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The Bengals appear to have zeroed in on their next defensive coordinator.
According to NFL Network reporters Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo, Cincinnati is set to interview Giants defensive backs coach Lou Anarumo this week:
#Giants DBs coach Lou Anarumo is set to interview with the #Bengals on Thursday and is the frontrunner for their defensive coordinator job, sources tell me and @MikeGarafolo. Anarumo worked with Zac Taylor in Miami, both finishing 2015 as interim coordinators. Respected assistant
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 19, 2019
Anarumo has an extensive background coaching defensive backs, but he has never been a full-time defensive coordinator in the NFL (served as one at U.S. Merchant Marine Academy from 1992–1994).
Ironically, he was the Dolphins’ interim defensive coordinator in 2015, when Zac Taylor was the quarterbacks coach and later became the interim offensive coordinator.
After a new coaching staff was hired in 2016, Anarumo went back to being Miami’s defensive backs coach until 2017, then joined the Giants and has been there ever since.
At this point, the only other candidates for the job appear to be former Falcons defensive coordinator Marquand Manuel and current Rams secondary coach Aubrey Pleasant.
Taylor has favored hiring guys he’s worked with, which in theory means Pleasant and Anarumo are the only real candidates right now.