me with this but go ahead and work something out with the colts and then we'll go from there after the super bowl because again if it's stykin there's some stuff you have to wait on in between now and the super bowl and it's it's just whatever but that information will probably get leaked at some point if it does wind up being him. So that's all I got for the latest for now.

Starting point is 00:09:47 And it'll change again in the next 24 hours and 48, I'm sure. Yep. Yep. And again, guys, be kind of wary of the reports that you see. Even someone like me, like don't trust me with saying my opinion or anything like that or reports. I'm not a reporter. I'm not someone who's super plugged in.

Starting point is 00:10:03 The guys that you really want to be following, you know, in the local market joel erickson does a great job of breaking stuff around here uh mike chapel for sure mike chapel is is ursae's guy here in indy and then on the on the more national level tom pelissero and obviously chris mortensen because his relationship with uh with uh jim ursae you really want to follow those type of guys there for the latest real news on this head coaching search. But guys, next up, we're going to talk about who we think are the front runners and where we think this search is going. But first, all these guys we're talking about are looking to potentially make a job change.

Starting point is 00:10:39 And actually, Jake here, even though I am the one talking about this, Jake has changed jobs recently. So congrats to Jake, obviously. Maybe some of you guys are thinking about some job turnover and just moving around a little bit, just like Jake. As a small business owner or hiring manager, you know that success in 2023 depends on the team members you surround yourself with. And that's why you have to check out LinkedIn Jobs, where you can hire qualified candidates more efficiently by matching open roles with people who have the skills, values, and experiences to help you achieve your goals.

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Starting point is 00:11:46 That's linkedin.com slash locked on NFL to post your job for free. Terms and conditions apply. All right, Jake, after I messily went through that whole talk about LinkedIn jobs there, let's transition to who we think the leaders are here. I think it's Mike Garofalo and Ian Rappaport said they might do a third round of interviews. And like you said at the top here, they talked to these guys for around 12 to 18 hours on average so far. I've no clue what the point of a third round would be. So I'm going to say that they're not going to do a third round. Like I maybe they'll maybe they'll lessen it to two or three candidates and do like one hour virtual informal interviews just to kind of get the lowdown.

Starting point is 00:12:28 But I really don't see, I really, really don't see a third round. Like they're not going to make someone like Raheem Morris fly from LA to Indy for a third time or for a second time for another interview. And then potentially a third time for an opening press conference if he gets the job. Like it's just very unrealistic. I don't expect a third round of interviews, but Jake, what do you think about this potential rare third round of interviews that the Colts could do? I think you're right. If they did something like it, it would be pretty informal. Whatever their tiebreaker is, whether it's staff or whatever, they reach out to these guys, talk to them for a little bit,

Starting point is 00:13:10 and be like, okay, what's the latest on the guys you can get? Have you talked to any potential staff members, this and that? There has to be something that is their deciding factor. We won't know what it is, of course. But, yeah, I can't imagine another in-person set. Unless they went out to them, it does not make sense to bring guys in yet again. Like you said, Raheem Morris coming from LA to Indy, that doesn't make sense. As for guys I would think would be actual finalists, so you mentioned Mike Chappell at the top of this among local guys.

Starting point is 00:13:43 No one is more plugged into the upper management of the Colts, really. Yeah. And Chappell the other day suggested Brian Callahan. I think that makes a ton of sense. He's got the flashy ties that Jim Irsay would like to see to Peyton Manning. Peyton Manning is always going to be the magic buzzword to Jim Irsay. So Brian Callahan, I've got to imagine he's a finalist. Raheem Morris, we've heard nothing but good things.

Starting point is 00:14:10 Both interviews apparently went great. And really the only other one I've heard of that went exceptionally well was Ajiro Ebero. I've really got to think that might be in there. The Wink Martindale one, they probably like him, but I don't buy that yet. I just really don't, and I don't think you do either. But we just haven't heard much about him otherwise. So my three, gun to my head, if it's a three-man race,

Starting point is 00:14:41 I would say Callahan, Morris, and Hevero. So, again, take it with a grain of salt. We haven't talked to Steichen for a second time yet, so that's an asterisk. Right. So take it with a grain of salt, guys. Again, really plugged-in reporters have multiple sources. I just have a couple people that I talk to, and mostly agents, a couple people around organizations. So I'm not nearly as plugged in as most.

