Fansided

5 candidates to replace Chuck Pagano, Nick Saban leads the way

By Cody Williams

Sep 21, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano coaches on the sidelines against the New York Jets at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 21, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano coaches on the sidelines against the New York Jets at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 26, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban prior to the game against Louisiana Monroe Warhawks at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban prior to the game against Louisiana Monroe Warhawks at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Nick Saban

In the same reports from Kravitz that say that Irsay is considering firing Pagano and Grigson, it’s also mentioned that current Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban is at the top of Irsay’s wish list. In fact, the prospect of bringing in Saban is where the possibility of firing Grigson stems from. Saban would demand full control if he were to be lured to Indianapolis, a move that would surely mean Grigson would no longer be the general manager.

As far as Saban being lured away from Alabama, that’s where things get a bit tricky. Saban has made comments in recent months regarding his previous NFL head coaching stint prior to arriving in Tuscaloosa. Moreover, there were reports coming into this college football season that Saban is unhappy at Alabama. Even with that, he’s royalty in the ranks of college football and in his current job, not to mention the prosperity that he’s enjoyed with the Crimson Tide.

All of that being said, it seems pretty clear as of right now that Irsay would go hard in pursuit of hiring Saban if he pulls the trigger on firing Pagano. There’s not an ample enough sample size regarding Saban in the NFL to determine how a move like that would affect the Colts going forward, but it’s a move that would bring a highly successful college coach into the fold and a move that would make a huge splash. That checks off just about every box on the Jim-Irsay-making-a-move checklist.

Next: No. 4 David Shaw

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