Former Colts Bill Polian, Tony Dungy, Peyton Manning gave Frank Reich a thumbs up

INDIANAPOLIS – The news had just dropped about as subtly as a sledgehammer, and most of the NFL was buzzing about the league’s latest shocking development.

NFL personnel and fans alike were reacting to the stunning news that Josh McDaniels had backed out of an oral agreement to be the Indianapolis Colts’ next head coach.

Meanwhile, Bill Polian was blissfully unaware of the news.

The former Colts team president was soaring 30,000 feet in the air, on an airplane, while the Colts’ best-laid plans were crumbling before their eyes.

Eventually, Polian’s plane landed and his phone promptly blew up with the news. The first thing the Hall-of-Fame executive did was make a very specific phone call.

“Bill Polian and I had a long talk,” Colts owner Jim Irsay reflected, a week later. “He had gotten off an airplane and as soon as he landed, he called me. His phone was lighting up because the news was spreading.”

Their initial phone call centered on one subject: Frank Reich.

The Colts had immediately turned their attention to new candidates in the wake of McDaniels’ reversal, Reich being among them. And when Irsay spoke to his trusted trio of former Colts, Reich received universal endorsement.

Polian was the first, but not the only, former Colt in Irsay’s inner circle to strongly endorse Reich’s candidacy.

Conversations with Hall-of-Fame coach Tony Dungy: Check.

Former quarterback great Peyton Manning: Check.

Irsay and General Manager Chris Ballard heeded the advice and met with Reich a few days later. Both came away floored at Reich’s preparedness and fit for the job. Two days later, on Sunday, the sides agreed to terms and Reich was onboard to fill the vacant post.

The hiring of Reich was a collective decision made between Irsay and Ballard. But the advice they got from those former Colts loomed large here because their advice matters at Colts headquarters.

And Irsay would have it no other way.

“It’s been great to see the Colts utilize their alumni base in all sorts of ways,” Irsay said. “Tony Dungy, Bill Polian, Peyton Manning – too many guys to list how much they contributed anything they could do to help.”

Those Colts alumni, as it turns out, had no problem getting behind another Colt.

“With Frank coming in, who’s already been here before, it’s great now to have a talented group of alumni type of guys,” Irsay said. “You always want to bring back your own guys if you can. This is that example. I think (Reich) is perfect. Just perfect in so many ways.”

It was certainly convenient to be able to rely upon trusted opinions during the second round of this coaching search. But Irsay and Ballard did not consider these opinions simply because they’re former Colts. Each was uniquely qualified to offer real intel on Reich.

There was Polian, who always thought this day would come. It was Polian who first planted the prospect of coaching in Reich’s head, during his rookie season in the NFL in 1985.

He told Reich to call him when he done playing because he’d make a fabulous coach. That’s exactly what Reich did in 2006, after taking eight years off to work in the ministry.

“I told (Polian), ‘I’ll scrub the toilets, I’ll do anything you want me to do,’” Reich said Tuesday. “That’s when I came and I was an intern, and quality control (coach).”

In an interview with IndyStar this week, Polian said of Reich, “Outside of Jim Irsay and Chris Ballard, I’m his biggest fan.”

There’s also Dungy, the coach who gave Reich his first official job. Though he was initially an intern, Reich graduated to a full-fledged member of the coaching staff in 2008.

“To be able to get the start to your career for a Hall-of-Fame coach and someone who was a role model to me on how to be a man of faith, and still understand the passion and the level of competition, what a great model for me to break in as a coach,” Reich said.

Irsay added, “Tony Dungy and I talked about it and said a prayer and said the good Lord was going to send us the best guy possible. And I really believe that’s what’s happened.”

Finally, there’s Manning, who certainly is not easily impressed. But he built a strong bond with Reich, who became his quarterbacks coach while in Indianapolis. Manning’s words always carry great weight at Colts headquarters. In this case, those words only helped embolden Irsay and Ballard as they moved forward with their decision.

“In my time working with (Reich) as our quarterbacks coach, he showed the work ethic and drive to be successful in this business,” Manning said in a statement. “Frank has a real passion for football.”

So, too, does this key trio of former Colts. All the more reason for Irsay and Ballard to consider their advice.

Follow Colts Insider Stephen Holder on Twitter: @HolderStephen.

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