Fans wanted to see the Indianapolis Colts make some significant changes to its coaching staff and front office this offseason. The team instead elected to stick with head coach Shane Steichenand general manager Chris Ballard. 

The Colts now also know that Lou Anarumo will be back as its defensive coordinator after he interviewed for three head coach openings across the NFL. There will be one change, though, as the team must replace defensive line coach Charlie Partridge, who left to join the Notre Dame Fighting Irish earlier this offseason. 

Usually, I would use past working relationships with Anarumo to build a list of possible candidates. But nearly every coach with a defensive line background from Anarumo’s past is either no longer in the NFL or currently holds a defensive line or higher coaching position in the NFL. 

For example, one of the best candidates using Anarumo’s past would be Kacy Rodgers. The two worked together on the Miami Dolphins staff from 2012-2014. He is now the defensive line coach and run game coordinator with the Detroit Lions, though, and I doubt he’d leave for a lateral role at best in Indy. 

So I took a different approach by sharing three candidates, none of which have worked with Anarumo in the past. It’s unclear if the Colts would consider hiring someone without past experience with Anarumo but I think all three would be excellent hires for the Colts.

Defensive line coaches with a past NFL working relationship with Lou Anarumo and where they are now

Kacy Rodgers: 2012-2014 Miami Dolphins DL coach – Present day Detroit Lions DL and run game coach

Charlie Bullen: 2013-2017 Miami Dolphins Ast. DL, Ast. LB, and DL coach – Present day Giants OLB coach

Terrell Williams: 2016 Miami Dolphins DL coach – Present day New England Patriots DC

Andre Carter: 2017 Miami Dolphins Ast. DL coach – Last coached in the NFL in 2024 as the pass rush specialist for the Las Vegas Raiders

Gary Emanuel: 2018 New York Giants DL coach – Last coached in the NFL in 2022 as the DL coach for the Atlanta Falcons

Nick Eason: 2019-2020 Cincinnati Bengals DL coach – Hasn’t coached in the NFL since 2020

Marion Hobby: 2021-2024 Cincinnati Bengals DL coach – Did not coach in the NFL in 2025

Eric Washington, former Jets DL coach and Bears DC

Washington was one of multiple coaches let go by the New York Jets this offseason. His vast experience coaching in the NFL makes him an intriguing candidate, including two stints as a defensive coordinator: 2024 with the Chicago Bears and 2018-2019 with the Carolina Panthers. 

The Jets had multiple edge rushers have solid success in 2025 despite the year ending with Washington being fired. Two standouts being Will McDonald IV and Jermaine Johnson. And he, of course, was able to coach star DT Quiennen Williams until he was traded to the Cowboys. I wouldn’t be shocked if the Colts have interest in Washington now that he’s back on the market.Â