3 candidates the Colts should consider hiring to be its defensive line coach despite not working with Lou Anarumo in the past

Three candidates the Colts should seriously consider making its next defensive line coach on Lou Anarumo’s staff ahead of the 2026 NFL season.

Destin Adams — NFL News Writer
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Former Bears DC and Jets and Bills DL coach Eric Washington
Tina MacIntyre-Yee /Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK

Fans wanted to see the Indianapolis Colts make some significant changes to their coaching staff and front office this offseason. The team instead elected to stick with head coach Shane Steichen and general manager Chris Ballard. 

The Colts now know that Lou Anarumo will be back as their defensive coordinator after he interviewed for three head-coach openings across the NFL. There will be one change, though, as the team must replace defensive line coach Charlie Partridge, who left to join the Notre Dame Fighting Irish earlier this offseason. 

Usually, I would use past working relationships with Anarumo to build a list of possible candidates. But nearly every coach with a defensive line background from Anarumo’s past is either no longer in the NFL or currently holds a defensive line or higher coaching position in the NFL. 

For example, one of the best candidates based on Anarumo’s past is Kacy Rodgers. The two worked together on the Miami Dolphins staff from 2012-2014. He is now the defensive line coach and run game coordinator with the Detroit Lions, though, and I doubt he’d leave for a lateral role at best in Indy. 

So I took a different approach by sharing three candidates, none of whom have worked with Anarumo before. It’s unclear if the Colts would consider hiring someone without past experience with Anarumo, but all three would be excellent hires for the Colts.

Defensive line coaches with a past NFL working relationship with Lou Anarumo and where they are now

  • Kacy Rodgers: 2012-2014 Miami Dolphins DL coach – Present day Detroit Lions DL and run game coach
  • Charlie Bullen: 2013-2017 Miami Dolphins Ast. DL, Ast. LB, and DL coach – Present day Giants OLB coach
  • Terrell Williams: 2016 Miami Dolphins DL coach – Present day New England Patriots DC
  • Andre Carter: 2017 Miami Dolphins Ast. DL coach – Last coached in the NFL in 2024 as the pass rush specialist for the Las Vegas Raiders
  • Gary Emanuel: 2018 New York Giants DL coach – Last coached in the NFL in 2022 as the DL coach for the Atlanta Falcons
  • Nick Eason: 2019-2020 Cincinnati Bengals DL coach – Hasn’t coached in the NFL since 2020
  • Marion Hobby: 2021-2024 Cincinnati Bengals DL coach – Did not coach in the NFL in 2025

Eric Washington, former Jets DL coach and Bears DC

Washington was among the coaches let go by the New York Jets this offseason. His vast experience coaching in the NFL makes him an intriguing candidate, including two stints as a defensive coordinator: 2024 with the Chicago Bears and 2018-2019 with the Carolina Panthers. 

The Jets had multiple edge rushers have solid success in 2025 despite the year ending with Washington being fired. Two standouts are Will McDonald IV and Jermaine Johnson. And he, of course, coached star DT Quinnen Williams until he was traded to the Cowboys. I wouldn’t be shocked if the Colts have interest in Washington now that he’s back on the market. 

Karl Dunbar, former Steelers DL coach

The Pittsburgh Steelers coaching staff has reset, with Mike Tomlin resigning as head coach, and long-time defensive line coach Karl Dunbar is not expected to be in Pittsburgh for the first time since 2018. 

He is one of the most well-respected defensive line coaches in the entire NFL, and if he wants to continue coaching, I’m sure he will have a long list of suitors. The Colts should undoubtedly be one of them, and the team should be aggressive in pursuing him.

Dunbar has worked with a long list of stars on the Steelers’ defensive line over the years. Including superstars T.J. Watt and Cam Hayward. But he has also developed the likes of Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, and Keanu Benton into excellent pros. 

Jacques Cesaire, Browns DL coach

The Browns’ recent decision to hire Todd Monken as its head coach rather than promote defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz has led many to believe he could be on his way out of Cleveland. 

Cesaire would almost certainly go with Schwartz, but there is a small piece of hope that someone like the Colts could strike while Schwartz looks for a DC job elsewhere.

The Colts have a tall task ahead of them to build their edge room pretty much from scratch. Cesaire would be my personal top option for the job. But as I said above, I think the other three options are significantly more likely. 

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