Colts hire Lou Anarumo as new DC, sources say

Stephen Holder, ESPNJanuary 20, 2025, 4:10pm ET

Close Stephen joined ESPN in 2022 to cover the Indianapolis Colts and the NFL in general. Stephen also won first place in column writing in the 2015 Indiana Associated Press Media Editor Contest and has also placed in the top 10 in expository journalism in the Associated Press Sports Editor National Contest. He has been covering the NFL since 2005, covering the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2005 to 2013 and the Colts since 2013. He previously worked at the Miami Herald, Tampa Bay Times, Indianapolis Star and The Athletic.

INDIANAPOLIS — The Colts are hiring former Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo to take over the same duties in Indianapolis, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday.

The Colts fired veteran coordinator Gus Bradley earlier this month in an effort to improve their defense after a disappointing season that saw them rank 29th in yards allowed per game (361.2).

Anarumo’s unit struggled in 2024, but he has put up some impressive defense in the past. Some of his accomplishments include the Bengals’ defensive performance in Super Bowl LVI, where his game plan was seen as a key factor in the team’s success, even though the Rams won 23-20. It had been. He famously concocted a plan that sabotaged the Kansas City Chiefs and quarterback Patrick Mahomes in the AFC Championship Game that season.

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Colts officials cited Anarumo’s versatile defensive abilities as appealing to the team. The 58-year-old differs from Bradley in other ways as well, including Anarumo’s tendency to fake coverage and a more aggressive approach than the Colts have employed in recent years.

While Bradley was known for running a similar attack week after week, Anarumo often adjusted his game plan to suit his opponent in order to exploit weaknesses in the offense.

The Colts also interviewed other candidates, including former New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen, who is a top candidate to join new Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson’s staff as defensive coordinator, officials said. told Schefter.

Anarumo’s six-year tenure in Cincinnati ended on a disappointing note, with the Bengals finishing 2024 ranking 26th in points per drive and 30th in red zone efficiency. But the Colts are looking for a change after their own struggles and are hoping a change in philosophy will help.

Star defensive tackle DeForest Buckner said at the end of the season, “This was definitely the worst year defensively since I’ve been a Colt.”

“You saw glimpses of us playing at a high level and playing defense. Then we played some offense that wasn’t very good, and all of a sudden we were like, ‘What happened?’