The Indianapolis Colts are still ahead in the race for the AFC South title, but if the team doesn't make the playoffs, it could mean the end of the road for Chuck Pagano as the team's head coach. That likely wouldn't mean the end of Pagano's time as an NFL head coach, though.
The Dolphins could be interested in Chuck Pagano if the Colts fire him
Pagano would likely get another head coaching job if the Colts choose to fire him after the season.
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Pagano would be a hot candidate on the coaching market if the Colts choose to fire him. One potential landing spot is with the Miami Dolphins, who are reportedly "thinking outside the box" in their hunt for a replacement for Joe Philbin.
The Colts are 39-22 since hiring Pagano in 2012, although he missed 12 games in his first season with the team while he battled cancer. The team made the postseason in each of his first three seasons, but wasn’t able to earn a trip to the Super Bowl in any of those years. During a disappointing 2015 season, Pagano has often been considered a coach on the hot seat due to discord with general manager Ryan Grigson and failure to reach high expectations.
Earlier in the week, after a 51-17 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Pagano talked about the possibility of being fired and suggested retirement could be an option.
“They can’t eat you. They can fire you but they can’t eat you,” Pagano said on Monday. “So if the worst thing, a year from now, let’s say I’m in Boise this time next year playing with my granddaughters, I’m going to be fine. That ain’t going to happen but I’m going to be fine if I have to go down that road.”
Prior to his time as a head coach, Pagano was a secondary coach for the Cleveland Browns, Oakland Raiders and Baltimore Ravens before moving up to defensive coordinator with the Ravens in 2011. After one season in the role, he was hired by the Colts.
The Colts are tied with the Houston Texans for the AFC South lead at 6-7 and the two teams will battle for the division lead in Week 15. Indianapolis has won the division nine times since it was created in 2002.
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