Say what you will about Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, but he has done a good job with a banged-up Indy defense this season. While his career numbers don't impress, his scheme has been effective against really good quarterbacks, such as Patrick Mahomes.
Should Anarumo be a head coach? That is up for some NFL team to say, of course. The coach has been a defensive coordinator in the league for eight seasons, and in none of those seasons has his unit ranked higher than 16th in yards allowed. In six of those seasons, his defenses have ranked 23rd (which is this year) or worse.
Has the DC proven that he is so great at leading one half of a team that he should have a chance at leading the full version? Some might believe so.
Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo linked to vacant New York Giants head coaching job
According to NFL insider Josina Anderson, one team that might be interested in having a serious discussion with Anarumo about their head coaching vacancy is the New York Giants. Anarumo has a natural connection to the Giants as he and general manager Joe Schoen worked together with the Miami Dolphins in the mid-1990s.
Indianapolis's DC also interviewed for the Giants' head coaching job in 2022 while Schoen was the GM. New York not having interest in Indy's defensive coordinator would be odd.
But while every coordinator might hope to be a head coach in the NFL, if Lou Anarumo is offered the job with the Giants, he would be wise to turn it down. Both New York football organizations are a complete mess. Whoever takes the Giants' job is simply taking it to be fired in a few seasons.
Plus, as Anarumo has never had a defense that has been one of the best in the league, there is no reason he would suddenly improve the Giants' D. New York has a promising rookie quarterback, but the team overall has a massive lack of talent.
While Joe Schoen might not be terminated by New York, many fans hope he will be. The Giants have not been good under his leadership. If Anarumo is hired as the head coach and then Schoen is fired somewhat soon thereafter, the Colts' current DC would probably be looking for a new job pretty soon after that.
Hopefully, Lou Anarumo sticks with the Indianapolis Colts and helps make a talented, when healthy, defense great. Indy might need to start over at defensive coordinator this coming offseason if Josina Anderson is correct.