Colts hire a coach with 10 years of NFL experience, and it adds fuel to the fire for the team to sign a certain free agent
The Colts are adding a familiar face from Lou Anarumo’s past to finish up his staff ahead of a pivotal 2026 offseason.
The Indianapolis Colts took their time filling their only major coaching staff opening, but they finally found their man to lead a group that has to improve in 2026 for the team to end its five-year playoff drought.
The Colts saw defensive line coach Charlie Partridge leave this offseason to join the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. His departure created a big hole, as the team’s defensive line is likely to undergo a drastic makeover this offseason.
They’ve officially found his replacement by looking to the college level, hiring a coach from Lou Anarumo’s past. Even more interesting is that the hire may signal the Colts are preparing to make a big move in the offseason to upgrade their pass rush.
Colts set to hire Arkansas defensive line coach Marion Hobby
According to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports, the Colts are expected to hire current Arkansas defensive line coach Marion Hobby. Hobby was hired by Arkansas this offseason to join new Razorbacks head coach Ryan Silverfield’s staff. Before joining Arkansas, the now 59-year-old coach spent the 2025 season with the Tennessee Volunteers as the school’s assistant defensive line coach.
Before that, he had spent the previous eight years in the NFL as a defensive line coach, his most recent four being with the Cincinnati Bengals under now Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. He’s also had stints with the Miami Dolphins (2019-2020), Jacksonville Jaguars (2017-2018), and the New Orleans Saints (2006-2007).
During his career, he’s worked with a lot of talent on the defensive line. Some examples include Calais Campbell, D.J. Reader, Yannick Ngakoue, Malik Jackson, Dante Fowler, Will Smith, Sam Hubbard, and a name that will interest Colts fans: Trey Hendrickson. Hobby was Hendrickson’s defensive line coach from 2021 to 2024.
This resulted in Hendrickson having the three best years of his career with 14 sacks in 2021, 17.5 in 2023, and 17.5 in 2024. Many have connected the Colts and Hendrickson as a fit due to Anarumo’s relationship with him over the last year during the pass rusher’s contract disputes with the Bengals.
The Colts also had Hendrickson’s former college coach, Partridge, on staff until this year, and have now replaced him with another connection to the star pass rusher. If he hits free agency, you would have to assume the Colts have interest in Hendrickson, with their pass rush needing a major boost.
We will have to wait and see if the addition of Hobby plays a role in the Colts potentially landing Hendrickson. For now, he will be tasked with developing Laiatu Latu, JT Tuimoloau, and multiple others that the team is bound to add this offseason. To learn more about Hobby, I spoke with A to Z Sports’ Cincinnati Bengals beat writer, John Sheeran.
Thoughts on Marion Hobby from Bengals beat writer
“Hobby reuniting with Anarumo doesn’t surprise me one bit. Hobby came to the Bengals at a very low point with Anarumo’s seat scorching hot in the 2021 offseason. His arrival was followed by Hendrickson, Larry Ogunjobi, and B.J. Hill joining forces alongside DJ Reader and Sam Hubbard to formulate one of the best defensive lines Cincinnati has had this century.
Players noted Hobby’s teachings in pass-rush methods, and he surely helped create scheme pressure when talent was at his disposal. He was let go along with Anarumo because younger linemen didn’t develop the way Cincinnati would’ve liked, but Hobby is a worthwhile hire in the Colts’ inevitable pursuit of Hendrickson.” – John Sheeran, A to Z Sports Cincinnati