Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano reportedly has doubts whether he will return to serve the team next year after their disappointing 20-7 Monday night home loss to the New York Jets in Week 2 of the 2015 NFL season.
Rumors of an ongoing rift between Pagano and Colts general manager Ryan Grigson had been swirling ever since the offseason began and it seems like Indianapolis' recent struggles are fanning it out into a boiling point as the partnership is not likely to continue next season, as per CBS Sports.
His comments with regards to starting quarterback Andrew Luck's four turnovers and other horrible plays after the Jets' game and the 0-2 start of last season's AFC South champions did not help douse the rumors of that beef and it now appears to be in the brink of dividing the team.
"That's been the case for three years now," said the 54-year-old coach after he was asked about Luck's bad on-field decisions, as reported by SB Nation. "Has it not? He should be more than comfortable dealing with what he's dealing with."
Pagano denied any intentions to criticize his player, but analysts perceived his jabs as not actually toward Luck, but a direct shot at how Grigson formed the team in the last three years.
Despite their differences, Pagano and Grigson are the architects of one of the best runs of any NFL team in league history. In their three years together since 2012, the Colts went 11-5 in all three regular seasons and has not missed the playoffs even once.