Sept. 6, 2026, 7:04 a.m. ET
Indianapolis Colts’ defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo received some recognition for his play-calling abilities from his counterparts.
The Athletic’s Jeff Howe spent the offseason speaking with a total of 20 GMs, head coaches, coordinators, and NFL execs, asking them to vote on various categories. One question asked by Howe was, “Who has the best defensive mind in the NFL?”
Receiving one vote was Anarumo. Mike McDonald led the way with 8.5 votes, and he was followed by Brian Flores (3.5), Vic Fangio (3), and Steve Spagnuolo (2). During Anarumo’s tenure in Cincinnati as the defensive play caller, he earned the nickname the “Mad Scientist” for his ability to mix and match and disguise coverages, throwing a variety of looks at opposing offenses. The week-to-week game plan that Anarumo deploys can vary greatly based on what the matchup dictates and can evolve throughout the year to best fit the skill sets he has available to him on the roster. In Year 1 with the Colts, Anarumo’s defense ranked 21st in points per game allowed and 17th in yards per play allowed, although Indianapolis was without DeForest Buckner, Charvarius Ward, and Sauce Gardner for large portions of the season.
