Know the legendary coach Tony DungyPatero's friendship Rigoberto Sánchezcoexistence in the dressing room with stars like Jonathan Taylorand the advice and support of the organization integrate the memoir of what was the 2024 season for Diego Ortiz, Mexican coach of the Indianapolis Colts,
These memories and recommendations are the basis on which Diego Ortiz He relies for his second preseason with the team, aware that he still has a high learning roof in the NFL.
Unlike the years in which he collaborated with Texas Tech in the NCAA, Ortiz says that the level of precision, accuracy and care in detail were the main lessons he obtained in his first season, in which he was part of the trainers staff under the orders of the Head Coach Coach Shane sticks.
In exclusive interview for ESPN Digital During a recent visit to Mexico City, Diego Ortiz It also describes how the option was given to be re -entertaining by the Colts; how he prepared for the training field and how the season that starts this weekend.
A great change. I had been at the Collegiate Level at the University of Texas Tech for seven years, where I learned a lot, I grew a lot. I thought I worked very hard until I arrived at the NFL and I realized that I had to work three more times.
But very happy, with great joy of being with the Coltsof being able to be in the NFL, to be able to learn and continue learning from great coaches and to work with great people also there within the staff and the organization in general.
The NFL It is very focused on issues of cultural diversity and integration. Colts have a program that is unique to colts (called The Tony Dungy Diversity Fellowship), in which they have this type of opportunities and try to have more cultural diversity.
It is a position that opens year after year. Fortunately I could get it last year, and this year I was fortunate that they could retain one more year and they could offer me an extension of that same contract for the 2025 season.
I went from the third generation and it is the first time they extend a candidate, an employee, one more year, so I feel very lucky, really very grateful.
What were the most important moments in this adaptation to professionalism?
One knows that NFL It is the best football level worldwide. And one has the idea that work and workload will be consistent with the level of competition. The interesting thing is that you don't know how much it is until you get there.
And those were the big differences that I found when I arrived at the Colts: the level of precision, the level of accuracy, the level of care in detail in each house makes the difference with respect to the school level, because at the end of the day they are professionals, they are dedicated to this, the players live of this completely, they have no other responsibility, such as school or tasks or things like that.
That was like the greatest change, the level of detail, the level of accuracy and the level of precision and obviously the workload that becomes the greatest.
Were there things you felt that you improve now that you are coach of the NFL?
Yes, in everything. At the end of the day, although it is American football, both in collegial and professional, there are always different things to learn, there are always different ways of doing the same things, so it is something has caught my attention.
Since I was in Mexico, until I moved to Texas Techand then with the ColtsI have always wanted and the fascination to learn new things or different ways of doing them, which may be more efficient or better for me or for the team and simply add value. That is the formula of success basically in my opinion.
What comments did you receive regarding your work from the most experienced coaches?
The comment and feedback in general was that I had done a great job, that they had really liked how I had developed my skills during the year, basically telling me that if possible they would love to have me back, at that time they could not ensure anything and I understood it completely because it is the nature of the position.
A couple of weeks later, fortunately the opportunity was given, they could fix things to extend the contract and very grateful at the end of the day.
What characters throughout the season impressed you most to meet?
Al coach Tony Dungy. The program in which I am to take the position where I am named. I found it during the season in a visiting game where he was part of the broadcast. I saw him in the field in warming and I approached to introduce myself and talk with him about three minutes.
I discovered an excellent person, you realize how humble it is, how accessible it is despite how winner he has been and that he will be in the Hall of Fame. Despite this, he does not lose the floor and puts many things in perspective.
Another excellent person is the quarterback Joe Flaccowhich has been in the league for 20 years, has won Super Bowls And it is super simple, very accessible, super humble.
It happens the same with Jonathan Taylor. He is one of the best runners and he is someone who is always there, he is always with a smile, he greets you, hugs you. It is inexplicable that people of that guy who are used to watching on TV when you know them in person are so simple.
How was the 2024 season of the Colts in general?
It was a season of ups and downs, it cost us a little work, perhaps entering the start of the season. We had inconsistencies that at this level, with the level of athletes, one or two plays can make the difference, so you have to be very precise, you have to be very accurate. The goal of this year is first of all getting to playoffs, getting to playoffs and where we arrive.
How do you see the division struggle for 2025?
Anyone can win it. At the end of the day the teams change from one year to another, they reinforce, take rookies, free agents arrive and what a team could be very strong a year, perhaps the following year has lost many pieces and is in restructuring.
So everything is part of and at the end of the day the season is very long and you can be very well armed, but the injuries can reduce a team a lot. There are four very even teams, and the one who is enraified in the divisional games will be the one who makes the difference in their favor
Did you feel any reservation or rejection for your nationality or origin?
No not at all. As I said, the program is designed to promote cultural diversity. The entire organization and the entire coacheo staff, the players, are aligned under the same idea.
Fortunately I have a compatriot like Rigoberto Sánchez, which also speaks Spanish, which is very close to its Mexican roots.
The first thing Rigo told me was “I'm Mexican”! Rigo is always like Mexico's reference in the office. Now, everyone is fascinated by the idea that I am also from Mexico. It is amazing for them.
And obviously everyone shares comments that my story is incredible and all that kind of thing.
Have you become aware of what you are achieving in the most important professional league in the United States?
Well, it's something that I just talked with friends and my relatives recently. I think I have not yet sized the impact I can have or that I have been having since I moved from here, that I left everything behind in Mexico to move to Lubbock, Texas, to pursue a dream that at that time did not know whether it was possible or not. I just wanted to try.
Then I have always tried to focus on a day -to -day basis, take advantage and enjoy every day I have the opportunity to go to the office, to work, see football, do football, draw plays, go to the field. So I think I still don't really dimension the impact and magnitude and the scope that this has had. But I am very grateful for this and with a lot of responsibility now.
