Colts Bring Back Pagano, Grigson

During a Monday night news conference

In an unexpected turn of events, the Indianapolis Colts have announced a four-year contract extension for head coach Chuck Pagano. During a late night news conference Monday at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Complex in Indianapolis, owner Jim Irsay said continuity was key. Irsay added General Manager Ryan Grigson’s contract will be tied to Pagano’s. The Colts finished the season with an 8-8 record and missed the playoffs for the first time in four seasons under Pagano.

Irsay says the coach/GM combination is the right one. "I’m convinced that we have the right stuff to my right and my left to win a championship." He added "It was always my hope that this was the direction we’d head… I think great things are in store."

Grigson says "it was a trying year for us. 8-8 is not good enough." Grigson rose through the ranks of the Philadelphia Eagles front office, serving as director of player personnel prior to joining the Colts in 2012.

Pagano called Monday "absolutely the best day of my life." He says "we’ve stuck to the process" for the last four years. Pagano adds "I owe it all to Jim for believing in me and Ryan."

Pagano’s 43-21 regular season record gives him one of the highest winning percentages among active NFL coaches. During his first season as Colts head coach, Pagano missed 12 games while receiving treatment for leukemia. Pagano’s teams have a 3-3 postseason record. Last season, the Colts advanced to the AFC Championship round before losing to the New England Patriots.