Assistant coaches that could join Lou Anarumo on the Indianapolis Colts' defensive staff

The Indianapolis Colts found their next defensive coordinator on Monday with the team hiring former Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo.  Now that the Colts found their new leader of the defensive side of the ball, let's take a look at some possible assistant coaches he could look to bring with him.  Assistant coaches that could […]

Destin Adams NFL News Writer
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Nov 17, 2024; Inglewood, CA, USA; Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo stands on the sideline after the Los Angeles Chargers scored the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter at SoFi Stadium.
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The Indianapolis Colts found their next defensive coordinator on Monday with the team hiring former Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. 

Now that the Colts found their new leader of the defensive side of the ball, let's take a look at some possible assistant coaches he could look to bring with him. 


Assistant coaches that could join Lou Anarumo's Colts staff 

James Bettcher

New York Giants defensive coordinator James Bettcher on the field during training camp on Monday, August 5, 2019, in East Rutherford. Nyg Training Camp
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First up is James Bettcher, whose most recent job was as the Bengals linebackers coach on Anarumo's staff from 2022 to 2024. Before that, though, he spent time with the San Francisco 49ers (2021) as their run game specialist and was even a defensive coordinator for the New York Giants (2018-2019) and Arizona Cardinals (2015-2017). It would be a homecoming for Bettcher, as he was born and raised in Lakeville, Indiana. He even stayed in state for college by attending the University of Saint Francis in Fort Wayne, Indiana. 


Charles Burks

Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Mike Hilton (21), Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Eli Apple (20) and Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (22) listen to Cincinnati Bengals cornerbacks coach Charles Burks during Cincinnati Bengals preseason training camp at the Paul Brown Stadium training facility in Cincinnati on Thursday, July 28, 2022. Cincinnati Bengals Training Camp
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Charles Burks spent the last three years on Anarumo's staff as the cornerbacks coach from 2022 to 2024 with the Bengals. Going through Anarumo's past relationships, every other defensive back coach he has worked with has either been promoted elsewhere and would be nearly impossible to poach away or is no longer coaching in the NFL. Going from Ron Milus coaching the Colts' defensive backs to a less experienced Burks may not be the most exciting option. But that was an area the Colts were going to most likely downgrade at after moving on from Bradley's staff. 


Kacy Rodgers

Mar 5, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Kacy Rodgers looks on during drills at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium.
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A flashy hire Anarumo could make would be bringing Kacy Rodgers to the Colts. Rodgers most recently has been the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive line coach and run game coordinator. His contract ran out after the 2024 season, and he has already begun interviewing elsewhere. Anarumo and Rodgers both worked with the Dolphins from 2012-2014, where Anarumo was the defensive backs coach, and Rdgerts was the defensive line coach. There hasn't been an official announcement on whether or not the Colts will be keeping defensive line coach Charlie Partridge on staff. But if they do move on from him, Rodgers very well might be the team's best option.