Shane Steichen: 7 things you should know about new Indianapolis Colts head coach
After a lengthy search, the Colts have found their next head coach.
Shane Steichen, while just 37, has been an assistant coach in the NFL for more than a decade. Steichen is coming off a Super Bowl appearance as the Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator, but that's not the only intriguing thing about the new Colts coach.
Here are seven things you should know about Steichen.
Shane Steichen played quarterback at UNLV
Steichen attended the University of Nevada-Las Vegas from 2003-2006 where he played quarterback. He saw time as a true freshman after an injury to the starting quarterback.
During his time at UNLV, Steichen threw for 22 touchdowns, 20 interceptions and 2,755 yards, according to sports-reference.com. Steichen is the school's 12th all-time leading passer.
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Shane Steichen coached in college before going to the NFL
After his playing days ended, Steichen worked as a student assistant and offensive graduate assistant at UNLV. He then spent one season as a full-time offensive assistant at Louisville.
Shane Steichen has history of success with quarterbacks in the NFL
Once in the NFL, Steichen had stints with the then-San Diego Chargers (defensive assistant in 2011-12, offensive quality control/wide receivers in 2014-15) and the Cleveland Browns (offensive quality control/quarterbacks in 2013). He also coached quarterbacks and later served as the offensive coordinator for the Chargers.
During that time, Steichen coached Philip Rivers, who earned three straight Pro Bowl berths in that span. When Justin Herbert took over for the Chargers at quarterback, he won the 2020 offensive rookie of the year award while Steichen was with the team.
Jalen Hurts has thrived at quarterback for the Eagles while Steichen has been the offensive coordinator. This season, Hurts was named second-team All-Pro.
Shane Steichen coached under former Colts coach Frank Reich
Frank Reich, who was fired by the Colts in November, was the Chargers' offensive coordinator from 2014-15. During that period, Steichen worked with Reich as the offensive quality control coach in San Diego.
Reich left to become the Eagles' offensive coordinator from 2016-17. After being the quarterbacks coach of the Chargers from 2016-19, Steichen then followed Reich as Philadelphia's offensive coordinator (interim in 2019 and permanent in 2020).
In another connection to Reich, Steichen became the offensive coordinator for the Eagles in 2021.
Shane Steichen has been former Colts offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni’s right-hand man
Reich isn't the only coach associated with the Colts that Steichen has a history with. Nick Sirianni took over as the head coach of the Eagles in 2021 and hired Steichen as his offensive coordinator.
Before he became a head coach, Sirianni served as the Colts offensive coordinator from 2018-20. Sirianni and Steichen became familiar with each other while coaching together on the Chargers.
Shane Steichen coaching history
2010: University of Louisville offensive assistant
2011-12: Chargers defensive assistant
2013: Browns offensive quality control coach
2014-15: Chargers offensive quality control coach
2016-19: Promoted to Chargers quarterbacks coach
2019: Named interim offensive coordinator after Chargers fired Ken Whisenhunt
2020: Promoted to full-time offensive coordinator
2021-22: Eagles offensive coordinator
2023: Colts head coach
Shane Steichen family
Steichen and his wife Nina have two children, Hudson and Stella.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts: 7 things to know about new head coach Shane Steichen
