INDIANAPOLIS — Back before Matt Eberflus was hired as the head coach of the Chicago Bears, the Colts’ decision-makers made it clear that X’s and O’s would only be part of the process of replacing Eberflus if the team’s long-time defensive architect got hired away.
As much as Indianapolis valued Eberflus’s smarts, the Colts put just as much value, if not more, on Eberflus’s leadership, intensity and ability to get the defense pulling in the same direction.
The Colts hired Gus Bradley as their new defensive coordinator on Friday night, bringing in another coach with a reputation for leadership, energy and the ability to fit the culture Indianapolis has built under Frank Reich and Chris Ballard.