NFL Rumors: Jim Irsay Wants to Hire Jeff Saturday as Colts HC, is 'Expected Outcome'

Jeff Saturday's 1-7 record as interim head coach for the Indianapolis Colts apparently isn't going to dissuade Jim Irsay from wanting to bring him back on a full-time basis next season.

Per The Ringer's Benjamin Solak, the sense from NFL personnel and people close to the Colts' coaching search is that Saturday being hired is the "expected outcome" as the team continues to interview candidates.

It's been a long time since there's been a coaching search as extensive as what the Colts appear to be going through right now.

NFL Network's Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport reported on Thursday the Colts are close to wrapping up their second round of interviews and are considering a third round that would consist of a "select few finalists" before making a final decision.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported last week that Saturday was one of seven candidates being brought back for a second interview by the Colts.

Aaron Glenn, Ejiro Evero, Rich Bisaccia, Brian Callahan, Shane Steichen, Raheem Morris and Wink Martindale have also met with the Colts twice.

Solak noted the prolonged search allows the Colts to go through a diverse set of candidates with different ideas about how to fix things, and one of them could potentially grab Irsay's attention to make him change his mind.

The Colts' decision to bring in Saturday as their interim head coach on Nov. 7 after firing Frank Reich was met with a lot of criticism.

Per CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones, Irsay's decision to go with an interim coach who had no experience above the high-school level "has rankled coaches and executives throughout the league—particularly those of color."

The Rooney Rule doesn't apply to hiring an interim head coach.

This season was nothing short of a catastrophe for the Colts. They ranked in the bottom five in the NFL in points scored and points allowed. They finished 4-12-1, tied for their most losses in a season since 2012, and missed the playoffs for the sixth time in the past eight years.