Midway through a season rife with underwhelming play on the offensive side of the ball, the Colts have made a significant move on the sidelines. The team announced on Tuesday that they have fired offensive coordinator Marcus Brady.
The 43-year-old joined the Colts’ staff in 2018, following a playing and coaching career in the CFL. He served as Indianapolis’ assistant QBs coach that season, being promoted to the same, full-time role one year later. That made him a key member of the team’s staff as their search for a long-term Andrew Luck successor saw them turn to Jacoby Brissett and Philip Rivers.
Last January, after Nick Sirianni departed for the Eagles’ head coaching gig, Brady was promoted to OC as his replacement. Colts HC Frank Reich retained play-calling duties, but the move nevertheless marked another increase in Brady’s influence on the unit. After last year’s one-season experiment with Carson Wentz ended with a playoff absence, he was tasked with transitioning to yet another new signal-caller, this time Matt Ryan.
The latter’s immense struggles to begin his Colts tenure resulted in his being benched for the remainder of the campaign, however. The move away from Ryan in favor of 2021 sixth-rounder Sam Ehlinger was directed by owner Jim Irsay, something which raised questions about Reich’s job status. Today’s news marks the second straight week where a major move has been made in an attempt to right the ship on offense for a team which entered the season with high expectations.
Ehlinger made a reasonable NFL debut during the team’s 17-16 loss to the Commanders, but the unit as a whole has lacked consistency and struggled with turnovers. That has resulted in a 3-4-1 record, a new signal-caller, and now, a new OC. Attention will be turned even more to Reich and his ability to guide the offense through this latest change.
“This was an incredibly hard decision, but one I felt needed to be made in the best interest of the team,” Reich said in a statement. “I appreciate Marcus’ commitment to the organization, and he made a significant contribution to our offensive success over the last five seasons. I wish him the best moving forward.”
Marcus Brady? Wasn’t he Indy’s museum friend in Raiders of the Lost Ark? No wonder the Colts offense stink, Marcus once got lost in his own museum.
Lol. I think that’s Marcus Brody. Colts – I hate Colts.
It is, I just can’t help bad puns and wordplay.
Good. But is he the reason Jonathan Taylor is garbage this year?
But he doesn’t call the plays!
Am I missing something?
That’s what I was wondering
Doesn’t Frank Reich call the plays?
Irsay wants to re-arrange deck chairs. First move was Matt Ryan. Now, Marcus Brady. We should all just make some popcorn and watch Jerry Jr. continue his meddling.
Steelers fans are so jealous right now.
Maybe it’s a grand, if we’re lucky
*trend, not grand