INDIANAPOLIS — Reggie Wayne loves every part about his South Florida way of life. He lives for the poolside cigars, the year-round solar and lazy days on the seaside.
All of that makes it comprehensible that the previous Indianapolis Colts All-Professional receiver resisted the urge to embark on a training profession for therefore lengthy after retiring following the 2015 season. It additionally makes it shocking that he turned down an opportunity to renew that sun-kissed way of life, even after a rocky first season teaching Indianapolis’ vast receivers in 2022 — a season that included simply 4 wins and the firing of the coach who employed him, Frank Reich.
And, but, Wayne very a lot wished one other shot.
“I had some unfinished enterprise,” Wayne mentioned. “I actually felt like I underachieved as a coach, and simply felt like I can do higher.”
That is why when Shane Steichen was employed because the Colts’ new head coach in February, Wayne welcomed the chance to share with Steichen his imaginative and prescient for a way he may contribute — as long as the brand new coach would have him.
Someday, as Steichen was assembling his new employees, he summoned Wayne for a chat.
“He mentioned, ‘Hey, let me speak to you,'” Wayne recalled. “It was two hours later and I used to be like, ‘Was that an interview?’ I actually did not know on the time. I mentioned, ‘I hope I aced this.'”
Seems, it was, certainly, an interview. And Steichen heard simply what he wanted. Now Wayne is one among simply two holdovers from Reich’s employees among the many eight offensive assistants underneath Steichen. The opposite holdover, high quality management coach Brian Bratton, is, successfully, Wayne’s assistant receivers coach.
The brand new employees is credited with serving to the Colts (7-5) climb into playoff rivalry. The Colts received their fourth straight Sunday, beating the Tennessee Titans 31-28 in Nashville. The sport featured Michael Pittman Jr. (105 receiving yards) and Alec Pierce (100) turning into the primary pair of Colts pass-catchers to eclipse 100 receiving yards in the identical sport within the final 10 seasons, in keeping with ESPN Stats & Info. The final pair of Colts pass-catchers to take action was Donte Moncrief (134) and Coby Fleener (127) in opposition to Washington in November 2014.
Pittman is the third participant in franchise historical past to document at the very least 10 receptions and 100 receiving yards in consecutive video games. He joins Corridor-of-Famers Marvin Harrison (two straight in 2002) and Raymond Berry (two straight in 1959).
“It is a complete totally different transition from being a participant to a coach,” Steichen mentioned. “Simply the totally different operations, the each day operations. You may see the expansion from Reggie.”
Wayne, a four-time finalist for the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame and a semifinalist this yr, wants no introduction as a participant. His 14,345 profession receiving yards rank simply behind Harrison’s 14,580. Wayne’s extraordinary postseason accomplishments make him one of many all-time playoff performers, rating within the high 10 in postseason receptions, receiving yards and landing catches.
“When a man has had that a lot success on this group as a participant, that carries quite a lot of weight,” Steichen mentioned.
However none of it ensures success as a coach. And Wayne did not know what he did not know till he took the plunge.
“I received [hired] per week after the mix [in March 2022],” mentioned Wayne, 45. “They did not give me no rattling template. They did not give me nothing. They mentioned, ‘Right here you go. This is some movie. Go consider these [prospects] and we’ll discuss it later.’ I am like, ‘Um, all proper.'”
That abrupt immersion was adopted by a chaotic season. The Colts completed 4-12-1, Reich was fired and former Colts middle Jeff Saturday — plucked from the ESPN’s studios the place he was working as an analyst — was stunningly put in because the interim head coach. Wayne’s head was left spinning.
He took a while off after the season and contemplated his future. The 2001 Colts first-round choose performed his school ball at Miami and has made South Florida his eternally house. Wayne spent his post-NFL days enjoyable within the solar and immersing himself in an ever-growing classic-car assortment. Returning to all of it would not have been the worst factor.
However via all of it, he felt like he may see indications of his impression. He helped Pittman to a career-high 99 catches final season regardless of taking part in with three totally different beginning quarterbacks. And tutoring younger gamers like Pierce a rookie final season, reminded Wayne of why the job appealed to him within the first place.
Pierce had the largest day of his profession on Sunday, catching three passes for 100 yards, together with a 55-yard reception to arrange the game-winning landing. It was a well timed efficiency that got here after months of Wayne imploring Pierce to remain affected person regardless of the sluggish begin to his profession. Wayne even recalled his personal expertise as a participant when counseling Pierce, recounting how Harrison was focused an astounding 205 instances in 2002, leaving treasured few alternatives for Wayne.
Generally the trainer can be taught as effectively. #Colts pic.twitter.com/0hGOILs3pW
— Reggie Wayne (@ReggieWayne_17) December 1, 2023
“He was saying, ‘[Harrison] would get 15 targets a sport and I would get three or 4,'” Pierce saidof Wayne. “So, he understands how it’s, and it has been nice having him in my nook to type of speak via issues.”
Cato June, a former Colts linebacker and, now, the crew’s assistant linebackers coach, had a novel perspective on Wayne’s predicament. June went into teaching quickly after his profession ended and has labored his method up from the highschool ranks to varsity ball to the NFL. He is been a detailed pal of Wayne’s for years and have become a sounding board for Wayne as he started contemplating the thought of teaching.
Soccer, June mentioned, turns into a significant a part of your id whenever you play at a excessive degree. Teaching, for individuals who are constructed for it, permits you to keep linked to the sport in a method that few roles can.
“[Football] is part of your complete total life and make-up,” June mentioned. “After which whenever you’re out of it, that is the adjustment… I feel getting again into it’s the straightforward half. Now, you are in a position to have an effect on the sport, however otherwise.”
And Wayne is getting that probability in a broader style this yr. Among the many interesting issues Steichen mentioned was that he’d enable Wayne to have a higher voice. Wayne is fortunately leaning into that. That was evidenced, for instance, by his robust advocacy for the Colts to draft receiver Josh Downs. The crew chosen him within the third spherical and Downs has emerged as one among this season’s high rookie wideouts.
In fact, if issues hadn’t labored out between Wayne and Steichen, Wayne had an honest backup plan. However he is hardly upset that Plan A labored out.
“I simply wished him to assist elevate my worth,” Wayne mentioned of Steichen. “And if that wasn’t a part of his plan, hey, I am going to return and get on my boat. I simply wished to grow to be a greater trainer and I wished him to assist me with that.
“Throughout, I feel I am a greater coach.”
