Miami Dolphins

Clyde Christensen: 'The timing was right' to move on from Indianapolis

Published Jan. 21, 2016 11:46 a.m. ET

foxsports

After a 14-year run that began under former head coach Tony Dungy, Clyde Christensen decided it was finally time to move from the Indianapolis Colts.

Christensen, who joined the Colts in 2002 and spent the past four seasons as the team's quarterbacks coach, was named offensive coordinator of the Miami Dolphins this week.

The 59-year-old said the decision to leave Indianapolis was a difficult one.

Via the Indianapolis Star:

"I always saw myself finishing my career here," Christensen said.

"I just feel the timing was right. (Quarterback) Andrew (Luck) is in a great place. (Head coach) Chuck (Pagano) has a new contract and he's going to be here. I really do love everything about my job. I don't have a great answer. But it was a really, really tough decision."

As he leaves, Christensen said he feels Luck will benefit in the long run from his injured-filled 2015 season. The star quarterback appeared in seven games before being sidelined for the season with a lacerated kidney and partially torn abdominal muscle in November. He also missed two games earlier in the year with injuries to his shoulder and ribs.

"We made a point to emphasize that this would not be a wasted year," Christensen said. "I look at it like this was the last year of undergrad work for him. He'd experienced everything but a physical injury. So, this was an important year. Anyone who thinks this year didn't help him just doesn't understand. He learned so much. One of Peyton's key years was the year he was hurt. He grew as a husband and a family man and teammate. This year will propel Andrew."

After four seasons helping Luck become one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL, Christensen will now turn his attention to mentoring Miami quarterback Ryan Tannehill. The eighth overall pick in the 2012 draft, Tannehill has struggled with consistency during his first four years in the league.