Jeff Saturday, born June 18, 1975, is a former National Football League (NFL) professional football player and coach from the United States. He spent the majority of his NFL career with the Indianapolis Colts as a center. He was selected to the Pro Bowl six times and led the Colts to the Super Bowl.
Saturday was a member of the North Carolina Tar Heels collegiate football team. In 1998, he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Baltimore Ravens. However, the club released him without him having appeared in a single game. After signing with Indianapolis, where he spent thirteen seasons, he triumphed over the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI and was honored with four All-Pro selections and five Pro Bowl appearances. During his concluding NFL campaign, he was selected for his sixth Pro Bowl with the Green Bay Packers. Currently, ESPN employs Jeff Saturday as a sports analyst. Following Frank Reich’s dismissal during the final eight weeks of the Colts’ 2022 season, he served as the team’s interim head coach.
Initial years
Jeff Saturday is the birthplace of Atlanta, Georgia. In 1993, he enrolled at Shamrock High School, located in Decatur, Georgia.
On Saturday, his high school coach Ron Gartrell stated in a 2012 Sports Illustrated article, “Jef Jeff led eighty percent of our offense. We assigned Jeff to one side of the defense while positioning our other valuable players on the opposite side, as opponents attempted to evade Jeff. Nevertheless, Gartrell was unable to convince Southeastern Conference schools of Saturday’s prowess; he stated in the same interview that Georgia and Tennessee coaches deemed Jeff Saturday too brief to participate in conference play. The University of North Carolina extended him a scholarship offer in part due to Gartrell’s friendship with Carl Torbush, the university’s defensive coordinator at the time.
College Education
Jeff Saturday attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on an athletic scholarship, where he excelled as a letterman for coach Mack Brown’s North Carolina Tar Heels football team for four consecutive years, from 1994 to 1997. He assisted the Tar Heels as one of their captains in 1996 and 1997, both as a junior and a senior. In 1996 and 1997, he was named to the first team of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) at center. Additionally, in 1997, he was named to the Academic All-ACC team.
Professional occupation
Every value derived from the Baltimore Ravens NFL Combine
Jeff Saturday was positioned as the No. 11 center available in the 1998 NFL Draft, per Sports Illustrated. He has been characterized as “somewhat an overachiever who has worked to make himself better,” in addition to being “an undersized guy [who] simply has trouble matching up against power NTs that can overwhelm him.”. He was not drafted. On April 27, 1998, the Baltimore Ravens acquired him as a free agent; however, on June 12, 1998, they elected to terminate him. Following his return to Raleigh, North Carolina, he obtained a managerial position at an electrical supply retailer.
Indianapolis Colts football team
Saturday initially garnered the interest of the Indianapolis Colts during the 1998 season, coinciding with the roster of former college teammate Nate Hobgood-Chittick. In 2012, Hobgood-Chittick would recall,
I was completely destitute with that franchise, so I prayed while standing outside [Bill] Polian’s door in filthy pajamas. I entered the store and commented, “A guy is selling electrical supplies in Raleigh right now who whipped all those first-round draft choices at North Carolina every day.” Polian exclaimed, “I adore it,” as he glanced at me. Let’s get him to work out in this area.
On January 7, 1999, the Colts acquired him as a free agent. Saturday started as a substitute for starting guard Steve McKinney during his inaugural year. On November 21, 1999, against the Philadelphia Eagles, he made his NFL debut at left guard. Jeff Saturday began every game at center for the Colts in the 2000 regular season, after making just two starts in 1999. From that point forward, he appeared in all sixteen games at center for the Colts, for a total of 85 consecutive games, until he missed two games with an injury in December 2004. Saturday completed his tenure with the Colts as the team’s starting center for a record-setting 12 consecutive seasons. During that time, he led the Colts offensive line, which allowed the fewest quarterback pressures of any NFL team in 2004, 2005, and 2006. In 2004, Saturday made one pass attempt during a game, but it was incomplete.
From AFC Championship Glory to NFC Pro Bowl Finish
Despite five consecutive seasons under head coach Tony Dungy in which the Colts won at least ten regular-season games, they were unable to advance to the Super Bowl as they were eliminated in the AFC playoffs from 2002 to 2005. The Colts finished the 2006 AFC regular season in third place with a 12-4 record. Saturday contributed to the Indianapolis Colts’ AFC Championship Game victory over the New England Patriots on January 21, 2007, when he scored a touchdown after recovering a teammate’s fumble in the end zone. Saturday also provided the crucial block on Joseph Addai’s game-winning touchdown run, which condemned Vince Wilfork. Longtime companion and Colts quarterback at the time, Peyton Manning, stated that Jeff Saturday desired for this play to be called “The Block.”Seven days later, at Super Bowl XLI, Saturday assisted the Colts in defeating the Chicago Bears.
- Saturday entered into a three-year, $13.3 million contract with the Colts on February 26, 2009. The contract stipulated a signing incentive of $7.45 million.
