After moving on from Gus Bradley, Colts head coach Shane Steichen has his new defensive coordinator.
NFL insider Ian Rapaport initially reported Monday that former Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo was set to join the Colts under the same title. Today, Indianapolis made it official.
Making the right decision on the next leader of the defense is perhaps the biggest decision general manager Chris Ballard and Steichen will make this offseason. In the end, they land one of the top available candidates on the market.
“With many years of coaching experience, Lou is a proven leader who will demand the best out of our players,” Steichen said in an official statement.
Anarumo has 12 years of NFL coaching experience, but has 34 total years coaching defensive backs. Given the Colts’ young secondary struggled in 2024, the fit makes sense.
Only Kenny Moore II has solidified himself as a consistent contributor on the back end. Jaylon Jones has flashed his potential and Nick Cross had a breakout year, but reinforcements are still needed to improve the pass defense, starting from the top with Anarumo.
Like Bradley with the Colts, Anarumo parted ways with the Bengals this offseason. In the six seasons he spent in Cincinnati, the 58-year-old experienced the full roller coaster ride.
After helping lead the Bengals to an appearance in Super Bowl LVI (the franchise’s first in 33 years), Anarumo’s unit slowly regressed to the mean.
The Cincy defense finished eighth in point differential, 18th in yards allowed per game and 17th in points per game during their Super Bowl run. They would slowly drop in those rankings each year, finishing 12th in point differential and 25th in both yards and points allowed per game in 2024.
Unlike Bradley, who’s known for his rigid, predictable defenses, Anarumo has a reputation as one of the most adaptable defensive play callers in the league.
Steichen called Anarumo’s scheme “unique” and added it “will be invaluable as we build a fast and disciplined defensive unit.”
2024 saw Anarumo help the Bengals defense overcome a slow start and make a playoff push.
In their five-game win streak to end the 2024 season, Anarumo’s defense surrendered 18.8 points per game, down from 29 per game in the first five weeks of the season. They would finish the season T-8th in interceptions (15), T-3rd in pick-sixes (2) and ninth in passes defended (79). His scheme made things difficult on opposing quarterbacks.
He’s also responsible for overseeing the development of numerous established defenders at all three levels of the defense. Anarumo has helped defensive end Trey Hendrickson, linebacker Logan Wilson and safety Jessie Bates III become some of the premium players at their respective positions.
There’s still plenty of work to do, both on the roster and with the players, before Indy’s defense can return to relevance.
That said, investing in a veteran coordinator is a significant mark of the Colts’ intent to waste little time turning the defense, especially their secondary, around.
