5 Names to Watch for the Colts DL Coach Opening

5 names to watch with the Indianapolis Colts having an opening at their defensive line coach job.

The Indianapolis Colts have an opening on their coaching staff this offseason, as Destin Adams of A to Z Sports reported that the team would not be bringing back Defensive Line Coach Nate Ollie for the 2024 season.

Joel Erickson of The Indy Star later confirmed this report, adding that the team opted not to renew the contract of Ollie at the conclusion of the season.

The contracts for Colts DL coach Nate Ollie and assistant DBs coach Mike Mitchell were not renewed, per source.

— Joel A. Erickson (@JoelAErickson) January 24, 2024

This move may seem a bit surprising on the surface. The Colts totaled the fifth-most sacks in the NFL this past season with an Indianapolis-era record of 51. Four defenders-- Kwity Paye, Samson Ebukam, Dayo Odeyingbo, and DeForest Buckner-- reached the 8.0 sack mark on the season as well. 

While the sacks were up for the Colts in 2023, the overall pressures were down as a team. The Colts ranked outside the top 20 in pressures created and the team's run defense fell from its once elite status (mostly when Grover Stewart was out of the lineup). This past season was a net positive in the trenches for the Colts but there was still some room to improve overall. 

With Nate Ollie officially out as the Colts' DL Coach, here are a few names to keep an eye on to fill the team's vacancy on the staff:

1.) Giff Smith, Los Angeles Chargers Interim Head Coach

One of the more obvious names to watch for this vacant position is Giff Smith of the Los Angeles Chargers. Smith has spent the past eight seasons with the Chargers in a variety of positions, including as the team's Interim Head Coach following the termination of Brandon Staley in week 15. Smith has ties to both Gus Bradley and Shane Steichen, working alongside the pair in L.A. from 2016 to 2020.

Smith has done an excellent job with the Chargers as the team's outside linebackers coach/defensive line coach over the years. He assisted with the development of superstar Joey Bosa and has worked with underrated young pass rushers such as Tuli Tuipulotu and Uchenna Nwosu over the years. Smith could help take this Colts' edge rusher group to the next level if he gets the job in Indy.

2.) Todd Wash, Carolina Panthers DL Coach

If the Colts want to break the bank for one of the top names on the market, they could look to reunite Wash with his former boss in Gus Bradley. Wash worked under Bradley in Jacksonville, as Wash served in various roles spanning from DL coach to defensive coordinator from 2013 to 2020. Wash was the Jaguars' Defensive Coordinator during their insane 2018 AFC Championship game run, where the Jaguars boasted one of the best defenses in football.

More recently, Wash is coming off of a strong season where he helped defensive tackle Derrick Brown emerge as one of the best overall interior defenders in football. He also helped former second-round pick Yetur Gross-Matos put together his best season of his career in 2023. Wash and Bradley are very close, so Indy being able to grab one of the best options on the market would be a huge get.

3.) Darryl Tapp, San Francisco 49ers Assistant DL Coach

The Colts could go a little outside of the box with their next DL coach hire and look at a candidate such as Darryl Tapp. Tapp is a 12-year NFL veteran who stepped into coaching following the end of his playing career in 2017. He spent time at the college level with Central Michigan, Vanderbilt, and Virginia Tech before being hired as the 49ers' assistant DL coach in 2021.

Tapp doesn't have a massive connection to the Colts' coaching staff (he did play one season under Bradley in Seattle back in 2009), but he is currently assisting on a defensive line that the Colts emulate in a lot of ways. The Colts model what they do up front after the 49ers' attacking front, so Tapp could be an interesting young mind to throw into the equation with the Colts in 2023. Also, he has coached Samson Ebukam in the past, so perhaps the veteran pass rusher will give the seal of approval for his former coach.

4.) Tracy Rocker, Philadelphia Eagles DL Coach

The Colts could lean more on Shane Steichen's past connections over Gus Bradley's, which could make Tracy Rocker an interesting option. Rocker has been with the Eagles since the 2021 season, where he overlapped with both Steichen and Colts' OC Jim Bob Cooter from 2021-2022. Rocker has some experience in big games, as he was the Auburn DL Coach during their 2011 BCS Championship win and the Eagles' DL Coach in their Super Bowl appearance back in 2022.

Rocker has coached some outstanding players with the Eagles. Some of those players include veterans Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham along with top edge rushers Josh Sweat and Hassan Reddick. With Vic Fangio in line to take the Eagles' Defensive Coordinator job in the coming days, Rocker could make his way to Indy to fill the Colts' vacancy.

5.) Jeff Zgonina, Washington Commanders DL Coach

The Colts could also look at a candidate with some local ties in Jeff Zgonina too. Zgonina is no stranger to Indiana, as he played his college ball at Purdue from 1989 to 1992 and is the school's all-time record holder for tackles for a loss in a career. Zgonina also had a brief stint with the Colts in his 17-year NFL career, appearing in two games for the team back in 1998.

Zgonina has spent the past five seasons with the Washington Commanders coaching their defensive line room. Prior to that, he spent time as the 49ers' DL Coach, where he had a hand in developing star DeForest Buckner during the formative years of his playing career. The Colts could choose to reunite Buckner with his former coach in the 2024 offseason.

Darkhorse Candidates to Watch

• Eddy McGilvra, Personal Trainer of Kwity Paye, Samson Ebukam and Dayo Odeyingbo

• Jay Rodgers, Former Los Angeles Chargers DL Coach and Run Game Coordinator

• Clint Hurtt, Former Seattle Seahawks Defensive Coordinator

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