The Atlanta Falcons are expected to interview Lou Anarumo for their defensive coordinator vacancy sometime this week, according to a report from NFL Network’s Colleen Wolfe.
The 58-year-old spent the last six years as the defensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals but was let go following the 2024 season. This is the first reported interview the team has scheduled since firing Jimmy Lake over the weekend.
Anarumo spent six years as the defensive backs coach for the Miami Dolphins (2012-2017) before taking the same position with the New York Giants in 2018. Anarumo took over as the Bengals defensive coordinator in 2019.
I’m told the Falcons are interviewing Lou Anarumo for the vacant defensive coordinator position this week. A reunion with Jessie Bates ahead??
— Colleen Wolfe (@ColleenWolfe) January 14, 2025
Anarumo’s best season came in 2022 when Cincinnati finished fifth in points allowed (20.1 per game). The Bengals reached the Super Bowl in 2021 but lost to the Los Angeles Rams. The Arizona Cardinals later interviewed Anarumo for their head-coaching vacancy in 2023.
If Atlanta is looking for an experienced defensive coordinator to replace Lake, Anarumo wouldn’t be a bad choice. Falcons safety Jessie Bates played four years under Anarumo in Cincinnati.