According to ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg, Indianapolis Colts veteran defensive line coach Charlie Partridge will be joining Notre Dame football head coach Marcus Freeman’s defensive coaching staff next year:
Partridge had just finished his second season as Colts’ defensive line coach.
However, having come over from the University of Pittsburgh in 2023, where he had previously been since 2018, it’s possible the veteran college defensive line coach—with over 26 years of collegiate experience, wanted to get back to coaching college football again—and at one of the nation’s premier football programs at that.
On the other hand, given the Colts’ lack of defensive line pass rushing production this year, it’s possible that Indianapolis may have been looking to make an imminent change under veteran defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo regardless. That is, if Anarumo and his defensive coaching staff remain in Indianapolis past 2025.
Partridge was in his current Colts role prior to Anarumo’s arrival, so he wasn’t exactly hand-picked by him by any means. Coupled with the lack of defensive line production, and a break-up may have been coming in Indianapolis regardless. Partridge leaving for Notre Dame before any formal decision is made means he gets to leave on his own terms, and it’s a cleaner split in Indianapolis for both sides.
It’s worth noting that Matt Raich currently serves as senior assistant defensive line coach alongside Partridge, which he has for the past two seasons.
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