Colts' Head-Coaching Front-Runner Emerging?

Out of eight finalists for the Indianapolis Colts head-coaching job, there is at least one reported front-runner.

The Indianapolis Colts' head coaching search continues to grow and develop with each day that goes by. The day after a whopping eighth finalist was revealed, another one of the candidates is said to be among the front-runners for the job.

According to Pat Leonard of New York Daily News Sports, New York Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale is considered to be one of the leading candidates for the Colts' head coaching position.

A source tells me Giants DC Don Martindale is considered one of the frontrunners for the Colts HC job as Round 2 of interviews comes to a close. But it’s not clear who all Indy intends to include in Round 3, how long it would take & what impact that would have on the process https://t.co/hj3ZqdW3FP

— Pat Leonard (@PLeonardNYDN) February 2, 2023

"A source tells me Giants DC Don Martindale is considered one of the frontrunners for the Colts HC job as Round 2 of interviews comes to a close," Leonard tweeted. "But it’s not clear who all Indy intends to include in Round 3, how long it would take & what impact that would have on the process."

It was revealed by NFL Network on Thursday that the Colts could move into an unprecedented third round of interviews and keep their search going into the coming weeks. If that's the case then many of the details that have been released about individuals become a bit fluid.

The Colts interviewed Martindale (59) in each of the last two weekends following New York's playoff exit at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles. While many feel the Colts should go for a young offensive mind as their next head coach, Martindale is an older defensive coach, so he's not viewed as the sexiest candidate.

However, in his first season with the Giants, Martindale's tutelage has been part of the drastic turnaround of a team that returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

Martindale's arrival under first-year head coach Brian Daboll paid dividends. The Giants defense's ranks in yardage (25th, 358.2 YPG) and scoring (tied-17th, 21.8 PPG) weren't special but they finished with 41 sacks, were fifth on third downs (35.1%), and 10th in red-zone scoring (52.8%).

Martindale is a grizzled veteran who has been coaching in the NFL for 19 years and professionally for 37. He's a forward-thinking defensive schemer who routinely confuses opposing offenses, and he is revered by his players.

Other candidates who have had or are scheduled for second interviews with the Colts are interim head coach Jeff Saturday, Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, Green Bay Packers special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia, Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, and Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen.

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