Bengals fire DC Lou Anarumo, three position coaches

Field Level Media|published: Mon 6th January, 10:27 2025

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) talks with defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo during an off-season workout inside Paycor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati on Wednesday, June 14, 2023.

The Bengals fired defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo and offensive line coach Frank Pollack on Monday.

Cincinnati (9-8) missed the playoffs in the AFC, coming up short despite a five-game winning streak to end the season.

Anarumo has been defensive coordinator of the Bengals since Zac Taylor became head coach in 2019. He was a finalist for head-coaching positions just two years ago, when the Bengals were coming off of back-to-back AFC Championship Game appearances.

But the Bengals were torched repeatedly during a 4-8 start to the 2024 season, dropping one-score games in which they allowed 34 points (Chargers), 35 and 41 (Ravens), 38 (Commanders) and 44 (Steelers).

Cincinnati finished the season 25th in total defense (348.3 yards per game) and tied for 26th in points allowed (25.5 per game).

Defensive line coach Marion Hobby and linebackers coach James Bettcher were also fired Monday, as was Pollack.

Pollack was in his second tour of duty in Cincinnati and has also coached for the Jets, Cowboys and Raiders.

Quarterback Joe Burrow was sacked 48 times in 2024 after Cincinnati allowed 50 total sacks in 2023.

--Field Level Media

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