Lou Anarumo has only been with the Indianapolis Colts for two offseasons, but it's become crystal clear that he's got Chris Ballard's ear. In the span of a year, he's already got the general manager to sign five of his former players (six if you count Xavien Howard from when he was a defensive backs coach in Miami).
The Colts signed linebackers Joe Bachie and Germaine Pratt, and cornerback Mike Hughes, last offseason, and none of those moves turned out well. Now, the team has doubled down on that approach in the early stages of free agency by reuniting Anarumo with two other former players: LB Akeem Davis-Gaither and CB Cam Taylor-Britt.
The former has a chance to start for the Colts' decimated linebackers corps, and he was actually pretty solid under Anarumo's guidance. The latter might be more of a rotational contributor. Whatever the case, one thing's for sure: There's no room for excuses on defense.
Lou Anarumo's Indianapolis Colts defense will have to deliver in 2026
To say that Anarumo's first year in charge of the defense was disappointing would be a huge understatement. The Colts finished 23rd in total yards given up per game (364.4), tied 20th in points allowed per game (24.2), and gave up the second-most passing yards per game (247.9).
They ranked seventh against the run (101.9 rushing yards per game) and had the fifth-best defensive DVOA in the game (-0.6%), but it still wasn't good enough to keep the playoff hopes alive.
Anarumo has earned a reputation for having a sharp defensive mind and running a complex defensive scheme with a bunch of disguised coverages. That's nice and fancy, but it needs to translate to good numbers on the field, or it'll be useless.
The Colts clearly have the utmost confidence in their defensive coordinator, and they're bending over backwards to make sure he has the players he feels comfortable with. Last season's returns were far from encouraging, but there will always be hope that next time will be better.
Head coach Shane Steichen and Ballard's seat might get a little warm if the Colts don't hit the ground running in 2026, especially given how things fared after the Sauce Gardner trade last season.
That said, the Colts' defensive coordinator shouldn't get a pass, and he should also be on the hot seat if, after all the moves the team has made to please him, the Colts don't take a significant leap on defense next season.