What you should know about Colts quarterback Nick Foles

The Indianapolis Colts changed quarterbacks as Nick Foles will take over for Matt Ryan in Week 16 action against the Los Angeles Chargers on "Monday Night Football."

It's been a wild ride for someone who has only taken a couple of snaps this season.

Foles started the year as the Colts' No. 2 quarterback behind Ryan, taking two snaps in Week 2 of a shutout loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. However, Sam Ehlinger moved ahead of Foles on the depth chart heading into Week 6, and Foles was inactive for two games. Entering Week 8, Ehlinger was named the starting QB and Foles the backup, with Ryan suffering from a shoulder sprain.

When Ryan returned to the starting lineup, Ehlinger remained as the No. 2, leaving Foles inactive until Week 13.

Here's what you should know about Foles.

Philly Special

Foles caught the go-ahead touchdown with 2:21 remaining in the fourth quarter in Super Bowl LII against the New England Patriots on Feb. 5, 2018.

Trailing 33-32 and facing 3rd-and-7 at the New England 11-yard line, Foles drifted from behind center so Corey Clement could take the shotgun snap. Clement handed the ball to tight end Zach Ertz, who found Foles wide open in the right side of the end zone.

That instantly became one of the most celebrated plays in Philadelphia sports history. The Eagles won 41-33.

Nick Foles loves Frank Reich

Former Colts coach Frank Reich was the offensive coordinator for the Eagles' Super Bowl-winning team, and he had a strong relationship with both Foles and Carson Wentz, who was Indy's quarterback in 2021.

During training camp in 2021, Wentz was dealing with a foot injury. Foles was with the Chicago Bears, who also had first-round draft pick Justin Fields and veteran Andy Dalton on the roster.

As speculation swirled about the Colts bringing in another quarterback, Foles' name came up. Here's what he had to say about the situation.

"Listen, Frank Reich is one of my favorite, if not my favorite, coaches of all time. He understands me as a player," Foles said. "He understands me as a person. But you know, I haven't had any talks with them. I'm a Chicago Bear right now. But he knows me, he understands."

The Colts didn't make any moves and Wentz played Week 1, though he was hobbled.

Foles played in one game for the Bears last season, leading a late-season victory over the Seattle Seahawks.

Nick Foles in the NFL

Foles, 33, was a 2012 third-round NFL Draft pick by the Philadelphia Eagles.

He spent his first three seasons with the Eagles, earning a Pro Bowl berth in his second season after leading the NFL in quarterback rating (119.2) and throwing 27 touchdowns against two interceptions.

Foles played for the St. Louis Rams (2015) and Kansas City Chiefs ('16) before returning to the Eagles in 2017. He took over for the injured Carson Wentz in 2017 as the Eagles won the Super Bowl.

He played for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019 and the Chicago Bears in '20 and '21 before signing with the Indianapolis Colts in May.

Foles had passed for 14,003 career yards, 82 touchdowns and 43 interceptions before entering in place of Ryan.

Nick Foles is the subject of a punk song

How much goodwill does Foles have in Philadelphia? Pop-punk band the Wonder Years call him in a "saint" in recently released song. Here are some lyrics:

We're building shrines to Saint Nick Foles

In the windows, in the living rooms

...

We're building shrines to Saint Nick Foles

In the churches, in the alleyways

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts name Nick Foles starting quarterback, replacing Matt Ryan