Colts owner Jim Irsay’s affection for interim head coach Jeff Saturday is no secret.
While introducing Saturday on Nov. 8 after the firing of previous coach Frank Reich, Irsay told reporters the interim coach would be around for “eight games and hopefully more.” Saturday has piloted Indianapolis to one win in four games—most recently a 54-19 loss to the Cowboys—amid a firestorm of criticism about his hiring.
However, Steelers president and NFL workplace diversity committee chair Art Rooney II made clear on Wednesday that the Colts still will need to go through traditional hiring protocols if they want to retain Saturday after the season.