Colts hiring Justin Hamilton to defensive coaching staff

The Indianapolis Colts are hiring Justin Hamilton in the role of assistant defensive backs coach, per a report Tuesday night.

Hamilton will replace Mike Mitchell after the front office opted against renewing the latter’s contract.

The news was first reported Tuesday night by James Boyd of The Athletic.

The #Colts are also hiring Justin Hamilton as their new assistant DBs coach, per a league source. He was a defensive quality control coach for the #Titans during the 2023 season.

Hamilton will replace Mike Mitchell, whose contract was not renewed this offseason.

— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) February 7, 2024

With Hamilton being hired, the Colts now have filled two vacated coaching roles this offseason. The organization also did not renew the contract of defensive line coach Nate Ollie, who then was replaced by Charlie Partridge.

Hamilton, 41, played at Virginia Tech and was a seventh-round pick (No. 222 overall) in the 2006 NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns. He spent his rookie season in Cleveland and was waived before the 2007 season. He spent half of the 2008 season with the Washington Redskins before being cut.

Hamilton got into coaching as the defensive coordinator at the Univerisity of Virginia-Wise for three seasons (2011-2013). He then was hired as the outside linebackers and co-special teams coach at VMI (2014-2016) before switching to inside linebackers (2017).

Hamilton continued his career at Virginia Tech, serving as the director of player development on defense (2018), then as the safeties coach (2019) and then finally as the defensive coordinator and safeties coach for two seasons (2020-2021).

He got his first taste of NFL coaching when he was hired by the Tennessee Titans as a defensive quality control coach in 2023.