Marcus Brady

Eagles Add Marcus Brady To Staff

November 23rd, 2022 at 2:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

Nick Sirianni said recently he would be open to hiring Frank Reich as a consultant on his Eagles staff, and the second-year Philadelphia HC loudly proclaimed his support for his former boss after beating the Colts in Week 11. The Eagles are adding one of the recently fired Colts staffers, but it is not Reich.

The Eagles hired former Colts offensive coordinator Marcus Brady as a consultant, Stephen Holder and Tim McManus of ESPN.com report. The Colts fired Brady shortly before canning Reich this season. Brady replaced Sirianni as Indianapolis’ OC last year.

Previously working as Indy’s quarterbacks coach during Sirianni’s three-year tenure as OC, Brady is now helping out Philly’s defense. Being experienced in the Eagles’ schemes, Brady is helping out Eagles DC Jonathan Gannon for the time being. Brady, 43, is a former Canadian Football League quarterback who worked on CFL staffs until Reich hired him in 2018.

Brady was in discussions about an Eagles role last week, but the parties preferred to wait until after the Colts matchup to make the hire, per ESPN. The Colts fired Brady less than 1 1/2 seasons into his OC run. Soon after, they axed Reich and replaced him — to the shock of just about everyone — with Jeff Saturday. Assistant quarterbacks coach Parks Frazier is now working as the Colts’ de facto OC, being promoted to play-caller after QBs coach Scott Milanovich turned down the gig.

The Colts employed Brady as a non-play-calling OC, but his Eagles arrival is interesting due to the prospect of the NFC East leaders needing to replace their current play-caller next year. Head coach-needy teams figure to be interested in second-year Eagles OC Shane Steichen. Should Steichen end up leaving, Brady, given his familiarity with Sirianni, figures to land on the radar as a successor option.

Following the Eagles’ 19-17 win over the Colts, Sirianni shouted “That s— was for Frank Reich” from Philly’s sideline. Although Reich is aiming to become a head coach again, it would certainly not surprise if he also joins the Eagles’ staff as a consultant this season.

“I’m emotional because I love Frank Reich. I really do,” Sirianni said. “He’s one of the best damn football coaches I’ve ever been around. I was hoping that he and I would be able to coach against each other this game. He is one of my biggest mentors.”

Scott Milanovich Turned Down Colts’ Play-Calling Duties?

November 9th, 2022 at 10:50am CST by Sam Robinson

Jim Irsay‘s unusual decision to name Jeff Saturday as his team’s interim head coach has not been well-received around the league. Among Frank Reich‘s holdover staffers, a fair amount of unrest has emerged.

Saturday is going with assistant quarterbacks coach Parks Frazier as his offensive play-caller in Week 10, but Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post reports Frazier was not the first choice. QBs coach Scott Milanovich, a former Jaguars play-caller who helmed the Toronto Argonauts to a Grey Cup as head coach in 2012, turned down the chance to call plays.

Milanovich called plays in Canada and for a short stretch with the Jaguars. He has been on Reich’s staff since last year. While Frazier has been with the Colts since Reich’s 2018 arrival, the 30-year-old does not have play-calling experience and was on the quality control level as recently as 2020. The Colts also have former East Carolina HC and Maryland OC Scottie Montgomery on staff as running backs coach; Montgomery was on the Panthers’ OC radar this offseason.

Irsay’s decision to hire Saturday has caused tumult among staffers and players, according to La Canfora, who adds Matt Ryan and other veterans were “irate” when informed of the Reich-for-Saturday swap. Some vets have said they do not want to play for the team any longer, though the trade deadline having passed limits players’ options. GM Chris Ballard, whom Irsay said was not in danger of being canned, told players the Saturday decision came “directly from the owner.” Irsay made that plain with his comments this week.

Irsay being behind the firing of offensive coordinator Marcus Brady is not surprising, but La Canfora notes the owner overruled Reich on quarterback selection. Reich did not view Sam Ehlinger as ready to play, and although the since-fired HC did not want to bench the struggling Ryan, he would have gone to Nick Foles before Ehlinger. Reich said this offseason he had wanted to acquire Foles in previous years. Prior to Ehlinger replacing Ryan, he moved past Foles as Indy’s QB2. It does not appear Reich backed that move.

The Colts are 0-2 with the 2021 sixth-round pick starting, and although Ehlinger drew praise from Reich, some around the league believe the Colts are tanking with their Saturday-Ehlinger-Frazier strategy. Irsay vehemently pushed back on that notion (via The Athletic’s Bob Kravitz), but the Colts — who also traded Nyheim Hines‘ through-2024 contract to the Bills at the deadline — will be far less experienced in key spots when they face the Raiders on Sunday.

“That’s the most absurd thing I’ve ever heard, that we’re tanking,” Irsay said. “That’s bulls—. We’re in this thing; 9-7-1 get us in, no question about it. … We’re not tanking the season. Whoever says these things, that we’re not playing Matt because [of an effort to tank], that’s all bulls—. That’s not true. … We’re going to do what it takes to win. I don’t know who people think we are, they don’t know us. We don’t tank in Indianapolis.”

