Why Mike Zimmer Would Be Perfect Fit as Next Head Coach of Indianapolis Colts

Now that the Indianapolis Colts have fired Jim Caldwell as their head coach, they must immediately turn their attention to getting a new guy in place. After hiring Ryan Grigson as the team's new general manager last week, getting rid of Caldwell is just the next step in the team's rebuilding effort following a 2-14 season.

While the team has a lot of other issues to address—like deciding the fate of four-time MVP quarterback Peyton Manning and whether or not to draft Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck—getting a new head coach in town now becomes priority No. 1.

One guy who is available, has a proven track record in the league and has never been given the opportunity as a head coach is Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer.

Zimmer has experience in both 4-3 and 3-4 schemes. He was a long-time defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys, then spent a year in Atlanta before taking over the Bengals defense in 2008. In 2009, he earned NFL Assistant Coach of the Year honors from Pro Football Weekly, the Pro Football Writers of America and CBSSports.com. That year, the Bengals had the fourth-ranked defense in the league, and this season, Zimmer guided the Bengals to a seventh-place finish in total defense.

Zimmer's players have always loved him and have been willing to fight for him. He is incredibly popular in Cincinnati. He's also a tough guy who demands the same from the guys playing for him.

The Colts could really use that kind of fire right now. The team's defense is a mess, and Zimmer would be the perfect guy to turn it around. In addition to that, having a guy that players want to play for will be key as Indianapolis rebuilds its defense.

At the very least, Zimmer deserves to get an interview and the chance to explain what his vision and plan for the franchise would be.