The Pittsburgh Steelers have arguably the most stable franchise in the National Football League. In the team's history, three head coaches have headed a vast majority of the team's games. That would be Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher, and Mike Tomlin. Stability. It's why the Steelers are such a successful franchise, as their six Super Bowls are tied for the most in NFL history.
OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 29: (l-r) Terry Bradshaw #12, Mean Joe Greene #75, head coach Chuck Noll and Glen Edwards #27 of the Pittsburgh Steelers watch from the sideline during the 1974 AFC Championship game against the Oakland Raiders at Oakland Alameda Coliseum on December 29, 1974 in Oakland, California. The Steelers defeated the Raiders 24-13. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/Getty Images)
Recently, the Indianapolis Colts fired their head coach, Frank Reich. Their team has struggled mightily this season, as the offense has competed with the Steelers for the worst statistics in the NFL. In the past, owner Jim Irsay and GM Chris Ballard haven't been afraid to make a bold move. That's certainly what Irsay did after firing Reich, as he shockingly hired Jeff Saturday.
Saturday starred as a center for the Peyton Manning-led Colts squads, becoming a two-time All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowler in the process. Recently, he's appeared on ESPN over the last several years, providing insight on the NFL's latest topics. In a shocking move, he was hired by the Colts despite not having any coaching experience at the collegiate or professional level. As a result, the 15-year coach of the Steelers, Cowher, shared his thoughts and feelings on his initial reaction to the bold hiring:
"Jeff Saturday talked about it in his press conference, the fact that he was going to use this second half as opportunity to build his resume. I say to that, what about the assistants on this staff right now? The guys that were there in training camp. Don't they deserve the opportunity? For an owner, to hire a coach whose never been an assistant at the college level or the pro level, it's a disgrace to the coaching profession. Regardless how this thing plays out, what happened in Indianapolis is a travesty," Cowher said on CBS's pregame show on Sunday morning.
The Steelers will face Jeff Saturday and the Colts in Week 12 on Monday Night Football Credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Saturday went on to lead the Colts to just their third victory of the season on Sunday over the Las Vegas Raiders. It was his first game as head coach, and he'll remain in that role for the remainder of the season. From there, he could earn a chance to get a long-term deal from Irsay and Ballard. Interestingly enough, the Steelers face the Colts on Monday Night Football in Week 12.
That will be Saturday's third game as HC, where he'll have to face 16-year HC Mike Tomlin. Good luck with that. Many around the league have been in awe at the Colts' hiring, refusing to fill Reich's absence with someone with a legitimate resume. Cowher mentioned several assistants on the Colts staff that have the resumes to step in for the rest of the 2022 season, including Gus Bradley and John Fox.
Since the firing of Reich, many Steelers fans have advocated for the team to pursue him as their offensive coordinator after the season. Reich is an offensive mind, although that wasn't reflected in the Colts' numbers this season. Matt Canada, Pittsburgh's current OC, seems destined to be fired at the end of the 2022 season.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - OCTOBER 16: Head coach Frank Reich of the Indianapolis Colts on the sidelines in the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lucas Oil Stadium on October 16, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
What were your initial thoughts on this hiring? Do you agree with Cowher's comments about Irsay's decision? Is there too much criticism on this topic? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
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