Sources have revealed that, after a weeks-long search for their next defensive coordinator, the Indianapolis Colts have selected Lou Anarumo.
While general manager Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen were spared the ax at the end of the 2024 season, defensive coordinator Gus Bradley was quickly let go. It was a decision that fans and analysts uniformly celebrated, as under Bradley, the Colts had one of the worst defenses in the NFL.
The Colts considered five different candidates for Bradley's replacement, and they were a fairly varied bunch:
•Steve Wilks
•Lou Anarumo
•Dennis Allen
•Wink Martindale
•Ephraim Banda
Whether he was their first choice or not, Allen was quickly ruled out, as he is expected to join Ben Johnson in Chicago. Not much else was known about the Colts' defensive coordinator search until this afternoon, when sources said their pick was Anarumo of the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Colts are hiring former Bengals DC Lou Anarumo to the same position on Shane Steichen’s staff, sources tell @MikeSilver and me.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) January 20, 2025
Anarumo takes over for Gus Bradley, who spent three years leading Indy’s defense. pic.twitter.com/860Dj8sbZU
Anarumo was hired in 2019, and under his leadership, the defense was notably able to hold the Kansas City Chiefs to just one field goal in the second half of the 2021 AFC Championship Game. In overtime, they then forced an interception that led to a Bengals victory, and a trip to the Super Bowl. They lost to the Los Angeles Rams by just three points.
The Bengals defense has suffered in recent years, particularly after losing some of their key defenders, and Anarumo was let go at the end of the 2024 season, like Bradley. Many, like the Kelce brothers, felt the firing was unfair, and that Anarumo was a scapegoat for the Bengals' problems.
Travis and Jason Kelce on the Lou Anarumo firing:
— Noah Compton (@nerlens_) January 20, 2025
“I don't know what the f--k is going on over there.”
“I don't think they had the horses on defense that they've had in the past and Lou got handcuffed…He's proven how good of a DC he is with good players.”
🎥: @newheightshow pic.twitter.com/sC5TD2U8R6
Anarumo would be a drastic difference for the Colts defense from what they had under Bradley, who favored simplicity and consistency in his schemes. Anarumo is known for having much more complexity and versatility than Bradley, and in particular, giving his defense the ability to change the scheme each week depending on who their opponent is. He has that in common with how head coach Shane Steichen runs his offense, which very well might be why he was chosen, to serve as a complement to Steichen and offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter.
Throughout his history as a defensive coach, Anarumo has been known for building strong units able to put a stop to even the best quarterbacks.