Starting point is 00:15:04 So, again, take this with a grain of salt. Most of this is my gut feeling. Part of this is some stuff I've heard, but I firmly believe that Brian Callahan and Raheem Morris are going to be in that final group if they do a third wave or if they narrow this list down. From everything I've heard, Brian Callahan has the Peyton Manning backing. His interview went really, really well the other day. They're really, really big fans of Brian Callahan, and he was one of the favorites after the first round. So I have heard some really good things about Brian Callahan's interviews,

Starting point is 00:15:32 and Raheem Morris, obviously, we've actually heard some good things about that. I have heard that he's been reaching out to a lot of potential staffers to potentially join him in Indy. Obviously, that doesn't mean he's already got the job, but he's feeling pretty good about it, I think. So I do think those are the two leaders right now. I'm with you on the Wink Martindale thing. I think that's more of leveraging for a pay raise there in New York. And that's why his agent probably reached out to a Giants beat reporter just to kind of get that out there, you know, and kind of get that positive for him. So I don't expect Wink Martindale to be in this,

Starting point is 00:16:05 but who knows? Maybe he's been awesome in his interviews. In terms of Jiro Evereau, I heard that that's unlikely, but again, he might be in line for a defensive coordinator job under Raheem Morris, which would be awesome. He could be in line for other things,

Starting point is 00:16:22 but I have heard that one's a little bit less likely just because he's such a young coordinator, only one year as a coordinator in his career. Yeah, I think they want more experience. What were you saying? I was just saying it seems unlikely one year as a coordinator to make that huge leap all the way to head coach right away. It just doesn't.

Starting point is 00:16:39 I wouldn't think. I think they probably like him, but I don't think they would be willing to take that jump. Yeah, I've heard they want to go more experience or offense. So it's tough to do that with such a young defensive candidate. But the biggest wild card right now is Shane Steichen, I think, because Chris Ballard is really, really high on him. And I know a lot of people around the league are extremely high on him.

Starting point is 00:17:01 They just haven't had that interview yet to kind of solidify things. And obviously, his interview when they fly out to Philly to talk to him is going to be very different than these interviews they've had in Indianapolis, bringing these people in and having these, you know, 12, 13, 14 hour meetings. It's hard to do that in Philly with him. Like, how are you going to, what are you there to show him if you're going to have a 12 hour interview with him in person in Philly? You know, you can't really show him too much the facility there so uh yeah I think Shane Steichen is like the dark horse I think the leaders are Brian Callahan and Raheem Morris and I think Jeff Saturday's out I think from everything we've seen lately it feels like Jeff Saturday doesn't really

Starting point is 00:17:41 have a chance like we've had Ian Rappaport say it's extremely unlikely. Tom Pelissero, who, again, is extremely plugged in with the Colts front office, has said that it's very unlikely. Zach Kiefer said it's extremely unlikely. And he's getting into that insider game a little bit too lately. So I just don't see it. I don't think Jeff Saturday is going to be the guy. I really think if I had to put money down on it, Brian Callahan or Raheem Morris are the two leaders and Shane Steichen could get up there

Starting point is 00:18:08 with a good second interview here this weekend. Yeah, that's where I sit because there's no, they haven't set any firm number on it and there's never, there's been reports of like a top five, this or that. None of it is firm in the Colts. They're just going to do what they feel or what feels right. So, Steichen could be in there as a fourth, I firmly believe. So, shoot. I don't know. We may see another guy come in. Would you be shocked if Biennemi or Ben Strome winds up getting another second interview or something?

