The Indianapolis Colts have parted ways with coach Frank Reich, the NFL team announced Monday.   

  Former Colts Pro Bowl center and Super Bowl winner Jeff Saturday was named interim coach.   

  He has been an analyst for ESPN since 2013 and has also been a consultant for the Colts in recent years.   

  Saturday didn’t coach at the college or NFL level.   

  “He’s the best man for the job, there’s no question about that in my mind,” Colts owner and CEO Jim Irsay said at a news conference.  “First of all, he’s extremely tough and he’s a leader.  When you’re looking for coaches, leadership is No. 1.”   

  Irsay also said Saturday, who played for the Colts from 1999-2011 before spending one final season in Green Bay is “very smart, that’s very important.  You must be a big thinker.  You have to be able to work with people.”   

  His interim coach “knows this game inside and out,” he assured reporters.   

  On Saturday, 47, said he was surprised to be the first choice for the role over some of the current staff members who have coaching experience.   

  “Shocked would be an understatement,” he told reporters of the late-night phone call from Irsay.  “I feel fully capable.  Excited for the opportunity.  … But I have no preconceived notions that I will become something spectacular.  I know I have to work hard.  ”   

  On Saturday, he compared the expectations to when he entered the NFL after going undrafted despite being a two-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference player at the University of North Carolina.   

  Saturday signed with the Baltimore Ravens in 1998 but was cut before the season.  Saturday then worked at an electrical supply store before signing with the Colts before the 1999 season. He eventually became a two-time first-team All-Pro and was on the 2006 Super Bowl-winning team.   

  “This is the big part of my career, I came in (in 1999), nobody expected anything, I’m here (as a coach), nobody expects anything.  If it goes well, hopefully it will do extremely well,” he said.   

  Reich, who was in his fifth season with the Colts, compiled a record of 40-33-1 in the regular season and 1-2 in the playoffs.   

  “We have players that are pretty good,” Reich said Sunday after a 23-point loss to the New England Patriots.  “I have to do a better job.  It starts with me on offense.  I’ve got to do a better job of getting guys ready to play, putting guys in good position to win and having answers when we’re in trouble.”   

  According to ESPN, the Colts are last in the NFL with just 14.7 points per game.   

  The Colts – who are 3-5-1 on the year – have lost three straight games.  Their next game is on the road against the 2-6 Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.