Colts' Jeff Saturday responds to Bill Cowher calling hiring 'a disgrace'

Indianapolis Colts interim head coach Jeff Saturday has responded to comments made by former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher about his hiring. 

"I respect his opinion, you know? Here’s the thing. God is my defender, man. I don’t have to defend myself," Saturday told NBC Sports' Peter King after the Colts defeated the Las Vegas Raiders 25-20 to finish off the most controversial NFL coaching debut in recent memory. "I am absolutely comfortable in who I am. I respect all those guys. Whoever has whatever negative opinion, I can assure you, it’s not gonna change who I am or what I believe I’m called to do. I have no idea, and I still don’t, how successful I’ll be, but we’re gonna work hard at it and I believe I can lead men and lead the staff. I’m excited about the opportunity." 

Cowher, a Hall of Famer, blasted the Colts for hiring Saturday over the fact that the 47-year-old possessed no coaching experience at the pro or college levels and was working as an ESPN personality at the time he received a call from team owner Jim Irsay. 

"I am speaking on behalf of the coaching profession," Cowher explained during CBS' pre-game coverage on Sunday, per Shanna McCarriston of CBS Sports. "I know for a fact that Jeff Saturday was offered an opportunity to become an assistant coach with the Indianapolis Colts multiple times within the past four years. He declined, citing he had a TV job and wanted to spend more time with family. I get it. Coaching is about commitment and sacrifice. It's not just a job. It is a lifestyle. That being said, Jeff Saturday has taken the position this year as a consultant for the Colts, and he's talked to them weekly from his home in Atlanta." 

Cowher continued: 

"For an owner to hire a coach who has never been an assistant at the college or pro level and overseeing a lot of qualified candidates to build a resume, it's a disgrace to the coaching profession. In regards to how this played out, what happened in Indianapolis is a travesty." 

While speaking with King, Saturday refused to take victory laps regarding Cowher or any others who doubted his ability to win games as an NFL coach even on an interim basis. 

"I love coaches," Saturday remarked. "I get why people question this. But for the last week, I’m watching all the coaches on our staff, and these super-smart people with very defined roles are doing things so well, and I’m so impressed. It was like watching an orchestra." 

Saturday and the 4-5-1 Colts next host the 8-1 Philadelphia Eagles this coming Sunday afternoon.