That was quick.
Less than 24 hours after the end of the 2024 NFL regular season, the Cincinnati Bengals have fired defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, according to NFL insider Adam Schefter.
They have also parted ways with offensive line coach Frank Pollack, linebackers coach James Bettcher, and defensive line coach Marion Hobby, according to Paul Dehner Jr.
Anarumo was hired by head coach Zac Taylor when the latter took over the team in 2019. He’s been with the team ever since, and his defensive schemes were partially responsible for getting the Bengals to two conference championship games and a Super Bowl. Unfortunately, the defense was a massive liability in 2024 and was one of the main reasons the Bengals were unable to get to the postseason despite Ja’Marr Chase ending the season with the triple crown and quarterback Joe Burrow having a career year.
Bettcher has been with the Bengals since the 2022 season and has been coaching defenses in the NFL since 2012. Defensive line coach Marion Hobby was the Bengals’ defensive line coach since 2021 and got his start in the NFL in Jacksonville in 2017.
Frank Pollack, the only offensive coach to be fired, finished his second stint as the Bengals’ offensive line coach. He was previously with Cincinnati for the 2018 season and was brought back by Taylor in 2021. He is the lone offensive coach to lose his job following the 2024 season. While Burrow, Chase and others had outstanding careers, the offensive line struggled. Burrow was pressured more than any other quarterback in the NFL, according to PFF, and the offense seemed to succeed in spite of the offensive line.
We will have more on this news shortly…
