Reich wants to return to coaching: 'I love everything about the game'

The Indianapolis Colts fired Frank Reich from his first head coaching job on Monday after posting a 40-33-1 record over four-and-a-half seasons.

Reich emphasized Tuesday that he would one day like to return to the sidelines.

"I think you keep all your options open," Reich told Mike Chappell of Fox 59. "Obviously, my desire is to be a head coach. I love the game. I love everything about the game, so you keep all of your options open."

The Colts fell 26-3 to the New England Patriots on Sunday, marking their third straight loss and dropping their record to 3-5-1. They also failed to eclipse 17 points in each game.

"I don't know what to say about that," Reich told Chappell when asked if he saw the firing coming. "I felt certain things, but I try to have blinders on and just go get prepared and go try to win the next game."

Colts owner Jim Irsay called Reich at around 10:45 a.m. to tell him the team was letting him go since the executive wasn't available for a face-to-face, Chappell added.

"I've seen things go from bad to worse, and I thought it was time and it was necessary to make the change," Irsay said about moving on from Reich.

Indianapolis named Jeff Saturday as the interim head coach on Monday. Saturday has no NFL head coaching experience.

"There's disappointment and hurt," Reich said, according to Chappell. "It hurts. It hurts to have it happen in the middle of the season.

"But I understand the business side of things. I have a tremendous amount of respect for Mr. Irsay, and I've come to trust his instincts and his knowledge of the game. I just know he's doing what he thinks is best for the team."

Reich was hired in 2018 after spending two seasons as the Philadelphia Eagles' offensive coordinator. He won a Super Bowl with the Eagles in 2017.