Lou Anarumo has had an interesting career. The Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator hasn't ever been a head coach, but he did get some interest this past offseason. One might wonder if he would be a better head coach than a DC.
That isn't meant to be a swipe at Anarumo either. Being in charge of the defense means you have little input on how the roster shapes up. Anarumo can only be as successful as the players that whoever is in charge of the roster gives him. But many NFL executives must think he is doing a really good job with what he's had.
The above is based on a new poll of executives, coaches, and general managers by The Athletic (subscription required). Indy's defensive coordinator got one vote as the "best defensive mind" in the league. While one vote doesn't sound like much, it looks better when one realizes that only five coaches got a vote.
At least one NFL executive is a big fan of the Indianapolis Colts' Lou Anarumo
Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald got the most votes (doubling any other coach), and that makes sense. He just led Seattle to a Super Bowl victory, but he was also terrific when he was the DC for the Baltimore Ravens in the seasons before he went to the Pacific Northwest ahead of the 2024 season.
That even one person believes Anarumo has a brighter mind than Macdonald implies others feel the same way and proves just how much regard the Colts' DC has around the league. The interesting part is that his career rankings don't match that same level of reverence.
Lou Anarumo has been a defensive coordinator in the league for a total of eight years. He has so far spent one season with Indianapolis, and he spent one season as the DC for the Miami Dolphins in 2015. Between 2019 and 2024, he held that job with the Cincinnati Bengals.
In only one of those seasons (2022) did Anarumo's group rank in the top half of the NFL in points allowed and total yards allowed. His defenses have ranked 21st or worse in points allowed in five of those years. In five seasons, his defenses have ranked 25th or worse in yards allowed.
Still, Anarumo gets credit for being able to shift his game plan from game to game, making it more difficult (at least, in theory) for an opposing offense to prepare for his defense. In Week 15 last year against the Seahawks, for example, Seattle defeated Indy on a long field goal at the end of the game after Anarumo had thwarted quarterback Sam Darnold and friends for most of the game.
Fans should see the best of Lou Anarumo in 2026. The defense has top-end talent like cornerback Sauce Gardner and defensive lineman DeForest Buckner, and consistently solid starters overall. Anarumo likes to use man coverage, and he has the players to succeed this season. If the league is correct, if the Indianapolis Colts do fail this season, it won't be Anarumo's fault.
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