Five candidates Colts should consider for coaching job

The Jeff Saturday era of the Indianapolis Colts might be on thin ice. 

The Colts allowed 33 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night after only being down 21-19 after three quarters. 

The novelty of Saturday's interim hire has worn off, and Colts fans are probably looking for a new savior for the struggling franchise. 

If Colts owner Jim Irsay lets Saturday go after the season is over, there are plenty of good candidates Indy could consider for its coaching opening. 

Here are five names that make a lot of sense for the Colts. 

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh

The sirens are already beginning to sound for Harbaugh returning to Indianapolis to become its next head coach. It'd be the splashy hire that would get Colts fans immediately interested, but it'd have some serious weight to it. 

Harbaugh went 44-19-1 in San Francisco during his four seasons in the Bay Area. He also led the 49ers to an NFC Championship during the 2012 season. The Niners always had a fierce offense with Harbaugh at the helm. 

His Michigan Wolverines just snagged a College Football Playoff spot, too, after going undefeated during the regular season and winning the Big 10 championship. 

49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans 

Speaking of the 49ers, Ryans should be high on every team's coaching candidate list. 

His 49ers are the top-ranked defense in the NFL and should keep San Fran steady in the playoff hunt with quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo out for the season with a foot injury. 

He's worked his way up the ranks with the 49ers after finishing his playing days as a linebacker. At 38, he'd be a young, fresh mind who could very easily relate to the players in his locker room. 

Titans defensive coordinator Shane Bowen 

Why not make a division rival weaker while helping your team in the process? 

The Titans have remained the AFC South's team to beat this season through its defense. Bowen has helped Tennessee stifle most any rushing attack with one of the best run defenses in the NFL. The secondary has also outperformed its talent level. 

He's also helped steady his unit after losing outside linebacker Harold Landry to an ACL injury. 

Bowen could be the third assistant to coach under Mike Vrabel to snag a head coaching job, joining former offensive coordinators Mike LaFleur and Arthur Smith. It's becoming a popular coaching tree to pick from. 

Bills offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey 

While it's fair to argue Dorsey benefits from coaching superstar quarterback Josh Allen, look to New York and the Giants. 

The guy Dorsey replaced in Buffalo, Brian Daboll, has been the star of the 2022 coaching class for the work he's done to get the Giants back to prominence. 

Dorsey hasn't struggled much to keep the Bills' offense chugging, and he's spent nearly a decade coaching in the NFL in various capacities. If the Colts want to see if the Buffalo coaching tree is a surefire bet, they could give Dorsey, a former NFL quarterback, a try.

Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn

The safest name on this list would very much be Quinn. 

Having spent five seasons and change with the Atlanta Falcons as their head coach, Quinn is a widely loved figure in the NFL. He's known for his strong bonds with players and his stellar locker room culture. 

He's also rejuvenated his coaching career in Dallas, mounting one of the NFL's most fearsome defensive attacks. He never had this much defensive talent in Atlanta, but his scheme is fresh and unpredictable. 

If the Colts want a coach who has a very recent track record of success, Quinn would be the guy.