Jeff Saturday facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Jeff Saturday

Saturday in 2022
No. 63
Position:	Center
Personal information
Born:	(1975-06-18) June 18, 1975 (age 50) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:	295 lb (134 kg)
Career information
High school:	Shamrock (Tucker, Georgia)
College:	North Carolina (1993–1997)
Undrafted:	1998
Career history
As player:
Baltimore Ravens (1998)* Indianapolis Colts (1999) Green Bay Packers (2012)
As coach:
Hebron Christian Academy (GA) (2017–2020) Head coach Indianapolis Colts (2022) Interim head coach
Career highlights and awards
Super Bowl champion (XLI) 2× First-team All-Pro (2005, 2007) 2× Second-team All-Pro (2006, 2009) 6× Pro Bowl (2005–2007, 2009, 2010, 2012) NFL Alumni Offensive Lineman of the Year (2007) Indianapolis Colts Ring of Honor (2015) 2× First-team All-ACC (1996, 1997)
Career NFL statistics
Games played: 211 Games started: 202 Fumble recoveries: 11
Head coaching record
Regular season:	NFL: 1–7 (.125) High school: 24–23 (.511)
Career:	25–30 (.455)
Player stats at PFR
Coaching stats at PFR

Jeffrey Bryant Saturday (born June 18, 1975) is a former American football player and coach. He played as a center in the National Football League (NFL). He is best known for his time with the Indianapolis Colts. Jeff Saturday was chosen for the Pro Bowl six times. He also won a Super Bowl championship with the Colts.

Saturday played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels. He joined the Baltimore Ravens in 1998 but did not play any games. He then signed with the Indianapolis Colts. He played 13 seasons with the Colts. During this time, he won Super Bowl XLI against the Chicago Bears. He was also named to the All-Pro team four times and the Pro Bowl five times. In his last NFL season, he played for the Green Bay Packers. He made his sixth Pro Bowl while with the Packers. After retiring, Saturday became a sports analyst for ESPN. He also served as the interim head coach for the Colts for part of the 2022 season.

Early Life and High School Football

Jeff Saturday was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He went to Shamrock High School in Decatur, Georgia. This was in 1993.

His high school coach, Ron Gartrell, said that Jeff was a key player. "Eighty percent of our offense was behind Jeff," Gartrell explained. He also said that college coaches thought Jeff was too short. This was for playing in the Southeastern Conference. However, he received a scholarship to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. This was partly because of his coach's friendship with UNC's defensive coordinator.

College Football Career

Saturday received a scholarship to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He played for the North Carolina Tar Heels football team from 1994 to 1997. He was a team captain in 1996 and 1997. He was recognized as a top player in his conference. He was named first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in 1996 and 1997. He also earned Academic All-ACC honors in 1997.

Professional Football Career

Jeff Saturday was seen as a good center for the 1998 NFL draft. He was described as someone who worked hard to improve. However, some thought he was too small for certain defensive players. He was not chosen by any team in the draft. The Baltimore Ravens signed him as a free agent in April 1998. But they released him in June 1998. After that, he worked at an electrical supply store.

Joining the Indianapolis Colts

Saturday in 2010

The Indianapolis Colts became interested in Saturday in 1998. This happened because his college teammate, Nate Hobgood-Chittick, told the Colts about him. Hobgood-Chittick convinced the Colts to give Saturday a tryout.

The Colts signed Saturday in January 1999. In his first year, he was a backup player. He got his first NFL start as a left guard in November 1999. After only two starts in 1999, Saturday became the starting center. He started all 16 games in the 2000 season. He then started 85 games in a row. He missed two games in December 2004 due to an injury. Saturday was the Colts' starting center for 12 seasons. He was a key part of their offensive line. This line helped the Colts' quarterback avoid being tackled often.

The Colts won at least 10 games for five years in a row. But they could not reach the Super Bowl. In 2006, the Colts had a great season. They went 12–4 and made the playoffs. On January 21, 2007, Saturday helped the Colts win the AFC Championship Game. He recovered a teammate's fumble in the end zone for a touchdown. He also made a crucial block for the game-winning touchdown run. Two weeks later, Saturday helped the Colts win Super Bowl XLI. They defeated the Chicago Bears.

In 2009, Saturday signed a new contract with the Colts. He played 188 games and started 197 games for the Colts. He became a free agent after the 2011 season.

Playing for the Green Bay Packers

Saturday at the 2013 Pro Bowl

Saturday signed a two-year deal with the Green Bay Packers in March 2012. He had a mixed season with the Packers. He was benched in December 2012. However, he was still chosen as a backup center for the NFC in the 2013 Pro Bowl. In the Pro Bowl, Saturday and his longtime teammate Peyton Manning shared a final play together. This was special because they were on different teams.

Retirement from Football

Saturday hosting an Indianapolis Colts fan event in May 2019.

On January 25, 2013, Saturday announced he would retire. This was after the 2013 Pro Bowl game. On March 7, 2013, he signed a special one-day contract with the Colts. This allowed him to officially retire as a player for the team where he spent most of his career.

Awards and Achievements

Saturday was selected to six Pro Bowl teams. These were in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, and 2012. He was named to the NFL All-Pro First-team in 2005 and 2007. He also received the Offensive Lineman of the Year award in 2007.

Saturday was honored by the Indianapolis Colts. He was inducted into the Indianapolis Colts Ring of Honor in September 2015. He was also inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 2017.

NFL Career Statistics

Coaching Career

High School Coaching

On January 20, 2017, Saturday became the head coach at Hebron Christian Academy. This school is in Dacula, Georgia.

He resigned from this position on February 14, 2020. During his time there, his team had a record of 20 wins and 16 losses. They made the playoffs every year. They won three playoff games, reaching the state quarterfinals in 2019.

Coaching the Indianapolis Colts

On November 7, 2022, the Indianapolis Colts named Saturday their interim head coach. This happened after the team fired their previous coach, Frank Reich. The decision surprised many people. Some former NFL coaches and players criticized the move. This was because Saturday had no coaching experience beyond high school.

Colts owner Jim Irsay defended the choice. He said Saturday could stay as head coach after 2022. The Colts had tried to hire Saturday for coaching roles before.

Saturday's first game as head coach was against the Las Vegas Raiders. The Colts won this game 25–20.

On December 17, 2022, Saturday's Colts team lost to the Minnesota Vikings. The score was 39–36. The Colts had a 33-point lead in this game. This became the largest lead ever lost in NFL history. Interestingly, Frank Reich, the coach Saturday replaced, was the quarterback who led a famous comeback victory in 1992.

In February 2023, the Colts hired Shane Steichen as their new head coach. Saturday returned to his role at ESPN.

Head Coaching Record

NFL Coaching Record

* Interim head coach

High School Coaching Record

Personal Life

Saturday (left) and Herm Edwards on NFL Live in 2017

Saturday is part of the executive committee for the National Football League Players' Association. He was a key person in creating the 2011 agreement between the NFL and its players. Saturday joined ESPN in 2013. He appeared on shows like NFL Live and SportsCenter.

Saturday's oldest son, Jeffrey, played wide receiver for the North Carolina Tar Heels football team. He played from 2019 to 2022.