Lou Anarumo

Lou Anarumo is entering his ninth season as an NFL coach, and second with Cincinnati, after joining the Bengals in 2019 as defensive coordinator.

Last season, Anarumo led a Bengals defense that saw sweeping improvement as the season progressed. Cincinnati notched 11 more sacks in the second half of 2019 compared to the first eight games, and allowed 84.1 fewer yards per game. Opposing QBs completed just 59.3 percent of their passes against the Bengals the second half of the season, compared to 64.3 percent over the first eight games. Additionally, Anarumo's defense was among the NFL's best in the red zone, allowing TDs on just 49 percent of opponents' trip inside the 20-year line (ranked No. 5 in the NFL).

Anarumo spent the 2018 season as defensive backs coach of the N.Y. Giants, where he helped the defense rank seventh in the NFL in interceptions (16) and 10th in opponents' passer rating (89.8). Under his guidance in 2018, S Landon Collins led the Giants in tackles (96) and earned a Pro Bowl nod.

Prior to his time with the Giants, Anarumo served as defensive backs coach for the Miami Dolphins from 2012-17. He also served as interim defensive coordinator for the Dolphins' final 12 games of 2015, after the team made mid-season coaching staff changes.

In 2017, Dolphins S Reshad Jones led the Dolphins with 122 tackles and was selected as a starter on the AFC Pro Bowl team. Anarumo's secondary helped the 2016 Dolphins to a 10-win season, including victories in nine of their final 11 games, along with a playoff berth. The defense finished the season with 21 forced turnovers, which tied for fourth in the league.

Anarumo entered the 2015 season as Dolphins secondary coach, but was named interim defensive coordinator on Oct. 8 after the team made changes to the coaching staff. Under Anarumo, Jones and CB Brent Grimes were both selected to the Pro Bowl, the first time since the 2003 season that Miami had two members of their secondary participate in the Pro Bowl in the same season.

In 2014, Anarumo led a Dolphins secondary that allowed just 222.3 passing yards per game, sixth-best in the NFL. Grimes recorded a team-high five INTs en route to his second straight Pro Bowl, and Jones was one of three players in the NFL to record 70 or more tackles, one sack and three INTs.

Anarumo's first two seasons in Miami were marked by improved play in the secondary. The team's 35 TD passes allowed between 2012-13 were the second-fewest in the NFL over that span. The secondary in 2013 held opponents to the fifth-lowest passer rating in the NFL (77.3), and Grimes' four INTs and 17 PDs earned him the first of his three Pro Bowl nods during Anarumo's tenure.

Prior to his time with the Dolphins, Anarumo spent 23 seasons in the college coaching ranks. From 2004-11, he served as defensive backs coach at Purdue University, where he oversaw the development of multiple future pros, including CB Ricardo Allen and S Bernard Pollard.

From 2001-03, Anarumo was defensive backs coach at Marshall University. He also served as the team's special teams coordinator in 2003. Anarumo helped the Thundering Herd rank 10th in the nation in passing defense in 2003, allowing 177.4 yards per game. Marshall compiled a 30-8 record over Anarumo's three seasons, and won the GMAC Bowl in 2001 and '02.

Anarumo was assistant head coach at Harvard University from 1995-2000, working with the defensive backs and coordinating the special teams. From 1992-94, he was defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.

From 1990-91, Anarumo was a graduate assistant at Syracuse University. From January to June 1990, he was a part-time running backs coach at Wagner College. He served in that same role at the United States Merchant Marine Academy from September 1989 to January 1990.

Born August 18, 1966, Anarumo is a native of Staten Island, N.Y., and earned his bachelor's degree in special education from Wagner in 1990. He and his wife, Fran, have three children — Madison, Louis and Christopher. His last name is pronounced "ann-ah-ROO-mo."

Coaching history: 1989-90—Assistant coach (AC), U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. 1990—AC, Wagner. 1990-91—Graduate assistant coach, Syracuse. 1992-94—AC, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. 1995-2000—AC, Harvard. 2001-03—AC, Marshall. 2004-11—AC, Purdue. 2012-17—AC, Miami Dolphins (interim defensive coordinator for final 12 games of '15). 2018—AC, N.Y. Giants. 2019-present—Defensive coordinator, Cincinnati Bengals.