INDIANAPOLIS — Lou Anarumo has come close to head coaching jobs before.
He had three more chances again this offseason. The Colts defensive coordinator interviewed with the Bills, Giants and Titans for their head coaching positions.
All three organizations decided to hire other candidates, leaving Anarumo still looking for the head coaching opportunity he’s long coveted.
“Certainly, you’re disappointed if you don’t get one of those things,” Anarumo said.
Anarumo has always wanted to be a head coach, a desire he’s expressed since he first got on the radar of teams during his days as a defensive coordinator in Cincinnati.
“It’s, in my mind, a great opportunity, a great honor,” Anarumo said. “There’s only 32 of these things.”
The way the Colts handled the situation took some of the sting out of missing out on the opportunity.
Every time Anarumo interviewed with another team this offseason, Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon sent him a text message to say she was pulling for him, and he felt the same kind of support from head coach Shane Steichen and general manager Chris Ballard.
Coming back to Indianapolis to finish the way the season started in 2026 is something that Anarumo is excited about doing.
“To hear that from your current employer, know they’re behind you 150%, it just says to me, and everybody should know how great a place this is,” Anarumo said. “While I was disappointed, I’m super happy to be back here.”
Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cover the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: How Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon handled Lou Anarumo’s head coaching interviews
Reporting by Joel A. Erickson, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
