Chuck Pagano, Ryan Grigson both receive extensions from Colts

The Indianapolis Colts tonight announced that head coach Chuck Pagano has signed a four-year contract extension that will keep him under contract with the franchise through the 2019 season.  Owner Jim Irsay said that general manager Ryan Grigson is "contractually tied" to Pagano, which he later confirmed meant an extension for Grigson as well.

Though no details are immediately available as the Colts aren't announcing anything yet, it was made very clear that Grigson's deal will run for the same timeframe as Pagano's, which would mean a three-year extension for Grigson (he had one year left on his deal previously).  That ties both Grigson and Pagano together for the next four years in Indianapolis.

Jim Irsay said that Pagano told him that the coach wants to be tied at the hip to Grigson, which was well-received by the owner.  Irsay said that he met with Grigson individually and then met with Pagano individually, and then Grigson and Pagano met together.  Irsay said that the two are on the same page and are moving forward in their pursuit of a championship.  Pagano noted tonight that they agree to disagree on some things but that the team always comes first, not what they individually want.

Irsay also emphatically denied that the rift between Pagano and Grigson is as bad as has been widely reported.  "If you think I'm going to let someone bully my head coach, you're wrong.  You don't know me.  Ryan's not that type of guy.  But if you think I'm going to have that in my organization, you're wrong.  And you don't know me.  That's not going to happen.  We're going to stay and be together."

It seems like a big risk for Jim Irsay to take in committing so much to Ryan Grigson and Chuck Pagano, but he's counting on both men figuring things out and being able to get along and work well together for the foreseeable future.  He's got so much confidence in it, in fact, that it sounds like he has extended both guys through the 2019 season.