Indianapolis Colts Sign Chuck Pagano To Contract Extension

Late Monday night, the Colts announced they agreed to a four-year contract extension with head coach Chuck Pagano, according to NFL.com’s Chris Wesseling. “Like I said, I know what the reality is and this is what’s best for the Indianapolis Colts going forward”. After meeting with team owner Jim Irsay on Monday, it was determined that Pagano would keep his job.

“It’s obviously disappointing. But at the end of the year, there are 31 teams disappointed”.

While it’s still not known what was said to get owner Jim Irsay to re-up with coach Chuck Pagano at a time when Irsay could have hired anyone else without a buyout, it would have been fitting for Pagano to pay homage to Manning’s quote to Polian when talking to Irsay.

“We’re always competing against ourselves, we know that”, Irsay said Monday night. “He’s a fighter, I’m a fighter, Jim is a fighter and all three of us are going to fight together until we get the crown”.

“I hope to have a chance to sit down with those making the decision and talk about our future”, Mularky said after Sunday’s loss. “It worked out really well”. Pagano endeared loyalty from his players, as evidenced by their public comments Monday, but most players side with coaches in any perceived coach vs. upper management dispute. He also coached for North Carolina in 2007.

The odds of Pagano staying beyond this season seemed as long as Hickory winning the state high school basketball championship in “Hoosiers”.

As the Oakland Raiders’ defensive backs coach in 2006, Pagano saw his pass defense surrender a league-best 151 yards per game. Put on a head coaching hat some time and give it a try.

“The injury likely affected Luck’s performance after he returned from a two-game absence that the Colts attributed to a shoulder injury”, said Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star. “It’s a great, great day”. I am grateful to Mr. Irsay for this opportunity. Words can’t describe how I feel right now. It was a step back, or a few steps backward for that matter.

The 30-24 win over Tennessee allowed the Colts to finish 8-8 – but outside of the playoffs.

Not the case, with Irsay citing Pagano’s 41-23 regular-season record and three playoff appearances as a mandate to stay the course. With his top three quarterbacks injured, the Colts signed Freeman and Lindley on Tuesday, immediately split up the duties and then plugged them into action Sunday. Luck completed 162-of-293 passes for 1,881 yards, 15 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while dealing with injuries this year.

“The players are thrilled that Coach got an extension”, linebacker D’Qwell Jackson told ESPN’s Josina Anderson. Watched them win two division titles and come one game shy of the Super Bowl.

Irsay didn’t see a need for change either, which turned out to be great news for Pagano. “Look, if that was the best for us, believe me, I would do it. [But] this guy is a great coach”.

“When I look at the old regime, the old era, you look at those first four years and you have two out of four that were losing seasons”, Irsay continued. It was supposed to possibly cost General Manager Ryan Grigson his job as well.