The Cincinnati Bengals’ first offseason domino fell Monday morning when they fired long-time defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported the news.
Bengals fired defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, per source. pic.twitter.com/2GnXHTgOZs
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 6, 2025
Cincinnati’s front office wasn’t done as the team also parted ways with several positional coaches including OL coach Frank Pollack, LB coach James Bettcher, and DL coach Marion Hobby per Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports.
The Cincinnati Bengals Fired Multiple Coaches, Including Lou Anarumo
Too Little, Too Late
Anarumo was on Zac Taylor’s original staff when he was hired in 2019 and had ties to their days with the Miami Dolphins. This had to be a difficult decision by the front office and Taylor but it was the right one to make after the Bengals defense was too inconsistent this season. Anarumo deserves a ton of credit for his role in the 2021 and 2022 seasons which saw the orange and black make the Super Bowl and AFC Championship Game respectively. It’s also a smart move by this front office to quickly get moving on their next defensive coordinator to build for free agency and the NFL Draft in 2025.
Choose Wisely
The Bengals better choose wisely on the coach to replace Anarumo with how potent this offense has proven to be. This hire has to be a significant upgrade and some intriguing names could be possible replacements. Dennis Allen and Robert Saleh have to be at the top of Cincinnati’s list and those two will likely be in high demand.
The Others
The biggest name on the rest is Frank Pollack who had to see the writing on the wall after the miserable performance of his units since he arrived in 2021. Marion Hobby also struggled to develop the defensive line and help draft players that could effectively provide pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
It looks like the work is just getting started in Cincinnati after the most disappointing season in franchise history. Head Coach Zac Taylor should be on notice because if he doesn’t succeed in 2025, he’ll likely be the next looking for a job.
Main Photo: Sam Greene/The Enquirer-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
