Report: Colts to Hire Tom Manning as TEs Coach

Tom Manning will be returning to the Indianapolis Colts.

The Indianapolis Colts are reportedly hiring Tom Manning as their next tight ends coach. Chad Brendel of Bearcat Journal broke the news Monday morning.

"Sources tell Bearcat Journal that new Cincinnati OC Tom Manning is headed to the NFL. Apparently an offer he couldn't refuse to jump to the highest level of the sport. Stay tuned to BCJ for further details," Brendel tweeted. 

Sources tell @BearcatJournal that new Cincinnati OC Tom Manning is headed to the NFL. Apparently an offer he couldn't refuse to jump to the highest level of the sport. Stay tuned to BCJ for further details.

— Chad Brendel (@ChadBrendel) February 20, 2023

Manning will be a nice addition if, for no other reason than that, he was the coach of the tight ends for the 2018 campaign under Frank Reich for Indianapolis.

That season, the trio of Jack Doyle, Eric Ebron, and Mo Alie-Cox benefitted from having Manning as a coach.

Together, they would compile an impressive total of 99 catches for 1,128 yards and 17 touchdowns (Ebron accounting for 66 catches for 750 yards and 13 touchdowns, all career-highs). After this stint with Indianapolis, Manning would venture into the NCAA, heading to Iowa State University from 2019-2022 (offensive coordinator, tight ends, and running backs coach) and a brief stop at the University of Cincinnati in 2023 (tight ends/offensive coordinator).

Manning is a welcome name for the Colts as they bring in a new system with head coach Shane Steichen and, likely, a rookie quarterback. Also, Manning is inheriting a young and talented group at the position with Kylen Granson, Andrew Ogletree, and the potential superstar Jelani Woods.

Given how well Manning could utilize the three players he had in 2018, it will be worth watching to see what he could do with a team that had little to no production from that group, outside of Woods, in 2022. The staff-building is underway, and a position coach will be secured soon.

For a young field general, the tight end position can be one of the safest to throw the ball to and can act as a security blanket of sorts for a signal-caller getting acquainted with the speed that the NFL brings. Indianapolis still has multiple positions to fill, but putting a familiar face in the building is a great way to kick off this hiring process. 

We’ll see if 2023 can be replicated with the same success for the tight ends as 2018. 

---

Follow Horseshoe Huddle on Facebook and Twitter.