Assessing The Colts’ Acquisition Of QB Jack Coan

After tight end Jack Doyle retired following the 2021 NFL season, another Jack hopes to make make it big with the Indianapolis Colts.

It’s none other than former Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Jack Coan.

Coan signed with the Colts as an undrafted free agent last week.

It turned out he’s remaining in the Hoosier State after a stellar season in South Bend.

Coan, a graduate transfer from the Wisconsin Badgers, sat out the entire 2020 NCAA campaign due to injury.

He came back in spectacular fashion with 3,150 passing yards and 25 touchdowns in his lone campaign with the Irish in 2021.

Coan concluded his college football career with 509 passing yards and five touchdown passes in Notre Dame’s 37-35 loss to the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the Fiesta Bowl.

The Indianapolis Colts are signing Notre Dame QB Jack Coan, per @TomPelissero.

83.5 PFF grade in 2021 (best by a Notre Dame QB since 2014) 🍀 pic.twitter.com/ivOhXIuA7U

— PFF College (@PFF_College) April 30, 2022

Could Coan follow in the footsteps of Dominic Rhodes, Gary Brackett, and Doyle as another successful undrafted Colts free agent?

That is an intriguing possibility.

Jack Coan Adds Youth And Depth To The Colts’ QB Corps

37-year-old Matt Ryan isn’t the long-term answer at quarterback for the Colts.

Nevertheless, he should help Indy return to postseason contention after last season’s disappointing finish.

When his time is up in Indianapolis, it isn’t hard to imagine Coan taking over the reins.

Coan will give Sam Ehlinger stiff competition for the No. 2 quarterback spot in 2022.

It will be close, but the nod could go to Coan.

The Colts showed apprehension about playing Ehlinger last season.

They even toyed with the idea of signing Philip Rivers again when they placed Carson Wentz on the COVID-19 reserve list.

Coan’s biggest assets – his accuracy and pocket presence – will serve him well in his pro football career.

He should not only make the Colts regular-season roster, but he’ll also become Ryan’s understudy for the next few years.

Could Jack Coan Become The Long-Term Solution At QB?

Coan has the intangibles to excel at the NFL level.

However, he must work on his ability to throw under heavy duress.

Coan must also improve his scrambling prowess so he could elude sacks.

Learning from 15-year veteran and 2016 NFL MVP Matt Ryan should also serve Coan well over the long haul.

Barring any serious injuries, Coan will become a serviceable backup quarterback for the Colts.

Former #NFL QB Matt Simms has trained Sayville's Jack Coan for 3 years. Simms believes Jack's path to the NFL could end up being like…Tom Brady's. More tonight on @News12LI at 5pm. @N12Sports @coachsands2 @MikeCoan17 @rhoss14 pic.twitter.com/gjOKYFqagN

— Kevin Maher (@KMaherNews12) April 27, 2022

Will he take over the reins once Ryan hangs up his cleats?

That’s another intriguing possibility.

For now, his focus is making the Colts’ regular-season roster.

Watching him emerge into a reliable NFL quarterback playing with his former Wisconsin Badgers teammate Jonathan Taylor should be fun, to say the least.