Colts could lose an unexpected member of its coaching staff, but the team holds the power to prevent that from happening
The Colts may have more to worry about than just Lou Anarumo landing a job elsewhere, as an NFC team has its eyes on Jim Bob Cooter.
The Indianapolis Colts entered the offseason knowing there was a chance it would have to replace defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, who is under consideration for a head coaching position. There might be another coach on their staff who could be ripped away from them, though that wouldn’t be as expected.
Anarumo is the only member of the Colts staff interviewing for a head coaching position. Offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter could have an intriguing job elsewhere to consider as well.
According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the Philadelphia Eagles have requested to speak with Cooter about their offensive coordinator opening. This will now force the Colts to make a tough decision about whether to allow Cooter to pursue the position.
The Eagles would like to interview Colts offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter for the same position on their staff
Cooter came to the Colts in 2023 after Shane Steichen was hired as the head coach. He’s been the team’s offensive coordinator for the past three years and played a role in helping the offense achieve tremendous success through the first 10 weeks of the 2025 season.
Some may wonder why he would even want to interview for the same job he already holds in Indianapolis with the Eagles. It’s pretty simple, though. Steichen calls the plays for the Colts; in Philadelphia, Cooter would get his chance to do so.
For Cooter to have that chance, the Colts would have to permit him to interview. NFL teams can block any coach on their roster from interviewing for positions that would be classified as lateral moves. For example, Anarumo can interview for any head-coach opening he wants, but would require permission from the Colts to interview for a defensive coordinator role elsewhere.
If the Colts don’t want to grant Cooter the opportunity to pursue the Eagles’ job, they can block him from doing so. Steichen and Cooter have a strong relationship, though, which leads me to think that if the Colts OC wanted to speak with the Eagles, Indianapolis would grant him that chance. If they were to block the interview, the Eagles would then have to find a way to make the role a promotion to bypass the NFL’s rule.
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