Unbelievable: Frank Reich, former head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, announced his return to the team.

Unbelievable: Frank Reich, former head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, announced his return to the team.

After four and a half seasons in leadership, head coach Frank Reich of the Indianapolis Colts was fired. In an unexpected move, former offensive lineman Jeff Saturday was named the team’s new interim coach.

Following three straight losses, Reich’s departure follows the Colts’ 26-3 loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday, dropping them to 3-5-1 on the season.

Following the Carolina Panthers’ firing of Matt Rhule, Reich becomes the second head coach to be fired during the season after team owner Jim Irsay verified the initial reports of his dismissal via NFL Network on Twitter.

He ends his career in Indianapolis with a 40-33-1 record. He made it to the postseason twice, losing to the Buffalo Bills in their 2020 Wild Card game and the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2018 AFC Divisional Round playoff.

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highlights from the NFL season’s ninth week between the Indianapolis Colts and the New England Patriots.
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Against the Patriots over the weekend, Indianapolis’ total offense yardage was just 121, their lowest since 1997. QB Sam Ehlinger was sacked nine times during the contest.

The outcome might have beenthe last straw for Reich’s tenure, but given the team’s difficulties in acquiring a quarterback capable of winning a Super Bowl to guide a talented group of players under the 60-year-old’s leadership, it’s possible that the writing has already been done.

Ehlinger, a 2021 sixth-round pick out of Texas, replaced Matt Ryan, who had trouble making an impression in the first half of the season after joining the team in the offseason through a trade from the Atlanta Falcons. Ehlinger took over under center towards the end of October.

With Jonathan Taylor leading the rush in 2021, struggling to match last season’s dominance, and the Colts’ offensive line drastically declining, the team’s offense is among the least productive in the league. Reich’s departure occurs just one week after Marcus Brady, the offensive coordinator, was fired.

Since Andrew Luck abruptly retired before the 2019 season, the team has searched and failed to find a long-term replacement. Although Carson Wentz and Philip Rivers both played a season for the team in 2020 and 2021, respectively, they were unable to provide the missing piece to the puzzle.

Colts surprise fans by signing a former player Saturday in the role of temporary coach
In his first-ever NFL coaching position, former offensive lineman Jeff Saturday has been named the Colts’ new interim head coach.