NFL News: Lou Anarumo, Steve Wilks Reportedly Expected to Interview for Colts DC Job

The Indianapolis Colts are reportedly looking into multiple notable names as they look to fill their vacant defensive coordinator role.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported Thursday the AFC South team is expected to interview former Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo and longtime veteran NFL coach Steve Wilks next week.

Albert Breer of The MMQB later reported Anarumo will interview with the Colts on Tuesday.

The position is open because Indianapolis fired Gus Bradley after the 2024 season ended.

Bradley, the former head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, was the D.C. for three seasons. However, the defense finished an ugly 29th in yards and 24th in points allowed this season, which is a major reason the Colts missed the playoffs.

Anarumo's Bengals defense was also the primary reason his team didn't make the playoffs in 2024.

Cincinnati finished 25th in the league in yards and points allowed this season, which undercut an incredible campaign from Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase and left the club on the outside of the AFC postseason picture.

It also led to his firing.

Yet Anarumo had the DC role for the AFC North team for six years and helped lead it to the Super Bowl and AFC Championship Game in back-to-back seasons in 2021 and 2022. He drew praise for his ability to contain Patrick Mahomes during that stretch and was highly regarded in league circles.

Perhaps a change of scenery to Indianapolis will allow him to rediscover that form after a disappointing effort in 2024.

As for Wilks, his resume includes stops as the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, interim coach of the Carolina Panthers, defensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers, defensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns, defensive backs coach of the Chicago Bears and defensive backs coach of the San Diego Chargers.

He was most recently the D.C. in San Francisco during the 2023 season when the team reached the Super Bowl and lost to the Kansas City Chiefs. That defense finished third in the league in points and eighth in yards allowed.

Indianapolis would surely love a defensive performance like that as it looks to compete in the AFC South and may look to hire accordingly.