Colts decide to keep Chuck Pagano, give him contract extension

While it’s still not known what was said to get owner Jim Irsay to re-up with coach Chuck Pagano at a time when Irsay could have hired anyone else without a buyout, it would have been fitting for Pagano to pay homage to Manning’s quote to Polian when talking to Irsay.

Before the news of Pagano’s extension, Colts fans didn’t necessarily agree on a solution for the team, but they shared a passion for the future of the Colts.

There had also been debate on social media about the future of General Manager Ryan Grigson.

The very thing no one thought was possible entering Monday happened Monday night.

Irsay also indicated that Grigson’s contract is tied with Paganos.

“I can say he’s given his heart and soul every day since I’ve been here”, Luck said earlier Monday.

But, unlike Coughlin, Pagano’s firing seems imminent as he meets with Colts owner Jim Irsay on Monday morning.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team has not officially announced the extension. With Pagano’s contract set to expire, the conventional wisdom is that he will not return as Indy’s coach. Given this opportunity to move forward-we love this city, this community, this organization. I watch Frank Gore playing his butt off week in and week out (and) you want to be out there with those guys. “I got prepared to play this week, and I felt good, especially being able to take that snap in the victory formation”. Even if you throw in this year’s 8-8 record, Pagano is still 40-24 overall since 2012. When Mattison left to become Michigan’s defensive coordinator in 2011, Pagano was promoted to fill the position until he left to coach the Colts a season later. You fight, you fight, you fight – because of the grit, because of the character, because of the men and the leaders in this locker room right now’.

Pagano carried momentum into Irsay’s office after winning the final two games with a revolving door of quarterbacks featuring street free agents Josh Freeman and Ryan Lindley in the season finale. “It’s about the team and making decisions that are best for the horseshoe”. Supporters formed the “Chuckstrong” movement – a play on Lance Armstrong’s Livestrong – and in Pagano’s absence assistant Bruce Arians was promoted to interim coach for 12 games.

“The players are thrilled that coach got an extension”, linebacker D’Qwell Jackson told reporters. Look, if you think I’m going to let someone bully my head coach, you’re wrong. This year was tough, obviously-8-8 and falling short of the playoffs is difficult-but at the same time, we were right in there with the injuries we had at quarterback. You know that. This is really his first taste of being sidelined, and it’s hard because he feels that I need to be there for the team, my teammates and all that stuff.

“This is the best day of my life”, Pagano said.

“I’ve had a lot of great days in my life, but none better than today”, he said.

The best thing that Indy could’ve done was part ways with Pagano after last season’s 45-7 playoff loss to the Patriots (deflated or not), or at least fired Grigson this week to end a relationship that was being described as toxic as any in the NFL.