Assuming Chuck Pagano is fired following Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans, Indianapolis Colts head coach Jim Irsay is expected to make a run at Nick Saban and Sean Payton.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, the Colts are “expected to make Nick Saban and Sean Payton say no before moving on” to lesser candidates.
This is in line with what Albert Breer of NFL Network reported three months ago when he wrote that Irsay was ready to “go big game hunting” after dumping Pagano.
It’s also not the first we’ve heard of a potential run at Saban. Two months ago it was rumored that Irsay could be targeting the Alabama Crimson Tide head coach to not only replace Pagano but also general manager Ryan Grigson.
That said, this doesn’t mean there is a strong chance Saban will say yes.
On #Bama coach Nick Saban: #Colts may join a LONG list of places that have tried to hire him — pro & college. He always says no. We'll see.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 3, 2016
Payton still has two years left on his current contract with the New Orleans Saints, but there have been rumblings he’ll leave after the season since the first month of the season. The Saints could let him out of his contract if he does want to leave, and there have been rumors to support that is in the cards if he’s inclined to do so.
The Colts still have an outside shot to make it to the playoffs this year. Granted, they need a ton of things to go their way in addition to a win Sunday against the Titans. However, despite utilizing four starting quarterbacks the team still has fought hard to stay in contention.
If Saban or Payton were somehow convinced to come on board, then it’s likely Pagano would be joined in the unemployment line by Grigson. Both of these big-time coaches would almost certainly want control of the roster, and at this point it seems likely Irsay would be happy to give it to them.