Starting point is 00:18:42 Okay. Biennemi, maybe not as much, even though they're going to completely miss their window here in this couple of days. And they could have easily brought him in today on Thursday when we're recording this instead of Aaron Glenn. But they went back to a guy

Starting point is 00:18:54 that could have brought in last week instead of bringing in Bien-Ami. I think that speaks volumes for how they view Bien-Ami in the coaching search. I think out of the eight we still have, I think his best placing is ninth. You know, I think that's the nicest way I could say it here. But yeah, no, it would shock me

Starting point is 00:19:13 if they brought in anybody else. I think this eight is a firm eight, finally. And I think we're going to start seeing some traction pick up the second that Shane Steichen's interview concludes. So if they have Steichen's interview on Friday, we'll probably start hearing some things on Saturday about how they're narrowing. And then it wouldn't shock me if by Sunday,

Starting point is 00:19:31 they're already starting to eliminate guys like, you know, Wink Martindale has been informed that he's not in the running. Rich Passaccia has been informed. Jeff Saturday, hopefully, fingers crossed, has been informed that he's not in the running for it. So I think we could start seeing some traction by Sunday or Monday. And hopefully we have a new head coach by again, Monday, Tuesday, best case Saturday or Sunday.

Starting point is 00:19:52 Lord, I hope so. I hope the next time that we're talking with you guys, it's about who the next head coach is, but we'll, we'll see. At least hopefully we've got like a steamy hot front runner. That seems legit at the time that that would be nice other than that i don't i don't have anything else to talk on on this uh on this one today yeah yeah no i mean we'll close it out here in a second but like i'm just ready for it man i said on yesterday's show i'm ready for the head coach again i feel like i'm in adhd waiting mode at this

Starting point is 00:20:23 point and i'm just like oh gosh content is killing me until we have this head coach. Like, there's only so much speculating you can do. And I know you guys are loving these episodes and you're getting the views up and you're commenting. We love it so much. We love you guys for all of it. But, like, there's only so much speculating until you want to have something tangible to talk about. Like, I feel like we can't talk about the draft or free agency right now because we'd have no clue what schemes are going to be running,

Starting point is 00:20:48 which coach is going to come in, and if they want to bring some of their own guys. Like, I just don't know what else to talk about outside of coaching updates every single day, which I know is eventually going to get old for you guys. So hopefully we see some real traction this weekend and just kind of really putting that ink to the paper and getting the Colts next head coach in here.

Starting point is 00:21:08 Yeah. But fret not, even if there's not a head coach, we will have something fresh for you guys throughout the next week. Cause for our own sanity, we got to keep it fresh. I texted Zach today before the show and I said, I am bored of coaching. There's it doesn't seem like anything concrete and new is happening, but we'll get there eventually. This head coaching search could stretch well into tax season, so you can split your time between geeking out about the future of the Colts like us while having your taxes taken care of at the same time. Go to TurboTax

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Starting point is 00:22:25 your documents and shoot they make it so easy uh so go to turbo tax and don't do your taxes or do do them if you want just visit turbotax.com to learn more intuit turbo tax full service products only video meeting while expert does your taxes required. See guarantee details at TurboTax.com slash guarantees. That's it for us, everyone. We'll be back with you next week, hopefully to talk about a new head coach or, you know, maybe, maybe some piping hot news, whatever, but we'll, we'll bring you some good stuff next week. Guaranteed. Well, heck, hopefully we're back with you guys tomorrow because the Colts have

Starting point is 00:23:03 hired a new head coach. Yeah. We will bring you a full episode when it happens. Yeah. So hopefully we're here with you guys tomorrow because the Colts have hired a new head coach episode. Yeah. We will bring you a full episode when it happens. Yeah. So hopefully we're here, you know, you guys can hear from us this weekend, but if not,

Starting point is 00:23:11 again, we'll be back next week. Make sure you guys are following at locked on Colts at Jake Arthur, NFL at Zach Hicks too. On Twitter. Also subscribe to locked on Colts podcast on YouTube, wherever you get your podcast. Thank you for making us your first listen of the day for For your next listen, check out the Locked On NFL podcast.

Starting point is 00:23:27 Bring you the local insights you love to the national spotlight with daily conversations on the biggest NFL stories. Locked On NFL, available on YouTube, wherever you get your podcasts. We'll see you guys next week.

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Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - Indianapolis Colts: Is a Head-Coaching Front-Runner Really Emerging?

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