- In the 197 games he appeared in with the Colts, Saturday started 188 of them. He became available for free following the 2011 season.
Saturday inked a two-year, $7.75 million contract with the Green Bay Packers on March 23, 2012. Jeff Saturday, who had a fluctuating season, was benched on December 21, 2012. Notwithstanding this, on a subsequent occasion, Saturday was designated as the NFC’s backup center for the 2013 Pro Bowl. Although they were on opposing teams, Jeff Saturday and his longtime Colts teammate Peyton Manning shared the final play of the Pro Bowl.
Awards and honors
Saturday was selected for six Pro Bowl squads through fan voting: in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, and 2012. He was a first-team NFL selection by the Associated Press in both 2005 and 2007. In 2007, he was named Offensive Lineman of the Year by an organization comprised of National Football League alumni.
On September 21, 2015, Saturday was inducted into the Indianapolis Colts Ring of Honor during week two’s contest against the New York Jets.
Jeff Saturday was sworn in as a member of the 2017 cohort of the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in Macon, Georgia.
Career NFL statistics
| Year | Team | Games | Starts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | IND | 11 | 2 |
| 2000 | IND | 16 | 16 |
| 2001 | IND | 16 | 16 |
| 2002 | IND | 16 | 16 |
| 2003 | IND | 16 | 16 |
| 2004 | IND | 14 | 14 |
| 2005 | IND | 16 | 16 |
| 2006 | IND | 16 | 16 |
| 2007 | IND | 16 | 16 |
| 2008 | IND | 12 | 12 |
| 2009 | IND | 16 | 16 |
| 2010 | IND | 16 | 16 |
| 2011 | IND | 16 | 16 |
| 2012 | GB | 14 | 14 |
| Career | 211 | 202 | |
Precious retirement
Saturday made the retirement announcement on January 25, 2013, after the 2013 Pro Bowl game. Saturday executed a one-day contract with the Colts on March 7, 2013, indicating his intention to retire after thirteen seasons of service.
Career in coaching at Hebron Christian Academy
Jeff Saturday was appointed head coach of Hebron Christian Academy in Dacula, Georgia, on January 20, 2017.
Jeff Saturday tendered his resignation from the role of head coach at Hebron Christian on February 14, 2020. Throughout his tenure, he led the team to the playoffs each year and finished 20–16, with three victories in the postseason and a 2019 state quarterfinal appearance.
Professional occupation
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 2+3⁄8 in (1.89 m) |
292 lb (132 kg) |
31+1⁄2 in (0.80 m) |
10+1⁄8 in (0.26 m) |
5.24 s | 1.81 s | 3.03 s | 4.85 s | 8.52 s | 25.0 in (0.64 m) |
8 ft 4 in (2.54 m) |
25 reps | |
| All values from the NFL Combine | ||||||||||||
Indianapolis Colts football team
The Indianapolis Colts appointed Saturday as interim head coach on November 7, 2022, following the dismissal of Frank Reich on November 7 after a 3–5–1 start. The decision elicited considerable astonishment and censure, particularly from former NFL head coach Bill Cowher and fellow former offensive lineman Joe Thomas, considering Saturday’s limited coaching background (restricted to high school) and the staff’s membership of several former NFL head coaches. Jeff Saturday became the first NFL head coach since Norm Van Brocklin of the Minnesota Vikings in 1961 to lack any prior undergraduate or professional coaching experience. Jim Irsay, the owner of the Colts, defended the choice by saying that Saturday might continue to serve as head coach after 2022. The Colts attempted to employ Saturday in 2019 as an offensive line coach and also for a position before the 2022 season, according to general manager Chris Ballard. On Saturday, I debuted as head coach for the Colts in a victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.
On Saturday, December 17, 2022, the Colts squad suffered a final-day loss to the Minnesota Vikings, 39-36. The Indianapolis Colts squandered a 33-point advantage, surpassing the Houston Oilers of 1992 in terms of the largest blown lead in NFL history. It is noteworthy that Frank Reich, who was appointed head coach of the Colts on Saturday, led the Buffalo Bills to a comeback victory over the Oilers. The Colts appointed Shane Steichen as their head coach in February 2023, following the retention of Saturday as interim and prospective head coach for the 2023 season. As of November 2023, Saturday is once again affiliated with ESPN and is without a position in the NFL.
Jeff Saturday, a former interim coach for the Colts, returns to ESPN’s ‘Get Up.’ “Baby, pancakes have returned!”
- Jeff Saturday reprises an old role.
- ESPN’s “Get Up” featured an enthusiastic return of the interim coach and former center for the Indianapolis Colts on Tuesday.
- When he fired coach Frank Reich for a 3-5-1 start the year before, Colts owner Jim Irsay hired him from ESPN on Saturday. The Colts lost seven games after their initial victory over Jeff Saturday.
- Although Jeff Saturday aspired to secure a full-time coaching position, the Colts instead appointed Shane Steichen, the former offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Is Jeff Saturday approaching his worst performance as an interim head coach in NFL history?
