How the Colts' trash can become the Titans' treasure
On Monday, the Indianapolis Colts announced that head coach/offensive coordinator Frank Reich had been fired. Perhaps even more shocking was the team’s decision to hire former Colts center Jeff Saturday as the interim head coach. Reich departs Indianapolis with a 40-33-1 record in four-plus seasons at the helm, which is rather impressive considering the preposterous […]
On Monday, the Indianapolis Colts announced that head coach/offensive coordinator Frank Reich had been fired. Perhaps even more shocking was the team’s decision to hire former Colts center Jeff Saturday as the interim head coach.
Reich departs Indianapolis with a 40-33-1 record in four-plus seasons at the helm, which is rather impressive considering the preposterous position Colts owner Jim Irsay and general manager Chris Ballard put him in.
Quarterback Carousel
The Colts started seven different quarterbacks in Reich's tenure (2018-2022). The laundry list goes as follows:
2018: Andrew Luck
2019: Jacoby Brissett & Brian Hoyer
2020: Philip Rivers (38)
2021: Carson Wentz
2022: Matt Ryan (37) & Sam Ehlinger
Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel happens to be a close friend of Reich's. Vrabel addressed the Colts' decision in his press conference on Monday.
“I think Frank’s an unbelievable football coach, I think he’s an unbelievable man,” Vrabel said. “I’ve gotten to know Frank well over the time we’ve been in the division, some of the committees that we’ve been on. We all know what we signed up for. This is the other side of it that’s difficult. You never want to see anybody lose their job. They made a decision, but I’ll try to obviously reach out to Frank and try to support him however I can.”
Reich's Revenge
Many Titans fans believe Vrabel should do more than just reach out to Reich. The fanbase is already clamoring for Vrabel to hire Reich in the offseason, though time will tell if Reich would be at all interested in an offensive coordinator position.
Tennessee’s current offensive coordinator Todd Downing has been at the root of the Titans’ offensive frustrations. As evidenced in Sunday night’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, Downing’s situational awareness has cost the team in more ways than one.
Reich makes plenty of sense for the Titans. He has numerous reasons to be displeased with the hand of cards the Colts dealt him. There isn't a better way to exact his revenge on Irsay and the Colts than by teaming up with their most-hated rival.
Reich’s offensive mind is exactly what the Titans have been missing since Arthur Smith was poached by the Atlanta Falcons in 2021. Maybe he wouldn't mind bringing a receiver or two along with him.
Featured image via Christopher Hanewinckel – USA TODAY Sports
