Colts 'target' coaching hire after narrowing down candidates to seven names

The Indianapolis Colts are targeting Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen to be their new head coach after the Super Bowl, according to a Sunday tweet from ESPN Senior NFL Insider Adam Schefter. The team informed other candidates that they were out of the running.

The Eagles offense earned the eighth-most passing yards and the fifth-most rushing yards last season, according to the NFL.

Indianapolis had previously cut its list of coaching candidates down to seven names: Steichen, Colts special team coordinator Bubba Ventrone, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, Kansas City City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, Colts interim head coach Jeff Saturday, and Green Bay Packers special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia. 

The Colts crossed off New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, defensive coordinator Wink Martindale and Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan before the start of the weekend.

After a recent endorsement from linebacker Shaquille Leonard, it seemed Saturday was not quite out of the running just yet. Saturday went 1-7 with the Colts after head coach Frank Reich was fired in November. 

Bieniemy looked to be primed to take up a head coaching job after an impressive season with the Kansas City Chiefs. Capped off by a Super Bowl win on Sunday, the Chiefs finished first in the NFL in total passing yards and passing touchdowns. Schefter wrote the Washington Commanders remained interested in hiring him as their offensive coordinator and could meet with him this week in a Sunday tweet.

Becoming an NFL head coach remained an objective for Bieniemy in January, wrote Kansas City Star sportswriter Blair Kerkhoff.

“Do I believe I’m qualified? Yes, I do,” Bieniemy said. “But that’s not the issue right now. 

"The issue is making sure we’re taking care of business, and I’m doing my part in being accountable to those guys who are counting on me to be available, to be at my best when my best is needed.”