Chuck Pagano Moving To Indianapolis Colts, Taking Over Head Coach Position
Defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano has been promoted to head coach of the Indianapolis Colts.
The Colts will officially introduce Pagano as the teams new head coach on Thursday when the 51-year-old who has served as a career assistant at Oakland and Cleveland will take over his first head coaching position in the NFL.
In a statement released by the Ravens on Wednesday Pagnao revealed:
“It’s difficult to leave the Ravens but I couldn’t pass up on this great opportunity,” adding, “I’m just thrilled and so excited.”
The defensive coordinator interviewed with the Colts on Tuesday, just two days after the Ravens lost to the New England Patriots 23-20 in the AFC Championship Game.
During his first season as the Ravens defensive coordinator the team allowed the third-fewest points and yards of the 2011 season. Under his leadership the Ravens also send Safety Ed Reed, linebackers Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs and nose tackle Haloti Ngata to the Pro Bowl.
The move to grab Chuck Pagano comes after the Colts fired Jim Caldwell following the teams 2-14 season in which the Colts were forced to perform without star QB Peyton Manning who suffered a season ending neck injury.
Joining Check Pagano is 39-year-old Ryan Grigson who has taken over at the general manager position. Colts owner Jim Irsay has removed 11 of the teams 20 coaches who started the 2011 season.
In the meantime it’s still not known whether Pagano will be rebuilding a team around Stanford star QB Andrew Luck or working with Peyton Manning. Manning recently said a meeting with Jim Irsay “is going to happen at some point, but we haven’t had that conversation yet because we really don’t need to have that conversation yet.”
Manning is due a $28 million bonus should the team retain him through March 2012, he has repeatedly said he wants to stay with the Indianapolis Colts.
Do you think Chuck Pagano is the right man to lead the Colts and perhaps even rebuild the team around Andrew Luck?
