The sword of blame has landed on Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich.

The Colts fired Reich on Monday, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero

 reported, per a source informed of the decision. The club later 

confirmed the news.

It's the third major move in as many weeks for a struggling Indy squad that 

came into the season with postseason aspirations, but faltered to 3-5-1 

after its third consecutive defeat Sunday in a blowout loss to New England.

In a surprising twist, the Colts on Monday named former All-Pro offensive

 lineman Jeff Saturday as interim head coach. Saturday played in 

Indianapolis from 1999 to 2011 and has served as a team consultant over

 the past few years, per the team. He does not have any NFL coaching 

experience.

Indy will hold a 6 p.m. ET news conference with owner Jim Irsay, general 

manager Chris Ballard and Saturday.

Reich was hired in 2018 following the Colts getting spurned by then-Patriots

 offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. He immediately helped the Colts 

make the postseason with a 10-6 record in his first season. But the revolving

 door at quarterback that began with Andrew Luck's sudden retirement

 became Reich's undoing.

Monday's firing is the first time in Irsay's 25 years as Colts owner he's

 dismissed a coach during a season. Just over a week ago, NFL Network

 Insider Ian Rapoport reported that Reich's job was considered "safe.

" However, that sentiment quickly changed following a 26-3 loss to New 

England.

Reich becomes the second head coach in the NFL to be fired in-season,

 joining the Panthers' Matt Rhule on the unemployment line.

Reich generated a 40-33-1 regular-season record in four and a half seasons

 in Indy with a 1-2 postseason record.

The instability under center became the coach's undoing. The Colts have

 started seven QBs in Reich's tenure, including Luck (16 games), Jacoby Brissett (15), Brian Hoyer (one), Philip Rivers (16), Carson Wentz (17), Matt Ryan (seven) and Sam Ehlinger (two).

In the previous two weeks, Reich made moves to jumpstart a woebegone offense, benching Ryan in favor of sixth-round Ehlinger and firing offensive

 coordinator Marcus Brady. Neither move paid off.

With Reich out in Indy, the question becomes whether Ballard will be the

 man selecting the next coach or whether Irsay will elect to sweep out the 

entire front office as well.

Indianapolis Colts fire coach Frank 

Reich

INDIANAPOLIS — The Colts have fired head coach Frank Reich, the team announced

 Monday, ending the 60-year-old coach’s tenure a little more than one season after 

extending Reich’s contract through the 2026 season.

Former Colts center Jeff Saturday has been named the interim coach.

Reich, who was the team’s second choice for the job in 2018 after Josh McDaniels

 backed out on the job, initially got off to a fast start in Indianapolis, first by guiding

 Andrew Luck and the Colts to the playoffs after a 1-5 start in his first season, then for 

getting the Colts back to the playoffs in 2020, just one season after Luck’s shocking 

retirement.

Say what!? Colts name Jeff Saturday interim head coach in shocking move

Doyel:If Frank Reich had to go, and he did, so does Chris Ballard