Breakings: with pains, Indianapolis colts head coach tendered his resignation….
AUGUSTA, USA— As many people went to church on Sunday morning and Indianapolis Colts fans woke up from a sad end to their season on Saturday night, the team’s Catholic priest, Father Douglas Hunter, told everyone that he had turned in his resignation letter.
Hunter, who used to be an IMPD officer and is now a priest, has worked with the team’s Protestant chaplain for the past six seasons, helping Catholic players and staff and being there for any player or staff member who needed him.
He heard players’ apologies, baptized their babies, and prayed with them through hard and sometimes traumatic events in their lives. During the season, he went on trips with the team and said mass before every home game. And he prayed in the locker room before, during, and after games. He prayed on the practice field and the game field.
“Hey, you’re the Colts priest, aren’t you?” people would walk up and say to Hunter. Of course, he was. He kind of stood out, a 6-4 guy on the field wearing a religious collar.
Father Douglas Hunter (right) with Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard.
“Dear Colts Nation, with a heavy heart, I’ve submitted a resignation letter as the Catholic Chaplain for the Indianapolis Colts,” Hunter wrote to X Sunday. “After much prayerful consideration, it is time for me to step down from this job.
His announcement got many responses of thanks and well wishes but, of course, the timing prompted a few quips.
“I’d quit after that play, too” wrote Jarrod Crouch, to which Hunter replied, “Now, now.”
Of course, Hunter didn’t resign because of coach Shane Steichen’s final play call — taking Jonathan Taylor out for the fourth-and-1 from Houston’s 15-yard line, leaving quarterback Gardner Minshew throwing to Tyler Goodson, a play that ended in a dropped ball and Texans victory, sending them to the playoffs and the Colts out.
