Lou Anarumo
Defensive Coordinator
College: Wagner
Hometown: Staten Island, NY
Experience: 36 years
Biography
Anarumo is in his first season with the Colts as the team's defensive coordinator. He has 36 years of coaching experience, including the last 13 seasons in the NFL.
Prior to Indianapolis, Anarumo served six seasons (2019-24) as the defensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals.
In Cincinnati, Anarumo was instrumental in the development of defensive end Trey Hendrickson, whom the team signed as an unrestricted free agent in 2021. In four seasons under Anarumo, Hendrickson compiled 155 tackles (104 solo), 53.0 tackles for loss, 57.0 sacks, 12 passes defensed and 11 forced fumbles. Since 2021, Hendrickson ranks in the top 10 in the NFL in sacks (third) and tackles for loss (eighth). He earned Pro Bowl honors in each of his four seasons with Anarumo.
In 2024, the Bengals finished in the top 10 in the NFL in interceptions (15, tied-eighth), interceptions returned for touchdowns (two, tied-third) and passes defensed (79, ninth). Hendrickson was a First Team Associated Press All-Pro choice and the Deacon Jones Award winner after leading the NFL with 17.5 sacks (tied his career high set in 2023). He also tied for second in the league in tackles for loss (19.0). Linebacker Germaine Pratt led the team with a single-season career-high 143 tackles (80 solo) and added 5.0 tackles for loss, six passes defensed, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Third-year cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt had a career year as he compiled 77 tackles (58 solo), 1.0 tackle for loss, half a sack, 16 passes defensed and three interceptions (one returned for a touchdown). He tied for fifth in the league in passes defensed. Additionally, cornerback Mike Hilton registered 12.0 tackles for loss, which tied for the most in the NFL among defensive backs.
Hendrickson set his single-season career high in sacks (17.5) in 2023, while also contributing 16.0 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles. He tied for second in the NFL in sacks and his total was the second most in single-season team history. Linebacker Logan Wilson led the team in tackles for the third consecutive season (career-high 135) and tied with Taylor-Britt for the team high in interceptions (four).
In 2022, Cincinnati held opposing passers to a league-low 58.9 completion percentage, while ranking sixth in points allowed per game (20.1) and seventh in rushing yards (106.6). Wilson led the team with 123 tackles and Pratt registered a then career-high 99 tackles. Hendrickson led the team with 8.0 sacks. The Bengals opened the season by going seven straight games without giving up a touchdown after halftime, becoming the second NFL team since 1930 to do so.
During the 2021 season, Anarumo's unit was pivotal in Cincinnati's postseason run to Super Bowl LVI. The defense led all playoff teams in total tackles (155), passes defensed (23) and interceptions (eight), while allowing an average of 20.5 points over four games. In the regular season, the Bengals finished fifth in the NFL in rushing defense (102.5 yards allowed per game).
In 2020, Anarumo worked with a revamped Cincinnati defense that featured seven new starters. Cincinnati held opposing passers to a 62.8 completion percentage (sixth lowest in the NFL).
In his first season with the Bengals in 2019, Anarumo's defense allowed 84.1 fewer yards per game in the second half of the season vs. the first eight games, while also recording 11 more sacks. Cincinnati ranked fifth in the NFL in red zone defense after allowing touchdowns on just 49 percent of opponents' red zone trips.
In 2018, Anarumo was the defensive backs coach for the New York Giants. The defense finished seventh in the NFL in interceptions (16) and 10th in opponent passer rating (89.8).
Prior to New York, he served as the defensive backs coach for the Miami Dolphins for six seasons (2012-17).
Safety Reshad Jones led the Dolphins with 122 tackles (94 solo) in 2017. He also added 6.0 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, five passes defensed, two interceptions and three forced fumbles en route to his second career Pro Bowl selection. Second-year cornerback Xavien Howard was one of 25 NFL players with at least four interceptions, including one he returned 30 yards for a touchdown.
In 2016, Anarumo's secondary helped Miami have their best season since 2008, winning 10 games and reaching the playoffs for the first time in eight years. The Dolphins had seven consecutive games with a takeaway from Weeks 9-15 (19 turnovers), which was the most in a seven-game span since 2004. Anarumo helped with the development of second-year cornerback Tony Lippett, who led the team and tied for 11th in the NFL with four interceptions despite playing wide receiver in college.
In 2015, Anarumo began the season as defensive backs coach before serving as interim defensive coordinator for the final 12 games of the season. Cornerback Brent Grimes and Jones were selected to the Pro Bowl, marking the first time since the 2003 season that the Dolphins had two members of their secondary participate in the Pro Bowl in the same season.
Miami allowed the sixth fewest passing yards per game (222.3) in the NFL in 2014. Anarumo's group scored three defensive touchdowns, marking the first season since 2003 when the Dolphins had three different players score defensive touchdowns. Grimes led the team with five interceptions en route to his second consecutive Pro Bowl selection. Jones was one of three players in the NFL to record 70 or more tackles, 1.0 sack and three interceptions.
From 2012-13, Miami gave up just 35 touchdown passes, the second fewest in the league over that span. The unit was fifth in the NFL in passer rating against, limiting opponents to a 77.3 rating. Grimes was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2013 after tying for the team lead in interceptions (four) and registering a team high in passes defensed (17).
Prior to the NFL, Anarumo spent 23 seasons at the collegiate level.
He served as the defensive backs coach at Purdue for eight seasons (2004-2011). In 2010, Anarumo worked with true freshman cornerback Ricardo Allen, who finished with three interceptions (two returned for touchdowns) and led the Big Ten in interception return yardage while earning freshman All-America honors. Allen was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the fifth round (147th overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft.
Anarumo also helped with the development of safety Bernard Pollard, who was selected by the
Kansas City Chiefs in the second round (54th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft. Pollard then became the highest-drafted Purdue defensive player since linebacker Fred Strickland, who was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the second round (47th overall) of the 1988 NFL Draft.
Prior to Purdue, Anarumo was the defensive backs coach at Marshall for three seasons (2001-03). He also served as special teams coordinator in 2003. In his final season with the Thundering Herd, the team ranked 10th nationally in passing defense (177.4 yards per game). Marshall ranked sixth in passing defense in 2002 (161.5 yards per game) after ranking 37th in 2001 (198.7 yards per game).
Anarumo was assistant head coach at Harvard for six seasons (1995-2000), where he worked with the defensive backs and coordinated the special teams. The Crimson ranked second in the league in interceptions in 2000 and led the league in pass efficiency defense in 1999.
From 1992-94, Anarumo was defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at the United States Merchant Marine Academy. He also served as the admissions liaison to the athletics department.
Anarumo was a graduate assistant at Syracuse for two seasons (1990-91). From January to June 1990, he was a part-time running backs coach at his alma mater, Wagner. He served in the same role at the United States Merchant Marine Academy from September 1989 to January 1990.
A native of Staten Island, N.Y., Anarumo was born on Aug. 18, 1966. He earned his bachelor's degree in special education from Wagner in 1990. While in college, Anarumo served as head junior varsity coach at Susan Wagner High School in Staten Island.
Anarumo and his wife, Fran, have three children – Madison, Louis and Christopher. His last name is pronounced ann-ah-ROO-mo.
