The Indianapolis Colts’ Polian era will continue for the foreseeable future, the Indianapolis Star is reporting.
The contracts of president Bill Polian and his son, Chris, have been extended through the 2012 season “and beyond,” Colts Owner and Chief Executive Officer told Star Colts writer Mike Chappell Thursday afternoon. Irsay also told the Star that Chris’ title has been changed from vice president of football operations to general manager.
Although the new deal doesn’t alter the younger Polian’s current responsibilities, Chris Polian will assume day-to-day operations of the franchise when Bill retires, Irsay told the Star.
Irsay told the Star he extended the contracts to maintain continuity. Two years ago, he promoted then-assistant coach Jim Caldwell to associate head coach, a move that led to Caldwell succeeding Tony Dungy as head coach this past January.
“There is no seismic shift,” Irsay told the Star. ”Nothing will change anytime soon. But continuity is important to me.”
Writes Chappell:
Bill Polian, 66, has been the Colts’ president since 1998. Whenever he determines he no longer wants to run the team, he’ll become a consultant to help ease the transition to Chris Polian, 38. Irsay indicated Bill Polian will likely continue to run the team at least through 2012.
Chappell also wrote that Irsay made the move to keep other teams from interviewing Chris Polian.
“I was willing to make a financial commitment to the management side of this organization to keep Chris off the market,” Irsay told Chappell. “Chris is going to be here and play a dominant role. I’ve been around Chris for a long time. Whenever Bill is ready to retire, or semi-retire, we’ll move forward with Chris.’”
Writes Chappell:
Chris Polian served as director of scouting from 1998-2000, assistant director of football operations from 2001-03 and assistant general manager/football operations and pro personnel in ‘04 before being promoted to VP of football operations in ‘05. The Colts have the NFL’s best regular-season record since 1999 (123-46), including a 10-0 start this season. They won Super Bowl XLI after the 2006 season and can clinch their eighth straight playoff berth, the league’s longest active streak, Sunday at Houston.
IFR analysis: This move obviously fits into what has become an approach critical to Irsay’s philsophy running the franchise. Considering the success the Colts have had in the transition to Caldwell, who has maintained the positives from the Dungy era while tweaking the staff and moving the organization forward, the move is logical. As was the case with Caldwell, it will remain to be seen if the move will be as successful in fact as it is logical in theory. Does the younger Polian has the eye for talent and the genius for organization that has made his father successful? Only time and opportunity will tell, but since there’s no reason to think he doesn’t possess those skills, the move makes sense.
