The influence of coordinator Tom Moore and line coach Howard Mudd on the Indianapolis Colts offense will continue. Yet to be determined, though, is precisely when it resumes.

Owner Jim Irsay confirmed Wednesday he plans to bring back Moore and Mudd, each of whom retired last week because of concerns with the NFL’s pension program. They are expected to return as consultants, perhaps by the start of training camp, which opens Aug. 2.

“We don’t have any signed agreements, but I do believe all parties feel Tom and Howard would play significant roles for us moving forward and they would be consultants,‘’ Irsay said in a telephone interview during a break from the NFL owners meetings in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. "They not only would be a major part of what we’re trying to do in ‘09, but they’d continue to mentor and tutor some of the other coaches.’’

The timetable remains uncertain.

According to Larry Kennan, executive director of the NFL coaches association, Mudd, 67, is under the impression a retired coach must wait six months from the time he files his retirement documents to assume a paid consultant’s role. That would make it mid-November before he and Moore, 70, could return. It might be possible for them to return earlier as unpaid consultants until they were allowed to be added to the team’s payroll.

The Colts maintain Moore and Mudd can be rehired as paid consultants Aug. 1.

“The goal’s going to be to get these guys back in training camp and get them ready for the year and have them play a serious role,” Irsay said.

Moore and Mudd have been on the Colts’ staff since 1998 and been instrumental in the offense ranking No. 1 in virtually every statistical category the past 11 seasons.