Indianapolis Colts team owner Jim Irsay has made it clear that he wasn’t happy with the results Frank Reich delivered in his four-plus seasons as head coach. Reich was let go after a 3-5-1 start to the 2022 season, and his interim replacement, Jeff Saturday, hasn’t performed any better, leading to a 1-6 record.
It sets up an interesting offseason where the Colts are about to embark on a full coaching search as general manager Chris Ballard (whose job is reportedly safe) works to identify the next leader of the locker room.
Some of the top coaching candidates mentioned include Sean Payton, Jim Harbaugh, and more. But there’s reportedly another name who’s been mentioned in head coaching circles for the past few seasons, and he’s never set foot in the NFL.
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Iowa State’s Matt Campbell linked to Indianapolis Colts vacancy
While many are expecting Mr. Irsay to seek an experienced NFL head coach during the interview process, there are only so many candidates who meet such qualifications. It’s also possible the Colts could look to make another unorthodox hire.
If so, Iowa State’s Matt Campbell would certainly fit the bill. According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, Campbell is a name to keep an eye on for Indianapolis.
Breer’s reasoning is due to Campbell’s ties to both GM Ballard and assistant GM Ed Dodds. It’s tough to identify their exact connection with one another, as none of them have worked together at the NFL or college levels, but the Colts typically have a strong relationship with several college coaches, which likely is thanks to the annual NFL Scouting Combine being held at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Campbell would be a surprise hire for a Colts team that will be looking to get back to the postseason for the first time since 2020, but he’s been a rising star in coaching circles thanks to his overwhelming success at Iowa State.
- Matt Campbell’s college coaching record: 81-57 (4-4 in bowl games)
After five seasons coaching Toledo to a 35-15 record from 2011-15, Campbell took on the challenge of turning around Iowa State. After a 3-9 season in his first year with the Cyclones, Campbell improved to 8-5 the following season. In total, Campbell has gone 46-42 at Iowa State and is coming off a 4-8 season as his offense fell to 114th in the nation.
One way to look at their recent struggles could be due to players like Brock Purdy and Breece Hall graduating to the NFL. Yet the immediate success of both Purdy and Hall in the NFL could also suggest Campbell is more ready to join the pros than his recent record suggests.
We’ll see if the Colts are ready to take that gamble later this offseason, but according to Breer, Campbell could be ready to join the NFL for the first time in his career.
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