The Indianapolis Colts found their new defensive leader, as they announced the hiring of former Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo for the position on Tuesday.
Anarumo replaces the departed Gus Bradley, who was fired at the end of the season after Indianapolis’ defense collapsed down the stretch. Bradley was released from Frank Reich’s staff to be Shane Steichen’s DC, but lasted only two years with Steichen before parting ways.
Anarumo spent the last six seasons as Cincinnati’s defensive coordinator after coaching defensive backs with the Giants and Dolphins, and before that in college with Purdue, Marshall and Harvard. His units were extremely strong during the first few years of his tenure and he earned a reputation for creating custom game plans to help limit some of the NFL’s best quarterbacks.
However, their defenses took significant steps back in recent years as the available talent aged and atrophied. That culminated in the 2024 season, in which the Bengals ranked 25th in both yards and points allowed and the defense arguably cost them a shot at making the playoffs.
He will now head to Indianapolis where he will be tasked with working with players like Laiatu Latu, Kwity Paye, Zaire Franklin, Kenny Moore, DeForest Buckner, Grover Stewart, JuJu Brents and more. It’s not exactly the talent he had during the Bengals’ prime, but it’s more than what was on the field for the Bengals last season. And the Colts obviously hope the scheme versatility Anarumo brings to the table will do more for their defense than Bradley’s more static system.