An examination of interim head instructors across different historical periods may reveal a lack of notable achievements. These individuals have, after all, assumed control of NFL teams whose head coach was dismissed during the season. The team was already experiencing unfavorable circumstances, and it is not reasonable to anticipate that an interim solution would promptly resolve all of its problems. However, it was a discussion I had with Chris Blystone (at which point I realized some inquiries required responses) that set the gears in my mind in motion.
At first, I harbored doubt that Jeff Saturday was the most dreadful head coach in history. Almost immediately, I realized that was not a reasonable query. Despite having coached in only five games in his tenure, his winning percentage is comparable to that of Hue Jackson and even higher than that of Marty Mornhinweg and Urban Meyer. However, it is important to note that the situations that precipitated Jackson and Mornhinweg’s appointments as head coaches in the NFL were significantly dissimilar. It was thus unfair to compare Jeff Saturday to actual, full-time head coaches. In its place, I visited pro-footballreference.com to examine all interim head coaches of comparable caliber since the 1970 merger of the AFL and NFL. The discovery I made was quite intriguing. No coaches who were retained after their tenure as interim head coaches are incorporated in this list. The purpose of this exercise is to identify the worst candidate; even if you perform poorly during your interim HC tenure, you cannot be the worst candidate of all time if you are appointed permanently. Excluding former HCs who were placed in transitory positions is contrary to the purpose of the exercise.
A mere four interim head coaches were unable to secure a victory in a game. Those coaches were as follows:
- 1977 Dick Modzelewki recorded a 0-1 record in the Cleveland Browns’ 20-19 loss at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks.
- 1984 Hal Hunter, Indianapolis Colts In a 16-10 loss to the New England Patriots, coached by Colts legend Raymond Berry, Hunter went 0-1.
- 1989 Ol’ Hank’s Phoenix Cardinals, under the leadership of Henry Kuhlmann, finished the season 0-5 and were 15.2 points per game behind their opponents. Particularly notable was a defeat to the Denver
- Broncos on December 16 by an ultimate score of 37-0. Brutal in nature.
- In 2016, when he replaced Jeff Fisher with the Los Angeles Rams, John Fassel was confronted with three division opponents. 24-3 to the Seattle Seahawks, the AFC West champions.
- The San Francisco 49ers then forced the dormant team to close before falling 22-21. In the end, the team fell to the Arizona Cardinals 44-6, despite the Cardinals having a top-15 defense and a top-10 offense and still managing to conclude with a 7-8-1 record. Following the rout in Week 17, John Fassel accumulated an average point deficit of -16.7. Horrible.
In closing,
Jeff Saturday, a former center in American football, has made a significant impact on the sport through his extraordinary tenure in the National Football League (NFL). Jeff Saturday is renowned for his exceptional abilities, exemplary leadership during games, and lasting contributions to the Indianapolis Colts. However, his influence transcends the realm of football. Both ardent supporters and aspiring athletes are aware of his influence as a key figure in the NFL. This examination of the life and impact of Jeff Saturday provides valuable insights into the commitment, perseverance, and fervor that epitomize an icon of athletics.
FAQs:
Q1. Describe Jeff Saturday.
A1: Jeff Saturday is a former American football center who played for the Indianapolis Colts and Green Bay Packers in the National Football League (NFL). On account of his extraordinary abilities, leadership, and contributions to the sport, he is universally acknowledged.
Q2: Which NFL organization did Jeff Saturday start his career with?
A2 Jeff Saturday was a member of the Indianapolis Colts for the duration of his NFL tenure. Additionally, he played briefly for the Green Bay Packers before he retired from the professional football league.
Q3: What are several professional accomplishments of Jeff Saturday?
A3: Jeffrey Saturday has earned two First-Team All-Pro honors and six Pro Bowl selections throughout his tenure. His contributions were pivotal in the success of the Indianapolis Colts, specifically in their triumphant appearance in Super Bowl XLI.
Q4. Jeff Saturday ceased playing professional football on what date?
A4: On January 25, 2013, Jeff Saturday formally declared his retirement from professional football.
Q5. Please describe Jeff Saturday’s career after football.
A5: Jeff Saturday has been active in diverse media positions since his retirement, one of which was as an NFL analyst. He has also participated in community service and philanthropic endeavors.
Q6: What was Jeff Saturday’s specific contribution to the Indianapolis Colts’ success?
Jeff Saturday was a pivotal member of the Indianapolis Colts, primarily due to his role as quarterback Peyton Manning’s primary center. His leadership and adeptness at operating the offensive line were pivotal factors in the triumph of the team.
Q7: Does Jeff Saturday participate in any philanthropic endeavors?
A7: Jeff Saturday is indeed recognized for his philanthropic endeavors. Beyond the football field, he has participated in charitable initiatives and community service, contributing to a variety of causes.
Q8. What is Jeff Saturday’s influence on the NFL and the football community as a whole?