If there’s one defensive mind that’s consistently found ways to frustrate some of the NFL’s best quarterbacks, it’s Lou Anarumo. And now, the architect behind some of the most suffocating game plans of the Joe Burrow era in Cincinnati is officially in the running for one of the league’s most intriguing head coaching vacancies: the Buffalo Bills.
Lou Anarumo Interviews for Bills Head Coaching Job
After parting ways with Sean McDermott, the Bills are searching for a new direction-and they’ve turned to a familiar nemesis. Anarumo, who recently wrapped up his first season as the Colts' defensive coordinator, has interviewed for the top job in Buffalo, per NFL Media’s Mike Garafolo.
Bills fans don’t need a long memory to recall what Anarumo is capable of. The last time the Bengals won a playoff game, it came in Buffalo-and it wasn’t close.
Cincinnati rolled to a 27-10 win in the Divisional Round, and Josh Allen never looked comfortable. That day, Allen posted a 68.0 passer rating while the Bills, 5.5-point favorites, looked out of sync from the jump.
That wasn’t a fluke-it was the result of a masterclass from Anarumo’s defense.
Anarumo’s Resume Against the Game’s Best
What makes Anarumo such a compelling candidate isn’t just that one game. It’s the broader body of work.
Over the past few seasons, his defenses have consistently held elite quarterbacks in check. We’re talking about names like Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, Lamar Jackson, and 2021 Aaron Rodgers.
The average EPA (expected points added) per dropback those quarterbacks posted against Anarumo’s units? Negative 0.03.
That’s the kind of number you’d expect from a struggling passer-think 2023 Mac Jones, who threw more picks than touchdowns and finished with a passer rating in the high 70s.
That kind of production doesn’t happen by accident. Anarumo’s defenses have thrived on disguise, discipline, and timely pressure. He’s not a blitz-heavy coordinator, but he’s a master at making quarterbacks hesitate just long enough to disrupt the rhythm of an offense.
A Coaching Candidate with Momentum-And Setbacks
Anarumo’s name has surfaced before in head coaching searches. He was a finalist for the Cardinals job before Arizona hired Jonathan Gannon.
With Gannon now out, there’s a chance Arizona circles back. But Buffalo may represent his best shot yet.
Earlier this season, Anarumo’s stock was soaring. The Colts jumped out to a 7-1 start, and while the offense-led by a rejuvenated Daniel Jones and powered by Jonathan Taylor-got the headlines, the defense was quietly holding things down despite a thin secondary. Anarumo was getting the most out of a roster that, on paper, didn’t have many stars outside of DeForest Buckner and Sauce Gardner.
But then the injury bug bit hard. Jones suffered a fractured fibula and later tore his Achilles.
Buckner and Gardner both missed extended time. The Colts’ season unraveled, but Anarumo’s early-season work didn’t go unnoticed.
Could He Be the Right Fit in Buffalo?
The Bills are at a crossroads. They’ve made six straight playoff appearances but haven’t been able to get over the hump. And the numbers in those losses are damning: 33.2 points per game allowed, bottom-tier rankings in defensive efficiency, and a defense that’s come up short when it mattered most.
That’s where Anarumo comes in. He’s built a reputation for elevating defenses in big moments, not shrinking from them. Give him a solid roster and a competent offense, and he’s shown he can scheme with the best of them.
It’s worth noting that even if Buffalo ultimately hires an offensive-minded head coach, Anarumo could still be in play as a high-profile defensive coordinator. His track record against quarterbacks like Allen speaks volumes, and there’s a certain irony in the idea of him joining forces with the very quarterback he once flustered in the playoffs.
What’s Next?
Whether it’s in Buffalo, Arizona, or elsewhere, Lou Anarumo is knocking on the door of a head coaching job-and it feels like only a matter of time before he walks through it. He’s proven he can go toe-to-toe with the league’s best, and in a league where defense still matters-especially in January-that’s a resume worth betting on.