The Colts’ latest roster move reunites one of their top coaches on staff with a familiar face from his past
Colts sign a player who knows one of their coaches very well
The Indianapolis Colts are off to a hot start to 2025 with their Week 3 win over the Tennessee Titans, improving their record to 3-0. Following the win, the team is making an intriguing roster move. One of the top coaches on their staff is reuniting with a familiar face from his past. NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports that the Colts are signing former Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals CB Mike Hilton.
Colts sign former Steelers and Bengals CB Mike Hilton
Mike Hilton career facts
- 4 years and 59 games with the Steelers
- 4 years and 64 games with the Bengals
- 13 career interceptions
Hilton is entering the ninth year of his NFL career, and by reuniting with Anarumo, will officially have spent more time with him in the NFL than without. After a strong start to his career in Pittsburgh, Hilton joined the Bengals in 2021, where he grew into one of the top nickel CBs in the NFL. Under Anarumo, Hilton was featured more often and used in various packages. Similar to how we’ve already seen him use Kenny Moore II to start this season.
This addition gives the Colts needed depth at CB and provides them with a serviceable backup for Moore when he is healthy, and a potential replacement for the time being, following his leaving Week 3 early with a calf injury. Moore has been an important part of Anarumo’s defense to start the year, so giving him a player who knows his defense well, who can fill in for Moore in Hilton, seems like a solid move by the team. To gain more insight into the type of player the Colts are adding, I decided to get a Bengals’ perspective on how Hilton looked near the end of his time in Cincinnati.
Thoughts from a Bengals perspective on Mike Hilton reuniting with Lou Anarumo
Mike Hilton was one of the best free agent signings in Bengals history four years ago. He was the ideal nickelback for Anarumo’s scheme as he could fill run fits and provide a pass-rushing presence, along with being good enough in coverage. That, of course, was four years ago, and he was worth a lot more money than he’s getting paid now. The Bengals allowed him to walk because he’s getting up there in age, and his effectiveness in coverage has declined in recent years because of that. That said, reuniting with Anarumo makes all the sense in the world, and he can still play on early downs against the run and provide leadership to a defensive backfield. – John Sheeran, A to Sports’ Bengals beat writer
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