Colts Assistant Called 'Dark Horse' Candidate for Vacant Raiders Job

The Indianapolis Colts have already seen two coordinators hired as head coaches this decade. It's not out of the realm of possibility that it could happen again this offseason.

At least that's what Fansided's Ryan Heckman argued when he included Colts offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter on a list of four dark horse candidates for the head coach opening with the Las Vegas Raiders.

"You might not believe it at first, but the Colts currently have a top-10 offense in football this year, checking in at No. 7 overall in yards per game," Heckman wrote. "And, even more impressive, that's been done with a rookie quarterback, Anthony Richardson, and veteran Gardner Minshew under center.

"Not to mention, Jonathan Taylor hasn't even been active the majority of the season. Still, the Colts are the number six scoring team in the NFL and continue to rack up yardage week-in and week-out. Cooter, along with Shane Steichen, have done a great job keeping this offense going.

"Cooter's background includes coaching running backs, quarterbacks and also as an offensive coordinator, of course. At 39 years old, too, Cooter fits the trend of a younger offensive mind taking a head coaching gig in today's NFL."

The Raiders are the first team to have a head coach opening this season. Las Vegas fired head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler after Week 8.

Cooter is in his second stint in Indianapolis. He began his NFL coaching career as an offensive assistant with the Colts in 2009. He also served as an assistant with the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos before becoming the Detroit Lions quarterbacks coach in 2014.

In 2015, Cooter rose to Lions offensive coordinator. He served as Detroit's offensive coordinator for part of four seasons.

In 2019, he became the running backs coach for the New York Jets. He has also been a consultant for the Philadelphia Eagles and passing game coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Cooter's offense in Detroit never finished in the top 10 in yards and was ranked in the top 10 in points scored just once. But this season, the Colts are sixth in points per game and eighth in yards per contest.

The running game has powered Indianapolis' offense. The Colts are ninth in rushing yards, sixth in yards per carry and fourth in rushing touchdowns.

If the offense continues to rack up yards with backup quarterback Gardner Minshew the rest of the season, Cooter will likely continue to be connected to head coach openings.