Irsay also said, via Kravitz, Ryan could play again this year. Previously, the thought was Reich’s 2023 injury guarantee will keep him sidelined. Ryan has missed time with a shoulder injury, but upon switching to Ehlinger, Reich said the move was not injury-related. The longtime Indianapolis owner said it is inaccurate to suggest he forced the QB switch on Reich, indicating Saturday will have free rein to change quarterbacks. Irsay has, however, taken a hands-on role regarding quarterbacks this year. He forced the trade of Carson Wentz and instructed Ballard to finalize the Ryan deal, so his fingerprints being on the Ehlinger move would not be a stretch.

The Colts won the Andrew Luck sweepstakes 10 years ago, going 2-14 in 2011. But the team losing Peyton Manning for a full season led to that pick, rather than a full-fledged tanking effort. Though, the Colts certainly benefited from losing at the right time. Indianapolis has yet to find a Luck replacement; the team will certainly be linked to first-round passers in 2023.

Reich’s staff also includes DC Gus Bradley, a four-year Jaguars HC who has been on the coordinator level for over a decade, and former Panthers, Broncos and Bears HC John Fox, a senior defensive assistant. Special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone is viewed as a rising talent in the coaching ranks. The Saturday decision and Irsay’s defense of the choice has drawn criticism from other staffers around the league, Kimberley Martin of ESPN.com tweets.

The Rooney Rule does not apply to interim hires. Rod Graves, the director of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, said (via CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson, on Twitter) that should change going forward. The NFL’s expanding of the Rooney Rule in recent years certainly points to the possibility it will later apply to interim hires. It is not yet known if the league will discuss that matter for potential 2023 application.

Colts Fire OC Marcus Brady

November 1st, 2022 at 9:29am CST by Adam La Rose

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.”

Colts To Promote Marcus Brady To OC

January 21st, 2021 at 5:36pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Colts are moving swiftly to fill Nick Sirianni‘s position. Frank Reich intends to promote quarterbacks coach Marcus Brady to offensive coordinator, Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com tweets.

Sirianni left after three seasons in this role to become Eagles head coach. Brady, 41, has been with the Colts throughout Reich’s three-year tenure as well. This marks the second promotion for Brady since he arrived in Indianapolis. Reich bumped him up from assistant quarterbacks coach in 2019.

While this will be Brady’s first time as an NFL OC, he served in this capacity for the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes and Toronto Argonauts from 2012-17. Reich works as Indianapolis’ play-caller, but he and Brady will soon be in charge of working with a new starting quarterback. Philip Rivers retired earlier this week, and Jacoby Brissett will be a free agent in March.

During his time as Colts QBs coach, Brady has worked with three starting QBs — Rivers, Brissett and Andrew Luck. The Colts ventured back to the playoffs, with Rivers completing a bounce-back campaign, and surprised most of the football-following world in 2018 when Luck returned and spearheaded an Indy return to the postseason. The Jaguars were also interested in Brady, requesting an interview, but they are set to hire Darrell Bevell for that post.

Coaching Rumors: 49ers, Chargers, Jaguars, Eagles

January 21st, 2021 at 11:14am CST by Zachary Links

The 49ers‘ staff is starting to come together, as Matt Barrows of The Athletic writes. Chris Foerster has been bumped up to primary offensive line coach while Rich Scangarello will return as the quarterbacks coach. Scangarello served as SF’s QBs coach in 2017 and 2018 before the Broncos tapped him as their OC in 2019. After a rough time in Denver and one year in Philly, he’s headed back to the Bay Area.

Here’s a look at the latest coach and coordinator news:

The Chargers will interview Colts defensive backs coach Jonathan Gannon for their defensive coordinator job, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Gannon is also being considered by the Bears for their DC role.
Meanwhile, new Chargers coach Brandon Staley is bringing Rams assistant Joe Barry along for the ride as his defensive passing game coordinator and linebackers coach (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL.com).
The Jaguars have requested an interview with Colts quarterbacks coach Marcus Brady for their offensive coordinator job, as Pelissero tweets.
The Eagles are interested in interviewing Cowboys special teams coach John Fassel, according to Marcus Hayes of the Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link). Fassel, the son of ex-Giants head coach Jim Fassel, spent eight years as the Rams’ ST coordinator. He also served as the Rams’ interim head coach for the final three games of 2016.

Colts Add Howard Mudd To Staff

February 7th, 2019 at 8:45pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Colts have hired legendary offensive line coach Howard Mudd as a senior offensive assistant, the club announced today. Additionally, Indianapolis has promoted Marcus Brady to quarterbacks coach and hired Klayton Adams as an assistant offensive line coach.

Mudd, 76, coached NFL offensive lines from 1974-2012, but his longest run with a single team came with the Colts from 1998-2009. During the end of that tenure, Mudd worked with current Indianapolis head coach Frank Reich, who at the time was an offensive assistant and quarterbacks coach on the Colts staff. Mudd originally announced his retirement following his Colts days, but was coaxed back into coaching the Eagles’ front five from 2011-12.

Indianapolis’ offensive line experienced a dramatic turnaround in 2018: the unit gave up a league-low 18 sacks, and ranked as a top-four group in Football Outsiders‘ pass-blocking and run-blocking metrics. Nevertheless, the Colts still opted to fire offensive line coach Dave DeGuglielmo and replace him with former Broncos staffer Chris Strausser.