Travis Kelce lashes out at Bengals for firing DC Lou Anarumo: “Don’t know what the f**k is going on”
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce expressed surprise at the Cincinnati Bengals' decision to fire Lou Anarumo, the defensive coordinator who played a key role in their 2021 Super Bowl run.
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Lou Anarumo and Travis Kelce (Image via ESPN/IMAGO)
Travis Kelce believes Lou Anarumo didn’t deserve to be fired as the defensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals. The veteran tight end may play for a rival team, but his roots are in Ohio, so he keeps an eye out for what’s going on in the Bengals organization.
The Bengals began the season horribly. Their defense was in the bottom half of the table, and even light-out performances from quarterback Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase proved futile time and again.
Anarumo managed to limit the numbers in the latter half of the season, conceding just an average of 15.3 points per game. Even though the Bengals went on a five-game winning streak, it was too little too late. The Bengals missed out on the playoffs, finishing with a 9-8 record (third in the AFC North).
Lou Anarumo was fired shortly after the season ended. Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce called out the Bengals organization while hosting his podcast New Heights with brother and retired NFL center Jason Kelce.
I don’t know what the f*** is going on over there. That was a wild, wild move. I did not see it coming, because I thought that, from the outside, their defense was playing really f****** good toward the end of the year.
Travis Kelce ranted
Travis and Jason Kelce on the Lou Anarumo firing:
— Noah Compton (@nerlens_) January 20, 2025
“I don't know what the f–k is going on over there.”
“I don't think they had the horses on defense that they've had in the past and Lou got handcuffed…He's proven how good of a DC he is with good players.”
🎥: @newheightshow pic.twitter.com/sC5TD2U8R6
Sports Illustrated’s Drae Harris would disagree with Kelce’s assessment. According to Harris, the Bengals focused on physicality more than pace, limiting them in their game management.
Becoming more physical in the middle of the defense should be a point of emphasis this offseason. When you allow players like DJ Reader to walk out of your building, you can expect to take steps backward.
Drae Harris wrote
The Indianapolis Colts hire Lou Anarumo
Lou Anarumo is a well-respected coach with a history of developing very good defense. The Bengals were a solid defensive unit during the Super Bowl run in 2021. They gave up an average of 102.5 yards on the ground while allowing 339 first downs all year.
It didn’t take long for the 58-year-old to find a new job. NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported that the Indianapolis Colts hired Anarumo as their defensive coordinator, replacing Gus Bradley on Shane Steichen’s staff.
The #Colts are expected to hire former #Bengals DC Lou Anarumo as their new defensive coordinator, a big hire for Shane Steichen’s staff, per the Insiders.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 20, 2025
After moving on from Gus Bradley, Indy lands one of the top targets on the market. pic.twitter.com/mLW04X7zZb
As for the Bengals, Rapoport revealed they are targeting Notre Dame’s Al Golden for their defensive coordinator’s position. Notre Dame reached the College Football Championship under his tutelage but lost to the Ohio State Buckeyes in the final.
Related: Jets inching closer to hiring Lions’ DC Aaron Glenn as their next Head Coach
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Ishan Misra
(3057 Articles Published)