During Lou Anarumo's one-plus seasons as theIndianapolis Colts' defensive coordinator, there have been a number of former Cincinnati Bengals to join the team on that side of the ball.
Of course, prior to Anarumo joining the Colts, that is where he spent several seasons, which included some successful runs as well.
Among the players who have played for Anarumo in both Cincinnati and now Indianapolis are Cam Taylor-Britt, Germaine Pratt, Akeem Davis-Gaither, and Carl Lawson. From the 2025 season, Mike Hilton and Xavier Howard -- from Anarumo's time in Miami -- are two other players with ties to the coordinator.
The Colts were also connected to former Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson this offseason before he eventually signed with Baltimore.
It
would seem that Anarumo has a say in some of the personnel decisions on the defensive side of the ball.
“Any players that we bring in here, we bring ‘em in, in the intent that they’re gonna help us get better, whether they were with Lou or not with Lou," Steichen said, via The Athletic's James Boyd. "Familiarity helps for sure, but we're doing it to make sure we're making our team better."
#Colts HC Shane Steichen on how much say DC Lou Anarumo has in bringing in players who previously played for him:
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) October 14, 2026
“Any players that we bring in here, we bring ‘em in, in the intent that they’re gonna help us get better, whether they were with Lou or not with Lou. …” pic.twitter.com/uZocXS0U6P
That familiarity that Steichen mentions is, of course, a catalyst behind these additions. Anarumo knows what each player does well -- and what they don't do well -- and the players know the ins and outs of his defensive scheme.
On paper, that reasoning makes sense, but the results have been mixed.
Beyond these former Bengals' additions, the Colts are searching for consistency on the defensive side of the ball. Missed tackles, a struggling run defense, and a lack of a steady pass rush have all contributed to the up-and-down play we've seen this season.
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Growing list of former Bengals players on Colts' defense
