New Indianapolis Colts’ defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo has begun filling out his defensive staff, reportedly hiring a familiar face in James Bettcher to be the team’s linebackers coach, according to Tom Pelissero.
Bettcher had worked with Anarumo in Cincinnati as the Bengals’ linebackers coach from 2022-2024. Bettcher does have defensive coordinator experience as well, holding that title with the Arizona Cardinals from 2015-2017 and with the New York Giants from 2018-2019.
This will be Bettcher’s second stint with the Colts. He was previously the outside linebackers coach in 2012 under head coach Chuck Pagano.
The linebackers play an important role in a team’s run defense, and specifically in Anarumo’s defense where versatility is at a premium, are an important factor over the middle when it comes to disguising what the defense is doing.
Anarumo also runs a more aggressive defensive scheme than previous defensive coordinator Gus Bradley did, so we should expect to see more blitzing from the Colts’ linebacker position as well.
After the Colts moved on from Bradley, the team also announced that they were parting ways with then linebackers coach Richard Smith and defensive backs coach Ron Milus.
As this time, we do not know what Anarumo’s plans are for the other Colts’ defensive position coaches.
(This article was updated to provide additional information.)
