Rumors of Chuck Pagano’s demise in Indy were apparently greatly exaggerated.
The Indianapolis Colts revealed Tuesday that the team has decided to keep Pagano, signing him to a four-year contract extension through 2019 on Monday. This is according to multiple sources including ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The development comes after Pagano and team owner Jim Irsay met on Monday to discuss his future. No decision was announced to the media until late Monday night.
Colts announced Chuck Pagano has agreed to a contract extension.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 5, 2016
The extension for #Colts coach Chuck Pagano is for 4 years, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 5, 2016
Indianapolis Colts To Retain Head Coach Chuck Pagano
It’s a move that comes as a bit of a surprise considering the overall consensus was that the 55-year-old Pagano was set to be fired at the end of the season. This followed a disappointing 8-8 campaign that saw the Colts miss the playoffs for the first time in his four-year tenure as head coach. Irsay had hoped 2015 would be the year the team’s first in the Super Bowl since quarterback Andrew Luck was drafted. Missing the playoffs altogether could’ve easily been looked at as a step in the wrong direction.
But Luck struggled with injuries all season. It began after a Week 3 win over the Tennessee Titans when he was forced to miss the first two games of his career due to an issue with his right shoulder. Luck would then suffer a kidney and abdominal injury during the fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos in Week 9 which ultimately resulted in him missing the rest of the season.
40-year-old Matt Hasselbeck would start in Luck’s place, compiling a 5-3 record. But even he had his own share of injury issues late in the season including having to miss Indy’s final game against the Titans. This forced the team to sign Josh Freeman, who would get the start in a 30-24 win which saw the team close the season on a two-game winning streak.
Such lack of continuity at such an important position may have played a factor in the franchise deciding to hold off on a coaching change.
The move to retain Pagano comes a little less than a year after the sides failed to reach an agreement on a deal past this season, the final year of his contract. He was reportedly unhappy with the one-year extension he was offered that included no raise above his 2015 salary. And much has been made about the supposed rift between him and general manager Ryan Grigson at the heart of the rumors about Pagano’s future in Indy.
The nature of this new deal gives Pagano an added sense of certainty that the Colts front office has confidence in his ability to lead the Colts towards their ultimate goal of not just being a regular playoff participant, but contending for a title.
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