It’s Official: Marchibroda Out as Coach of Colts in Dispute

Ted Marchibroda brought the Indianapolis Colts a measure of success and respectability, although not enough to save his job as coach.

Marchibroda, who took the Colts within one play of the Super Bowl, said Friday he will not return next season.

Bill Tobin, the team’s director of football operations, said two days ago that Marchibroda had rejected a one-year, $600,000 contract extension, which was then withdrawn. The pair met briefly Friday, and Marchibroda, who sought a two-year deal, said he was told “they were going to go in a different direction.”

“I had hoped to be a part of next season and I expected the Colts to be in the Super Bowl,” said Marchibroda, at 64 the NFL’s second-oldest head coach. “It was not meant to be.”

In a statement, Tobin said Marchibroda was relieved of his duties “due to an inability to reach a contract agreement.” But Marchibroda, who described himself as “disappointed,” said he thought Tobin had decided to replace him long ago.

Though Tobin said he has not chosen a successor, persistent reports have centered on offensive coordinator Lindy Infante, the former Green Bay coach who was out of football for three years before joining the Colts last season.